Dave Mirra Dies: X Games Legend & Former MTV Host Was 41
Updated with statement from Mirra’s family.
David Michael “Dave” Mirra, a legend in the extreme sports world as a BMX athlete who hosted two seasons of MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge and later became a business owner and rally car driver died today in Greenville, North Carolina. Local law enforcement have confirmed Mirra was found earlier this afternoon in his truck, dead from a gunshot wound in an apparent suicide. He was 41.
Mirra received medals in every X Game from the 1995 inaugural event through 2008: with 24 total, he held the record for most medals in the X Games until 2013. Licensed video games were also made during his X Games career, beginning with Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX in 2000. In recent years he was competed as a Rally racer. In addition to his his successful athletic career, Mira was a television personality who fom 2004-2005 served as host on Real World/Road Rules Challenge. He also guest starred on George Lopez during the same period.
“Dave’s wife and family are shocked and saddened by the loss of such a remarkable person whom they loved so deeply,” his family said in a statement released Friday to media. “Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers and for respecting their privacy through this difficult time.”
Mirra helped make Greenville a center of professional BMX biking when he moved to the city with his brother in the mid 90s. Today the city’s unofficial nickname is “BMX Pro Town USA,” due to the high number of pro BMXers living there. “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,” Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said 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.”
He is survived by his wife and two children.
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