Vigor Bovolenta Dead: Italian Volleyball Player Dies After On-Court Heart Attack At Age 37

FILE: Vigor Bovolenta of Italy celebrates after defeating Poland during the volleyball event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008.

MACERATA, Italy -- The Italian volleyball federation says 1996 Olympic silver medalist Vigor Bovolenta has died after he was stricken with a heart attack while playing a match. He was 37.

Attempts to resuscitate failed following his collapse on the court Saturday during a second-tier league game between his Volley Forli team and Lube Macerata. Bovolenta had reportedly complained teammates of feeling faint during the match.

Federation President Carlo Magri said Sunday that Bovolenta was an "exceptional guy" and his death is a "very great loss."

Bovolenta was instrumental in helping Italy win the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics. He also played on the team that won the 1995 European championship and finished runner-up in 2001.

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Comments

[badboyzs]

11:12 AM on 03/26/2012

OH well....he should have had another glass of vino!

[starchildjg24]

10:27 AM on 03/26/2012

I am not very good with medical information, but I do believe that there are several heart conditions that a person can live with for years and that are not easily detected by routine tests. Would an MRI catch them? Or isn't there some new very expensive but very detailed type of full body x-ray that can now be done? I really need to do some research on the topic so I am not so ignorant.

[Megandale]

03:23 PM on 03/26/2012

You would need to get an ultrasound of the heart - it's called an echo. They would be able to detect more conditions. Not sure what this man's condition was, but a common one where young athletes drop dead is cardiomyopathy, enlarged heart, which would definitely be detected with an echo.

[starchildjg24]

04:14 PM on 03/26/2012

Thank you! Great thing about the internet is that when you don't know or understand something, there is usually a kind person willing to help you out.

[charlcreat]

03:37 PM on 03/26/2012

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, I keep reading about young athletes who die of heart failure that was undetected prior to and it seems odd that it never showed up. It's hard to picture someone who appears to be in great shape keeling over. RIP, Brah'.

[Mailman]

08:23 AM on 03/26/2012

Very sad.

[Mark Newman]

07:52 AM on 03/26/2012

Sorry to hear of this athlete's death, but it is not so uncommon. People hear of athletes or friends dying at an early age. He most probably had a congenital heart problem that was never diagnosed. Most people, including athletes get a routine examination and a problem is never found, even with a more aggressive test such as a thallium stress test a problem might not be found, but yet might still exist.

[Al Schrader]

07:19 AM on 03/26/2012

When I was training for the 2008 Games, I crushed two discs in my back, luckily it wasn't a heart issue. I never got to compete in the Games. I have no regrets, being an Olympic hopeful was beyond amazing . I still have my sponsor clothes, ID card, etc. Each year the Games are even more spectacular than the last. And openning ceremonies now are unbelievable....Al-

[Megandale]

08:14 PM on 03/26/2012

What was your sport? Congrats on getting so far...

[Al Schrader]

06:42 AM on 03/27/2012

Weight lifting.

[profhdjr]

07:14 AM on 03/26/2012

I am saddened by his death. The age at which one gets a heart attack seems to be decreasing.

[grump]

06:37 AM on 03/26/2012

ADHD drugs?

[John Hazelton Smith]

03:44 AM on 03/26/2012

This seems to happen a lot; athletes dropping dead. What does that say to the rest of us if they are supposed to be in top shape?

[socialbutterfly4u]

06:23 AM on 03/26/2012

says heart disease can take ya no matter what shape you're in....Jim Fix another example....

[Robert Bonan]

02:13 AM on 03/26/2012

Vigor we are sad to see you go. What makes me really angry is that in 1998 three doctors won the Nobel Price for the discovery of a signaling molecule within the cell walls that helps with blood circulation that can prevent heart attacks and strokes.

In my opinion all athletes need to know about this discovery. Please help us get the word out. I posted some videos here recoverhealthnowdotcom click on video page.

Every thing depends on Blood Flow. Blood Flow will determine if you will have a heart attack or stroke, leg amputations, blood clotting or not, Normal kidney function or not, Liver function or not. Cellular death occurs slowly due to lack of circulation.

Nitric Oxide is critical to life. In fact, many scientists believe Nitric Oxide to be as important to humans as oxygen. Unfortunately, most adults over 40 don’t produce enough in order to achieve optimal health. Save your heart.

[boxcart007]

02:11 AM on 03/26/2012

So sad at a young age......

[OneTop]

02:06 AM on 03/26/2012

Condolences to his family, friends and fans.

So young.

[wmu7013601]

01:33 AM on 03/26/2012

I would say check for either steroids or energy drinks ..or both.

[Rob8001]

10:00 AM on 03/26/2012

Why? Does that always have to be the cause? My friends son died on the soccer field when he was 17. And no. No steroids and they didn't have energy drinks 15 years ago. People die at different ages. He had a blood clot somewhere and it hit his heart. It's just really sad. Please don't diminish his accomplishments by trying to tant them.

[Megandale]

08:16 PM on 03/26/2012

I wouldn't jump to that conclusion at all - young athletes drop dead, it's not uncommon.

[teryearl]

12:54 AM on 03/26/2012

I agree. When a person's time is up... gotta go. I'd be he had Marfan Syndrome. Notice his large hands, height, and very long limbs. Rip.

[erinbliss]

12:47 AM on 03/26/2012

How sad.

[TruthRains]

12:39 AM on 03/26/2012

He loved the sport he was playing. Therefore, his life was rich and rewarding even to the end.