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Dave Mirra, BMX legend, dead at 41 of apparent suicide: Police

Dave Mirra
Dave Mirra

Dave Mirra, one of the most successful BMX athletes in history, was found dead of an apparent suicide on Thursday, said Greenville (NC) Police.

Mirra was 41 years old. He is survived by his wife and two children.

According the police report, officers responded to the 200 block of Pinewood Road for an apparent suicide. They found Mirra, who police said was in the area visiting friends, sitting in a truck with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Mirra helped turn Greenville into one of the biggest producers of BMX athletes in the U.S., while becoming an icon in the sport himself. Mirra also drove for the Subaru rally car racing team.

"We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift," said City of Greenville Mayor, Allen Thomas, in a statement. "He called Greenville, North Carolina, home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon."

Mirra owned the record for most X Games medals in history with 24 (23 from BMX, 1 from Rally Car) until 2013, when skateboarder Bob Burnquist broke the mark at X Games Munich.

Mirra parlayed that success into a video game, “Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX,” and two seasons hosting “MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge” from 2004-05. He had cameo appearances on shows like “Punk’d,” “George Lopez” and an ESPN “30 for 30” on fellow BMX star Mat Hoffman. He appeared in a “Got Milk?” ad and had his own gum, shoes, and action figure.

He was profiled in Sports Illustrated in 2005.

The Greenville Police Department will be handling the death investigation.