Graham Taylor, John Surtees, Jana Novotna: The major sporting deaths of 2017

Aged 53
A gifted amateur, Christie won his first 13 pro fights but shock defeats in key bouts meant he failed to secure world titles.

Aged 72
The former England manager and Watford legend died after a heart attack.

Aged 75
The five-time National Hunt champion jockey also rode L’Escargot to Grand National glory in 1975. As a trainer he won the 1999 Grand National.

Aged 73
One of Celtic’s 1967 ‘Lisbon Lions’, Gemmell spent 10 years at Park Head.

The St Helens legend rattled up 392 tries in 409 matches for the club from 1957-68

The former Everton and Scotland striker was known as the ‘Golden Vision’

Aged 20
The Wales star was the youngest player at the 2014 World Cup. She died in a car crash near Glynneath in February.

Aged 69
Rode Red Rum to Grand National glory in 1973 and 1974 and second place in 1975. He also won the race on Red Alligator in 1968.

Aged 91
The former England Test cricketer became chairman of the board of selectors as well as MCC President

Aged 62
Well respected face of Sky Sports NFL coverage for over 20 years died suddenly in October.

Aged 67
One of the best rugby players Ireland have produced, over 1,000 mourners attended his funeral in September.

Aged 76
A former England cricketer transferred his skills to becoming an umpire and also held the position of president of Yorkshire.

Aged 81
The voice of Grandstand and Final Score between 1995 and 2011 was much loved.

Aged 79
A former England rugby union captain, a number eight and renowned leader.

Aged 43
Former Great Britain cyclist lost her 16-month-long battle with cervical cancer earlier this month.

Aged 35
The 2006 MotoGP world champion died after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Cesana, Italy.

Aged 83
1964 World F1 champion, Surtees won 6 Grands Prix. In the same year Surtees was also third in the Le Mans 24 Hour Rally.

Aged 95
Known as the ‘Raging Bull’, La Motta racked up 83 wins from 106 fights in a brutal 13-year career.

Aged 39
The 2004 Australian Olympic gold medal winner committed suicide in August.

Aged 37
The 2011 Giro D’Italia winner died after hit by a van while riding his bike near his home in Filottrano, Italy, in April.

Aged 81
The boxer-turned-actor was crowned world middleweight champion in 1961 when he beat Paul Tender but he retired three years later after losing his title. The ‘Paddington Express’ became an actor until 1990 when he retired for good.

Aged 83
Spent 16 years playing for Liverpool from 1952, then joined the coaching staff then became caretaker manager in 1991 and 1992 before retiring in 1998.

Aged 94
The Argentinian 1967 Open champion was second in the US Masters a year later after playing partner added a a four on his scorecard instead of a three and he did nor check it. Without that error he would have been in a play-off with Bob Goalby.

Aged 45
World Cup-winning South African scrum half, van der Westhuizen played for his country 89 times. He died of motor neurone disease in February.

Aged 81
The famous All Blacks legend hardman died of pancreatic cancer in August.

Aged 76
The former Newcastle United chairman brought Alan Shearer to the club in 1996 but sacked Bobby Robson eight years later.

Aged 91
Was largely responsible for the creation of the European Tour and was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

Aged 30
The former Newcastle midfielder collapsed and died while training with Chinese Super League team Beijing Enterprises.

Aged 39
The Welsh discus thrower died in May. She competed at both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and her best throw of 62.89m is the third best ever from a British woman.

Aged 56
Managed Chelsea to their first FA Youth Cup in 49 years in 2010 then managed the reserves and worked with many of the club’s top players. Managed Crawley Town last season.

Aged 79
The four-time Olympic gold medalist claimed three at the 1956 Melbourne games and one in 1964 in Tokyo. She died in August after suffering from multiple sclerosis since 1969.

Aged 49
The 1998 Wimbledon champion is perhaps more well known for failing to beat Steffi Graf in the 1993 final when she led a set and 3-1 before losing and crying on Duchess of Kent’s shoulder. She died of cancer in November.

Aged 77
Baroness Heyhoe-Flint was a women’s sporting pioneer, playing cricket and hockey for England, being a single-handicapper golfer and also being a county squash player for Staffordshire. She died in January.

Aged 86
Racing lost of legend with the death of the derby-winning trainer this year.

Aged 84
The two-time champion trainer’s funeral was attended by over 600 in December.

Aged 77
One of the famous names in women’s horse racing, she trained over 2,000 winners in a 26-year career.

Aged 84
The 50s household name’s great achievement was setting a new world record in the mile.

Aged 58
The highest run-getter in women’s cricket history lost her brave battle against cancer.

The former Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and England defender’s death in April after a cardiac arrest at Tottenham’s training ground rocked football.

Aged 34
The British Olympic high jump silver medallist lost his life after a motorcycle crash in Jamaica.

Aged 37
The former Australian lock committed suicide in February.