On December 10th, Grant Wahl was covering the exhilarating climax of the Netherlands versus Argentina game when he suddenly collapsed. Help was immediately called, and he was treated for 20 to 30 minutes on site before being taken out on a stretcher and brought to Doha’s Hamad General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Four days after Wahl’s passing, Dr. Céline Gounder, Wahl’s wife, revealed that Wahl had suffered an aortic aneurysm, which is when the aorta, the body’s largest artery, swells and eventually bursts. Colette Rhoades, the nurse at Pleasant Valley High School, noted that causes for aortic aneurysms can vary greatly and that one can be at risk of an aortic aneurysm for long periods of time without knowledge of it.
In her first interview after the death of her husband, Gounder discussed the nature of his health problem. “It’s just one of those things that had been likely brewing for years, and for whatever reason it happened at this point of time,” she shared.
The sudden news shocked and saddened the entire sports fandom in the US, as many reflected on the impactful life of the journalist.
Senior soccer player Jacob Cox acknowledged Wahl’s greatness in the wake of his death. “Grant Wahl had an immeasurable impact on the sport of soccer in the US. He is the epitome of what a sports journalist should be. His loss is tragic,” he said.
Throughout Wahl’s prolific career as a sports journalist, he impacted the lives of many players and fans.
Before he started his specialization in soccer coverage, he enjoyed a 24-year run with Sports Illustrated. It was with Sports Illustrated that Wahl traveled to Akron, Ohio to meet a promising high school basketball prospect by the name of Lebron James.
His feature on Lebron James resulted in one of the most famous publications in Sports Illustrated History.
After news of Wahl’s death reached the U.S., Lebron James paid his respects via Twitter. “You had a huge impact on me and my family and I’m so appreciative of you. A great person and journalist. Rest in paradise Grant Wahl,” he wrote.
In the latter years of Wahl’s career, he specialized in the coverage of soccer in the U.S. Through his relentless coverage of the sport and numerous magazine profiles, books, podcasts, articles and social media posts, he introduced and explained ‘fútbol’ to millions, helping many Americans speak the common language of the world.
In addition to progressing Americans’ understanding and interest in soccer, Wahl also took the initiative to use journalism and sports to advocate for change and progress. He most recently used his platform to try and bring light to some of the problems in Qatar. In his coverage of the world cup he has worked to investigate human rights problems in Qatar. He attempted to shed light on the inhumane building of the world cup stadiums as well as the unfair treatment of LGBTQ people in Qatar.
Wahl was the perfect example of a sports journalist and has most definitely inspired many players and fans. Although his life was cut short, Wahl’s legacy will be remembered and honored in the sports community for years to come.
Rest in Peace, Grant Wahl.
