The sports world has seen an outpouring of shock and grief following the passing of well-known writer Grant Wahl at the World Cup in Qatar. NBA star LeBron James and tennis legend Billie Jean King have led the tributes to the American.
While covering Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands game, Wahl passed away. Uncertainty surrounds the details of his passing.
King referred to Wahl’s passing as “heartbreaking.”
“A gifted journalist, Grant was a vocal supporter of women’s soccer & the LGBTQ community,” King tweeted on Saturday. He elevated others whose tales needed to be told by using his platform. Gratitude for his family.
James, a basketball star, said he was “extremely fond of Grant” on Friday in Philadelphia. James was the subject of a Sports Illustrated cover article by Wahl while James was still in high school.
James remarked in a post-game press conference, “I’ve always kind of watched from a distance even when I moved up in ranks and became a professional, and he went to a different sport. “Whenever his name would be mentioned, I would always recall being a youngster and having Grant live in our building. It is a terrible loss.
The captain of the US men’s national soccer team, Tyler Adams, expressed his “deepest sadness” to Celine Gounder, Wahl’s widow, and to everyone who knew him after the squad was eliminated from the World Cup by the Netherlands in the round of 16.
Adams posted on Twitter, “As players we have a great deal of respect for the work of journalists, & Grant’s was a huge voice in soccer that has tragically fallen mute.”
Wahl “became sick” in the press area, where he received “urgent medical treatment on site,” according to Qatar’s World Cup organisers on Saturday.
According to a representative for the Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the organisation in charge of organising the competition, he was afterwards transported to Hamad General Hospital.
According to Keir Radnedge, a columnist for World Soccer Magazine, Wahl was treated at the stadium “for perhaps 20-25 minutes” before being taken to the hospital on Saturday.
“This occurred at the end of the game’s extra period. Suddenly, coworkers on my left began crying for help from the medical staff. It was clear that someone had passed out. People were able to move the chairs since they are freestanding, which allows for the creation of a little area around him, according to Radnedge.
The medical staff arrived “fairly promptly and were able to, as best they could, administer care,” he continued.
In response to Wahl’s passing on Saturday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that top State Department officials were in contact with Grant’s family as well as Qatari authorities.
Many people found inspiration in Grant Wahl. All those who loved him, including his wife Dr. Céline Gounder, are in our thoughts. To make sure Grant’s family receives the assistance they require, State Department representatives are in contact with both Grant’s family and senior Qatari government officials, Jean-Pierre tweeted.