Dave Mirra's Father Fights Back Tears Talking About His Son

The late BMX star was inducted into the USA BMX Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Mike Mirra gives emotional speech at BMX Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, June 11th, 2016
Mike Mirra gives emotional speech at BMX Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, June 11th, 2016
youtube.com

On Saturday, BMX legends Dennis McCoy and Dave Mirra were honored at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where the two giants of the sport were inducted into the USA BMX Hall of Fame.

After Dennis McCoy gave his acceptance speech, Dave Mirra's father, Mike Mirra, spoke on behalf of his son, who committed suicide in February at the age of 41.

The father tried to hold back tears as he spoke about his son for two heart-wrenching minutes. A medical exam performed at the University of Toronto and the Canadian Concussion Center revealed that he suffered from the brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), according to The New York Times.

“Dave was very competitive in all aspects of life. When didn’t succeed, he worked hard," he said. "However, CTE was too much for him to overcome."

Mike Mirra's speech starts at 19:58

CTE can only be identified after a medical examination has been performed on the brain after death. The cause of the disease is linked to repeated instances of head trauma and has become a rising issue in sports. Concussion protocol has become a bigger focus in nearly every major sport, especially the NFL. A 2015 PBS report showed that 87 of 91 former NFL players tested positive for CTE.

Now, it seems that BMX is beginning to see the physical toll that its sport can place on its athletes.

Before You Go

Cholera

World's Infectious Diseases

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot