OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The wife of Grant Wahl, the sports reporter who died suddenly while covering the World Cup in Qatar, has revealed what she says was his cause of death. She said his death was caused by an aortic aneurysm and has ruled out anything suspicious, the Washington Post reported.
“It’s just one of those things that had been likely brewing for years,” his wife, Céline Gounder, said when she appeared on “CBS Mornings.” “I really do feel some relief in knowing what it was.”
His wife, who serves as an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at New York University, expanded on it on Substack.
“Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium,” she said. “The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms. No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death.”
The Post reported:
Wahl, 48, collapsed in his seat Friday while covering the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands in Lusail, Qatar. Paramedics, called by other reporters to the scene, attended to him for several minutes. The U.S. State Department helped to quickly repatriate the body, and the autopsy was performed in the United States.
Wahl had been critical of the Qatari government for its treatment of migrant workers during the construction of stadiums for the tournament. He had also arrived at a stadium earlier in the tournament wearing a rainbow soccer ball T-shirt, in protest of the criminalization of homosexuality in Qatar. He was detained by security and forced to remove the shirt, he wrote in his Substack newsletter.
Tributes for Wahl poured in after his death.
“Heartbreaking to hear of the death of Grant Wahl. A talented journalist, Grant was an advocate for the LGBTQ community & a prominent voice for women’s soccer. He used his platform to elevate those whose stories needed telling. Prayers for his family,” Tennis legend Billie Jean King said.
Heartbreaking to hear of the death of Grant Wahl.
A talented journalist, Grant was an advocate for the LGBTQ community & a prominent voice for women's soccer.
He used his platform to elevate those whose stories needed telling.
Prayers for his family. https://t.co/mv9tWxOv5s
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) December 10, 2022
“On behalf of myself and the @USMNT, we offer our deepest sympathy to @celinegounder & all those who mourn the loss of Grant Wahl. As players we have a tremendous amount of respect for the work of journalists, & Grant’s was a giant voice in soccer that has tragically fallen silent,” U.S. Men’s National Team captain Tyler Adams said.
On behalf of myself and the @USMNT, we offer our deepest sympathy to @celinegounder & all those who mourn the loss of Grant Wahl. As players we have a tremendous amount of respect for the work of journalists, & Grant's was a giant voice in soccer that has tragically fallen silent https://t.co/RANXfTnQGj
— Tyler Adams (@tyler_adams14) December 10, 2022
“That is not computing. If he’d wanted to, Grant would’ve been THE preeminent scribe in college basketball. Instead, he changed lanes and forever altered the way American soccer was covered and popularized. Legendary. This is a tragedy,” Senior CBS Sports writer and analyst Matt Norlander said.
Can't comprehend that Grant Wahl is gone. That is not computing. If he'd wanted to, Grant would've been THE preeminent scribe in college basketball. Instead, he changed lanes and forever altered the way American soccer was covered and popularized. Legendary. This is a tragedy.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) December 10, 2022
“Life is fragile and there is always a reminder in there to live each moment for what it is. Don’t worry about the past nor the future, take care of the now. It’s the only guarantee in life,” Taylor Twellman, a former U.S. soccer player said.
Life is fragile and there is always a reminder in there to live each moment for what it is. Don’t worry about the past nor the future, take care of the now. It’s the only guarantee in life.
RIP @GrantWahl
St Louis is still better than Kansas my friend. 💔💔💔
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) December 10, 2022
“It is impossible to measure the impact Grant Wahl had on soccer in the United States. Not only was he a passionate and dedicated champion of our game, but he was a kind and thoughtful person. The club send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” Soccer team DC United said.
It is impossible to measure the impact Grant Wahl had on soccer in the United States.
Not only was he a passionate and dedicated champion of our game, but he was a kind and thoughtful person.
The club send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
— D.C. United (@dcunited) December 10, 2022
“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,” LeBron James, said at a postgame press conference. “Any time his name would come up I’ll always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building … It’s a tragic loss.”
LeBron James was asked postgame about the death of Grant Wahl. His response: pic.twitter.com/FeH9hHCTEE
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) December 10, 2022
During an episode of his ”Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast” he explained that he had not been feeling his normal self while covering the World Cup matches.
“My body told me, even after the U.S. went out, ‘Dude, you are not sleeping enough,’ and it rebelled on me. So I’ve had a case of bronchitis this week,” he said. “I’ve been to the medical clinic at the media center twice now, including today. I’m feeling better today, I basically canceled everything on this Thursday, that I had, and napped.”
