The following is the entirety of AP's report on this sad story.
Recent Deaths in Sports
Mike Whitmarsh, Feb. 19: The 1996 Olympic silver medalist in beach volleyball committed suicide with carbon monoxide from car exhaust, according to the medical examiner.
Al Bello, Getty Images
Kamila Skolimowska, Feb. 18: The 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the hammer throw died suddenly while training in Portugal. The Polish athlete was just 26.
Olivier Morin, AFP/Getty Images
Ted Uhlaender, Feb. 12: The former Major League Baseball player, seen here as Cleveland's first base coach in 2001, had worked most recently as a scout for San Francisco.
Rick Stewart , Allsport / Getty Images
Jeremy Lusk, Feb. 9: The motocross star died two days after suffering head injuries in a crash.
Cal Sport Media / ZUMA Press
Mel Kaufman, Feb. 9: The former linebacker, who won two Super Bowl rings as a player with the Redskins, died in his California home at the age of 50.
NFL / Getty Images
Marian Cozma, Feb. 8: The 26-year-old was a member of Romania's national handball team. Cozma was stabbed to death and two other players were seriously injured in an attack at a nightclub in western Hungary.
Srdjan Ilic, AP
Payton Jordan, Feb. 5: The college track and field star, seen here in 2004, went on to coach at Stanford and led the United States to a record 24 medals at the 1968 Olympics.
Paul Sakuma, AP
John Gordy, Jan. 30: The former Detroit Lions offensive lineman was a three-time Pro Bowler and helped form the NFL Players' Association.
AP
Ingemar Johansson, Jan. 30: The Swede stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in 1959. Johansson became only the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the US.
AP
Glenn Davis, Jan. 28: The star hurdler, center, won two of his three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics.
AP
From the Associated Press:
SAN DIEGO (Feb. 19) - Mike Whitmarsh, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist in beach volleyball, killed himself through carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage of a friend's home, officials said Wednesday. He was 46.
His body was found Tuesday at a home in Solana Beach, just north of San Diego, said San Diego County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jan Caldwell. The medical examiner's office said an autopsy showed Whitmarsh committed suicide with carbon monoxide from car exhaust.
Whitmarsh teamed with Mike Dodd to take the silver medal in the inaugural beach volleyball competition at the Atlanta Olympics. The team lost to Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes in an all-U.S. final.
"We are shocked and saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Mike Whitmarsh," USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal said in a statement. "The Olympic volleyball family and all of USA Volleyball have lost a wonderful person and remarkable athlete and performer.
"Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go out to his family for their loss at this tragic time."
Whitmarsh also played basketball at the University of San Diego, leading the Toreros to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1984. He later switched to beach volleyball.
"Mike was a great alum and did great things for the school, and we will miss him greatly," athletic director Ky Snyder said.
Whitmarsh is survived by his wife, Cindy, and two daughters.
Beach Volleyball
This undated image released by the Association of Volleyball Professionals shows volleyball player Mike Whitmarsh. Whitmarsh, who won a silver medal in beach volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics, was found dead in the garage of a friend's home, a spokesman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. Whitmarsh's body was found Tuesday at a home in Solana Beach, just north of San Diego, sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said Wednesday Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/AVP)
AP
** FILE ** This July 28, 1996 file photo shows Kent Steffes of the United States spiking the ball against fellow countryman Mike Whitmarsh during their beach volleyball finals at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Whitmarsh, who won a silver medal in beach volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics, was found dead in the garage of a friend's home, a spokesman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. Whitmarsh's body was found Tuesday at a home in Solana Beach, just north of San Diego, sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said Wednesday Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith, File)
AP
** FILE ** In this Aug. 21, 2008 file photo, the United States' Kerri Walsh reaches out to hit the ball against China during the women's gold medal beach volleyball match at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is focused on her impending motherhood, fighting the urge to get out on those sandy beaches _ or sandy indoor courts _ while traveling with the AVP's winter tour. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
AP
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Tara Roenicke of the USA warms up before the gold medal play off against Australia during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tara Roenicke
Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Summer Ross of the USA warms up before the gold medal play off against Australia during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Summer Ross
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Summer Ross of the USA warms up before the gold medal play off against Australia during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Summer Ross
Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Tara Roenicke and Summer Ross of the USA celebrate a point in the gold medal play off against Australia during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tara Roenicke;Summer Ross
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Tara Roenicke of the USA serves in the gold medal play off against Australia during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tara Roenicke
Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Mariafe Artacho of Australia spikes at the net in the gold medal play off against the USA during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariafe Artacho
Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Zina Stone of Australia spikes at the net in the gold medal play off against the USA during the Beach Volleyball on day five of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Maroubra Beach on January 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zina Stone
Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 18)
My brother and I met Mike at a Chicago AVP tour event, he was one of the best. Sad day for sports to lose one of the great ones. People outside of the game probably don't realize how approachable the AVP players were...You'll be missed, Mike...
Suicide is one of the most selfish acts I can think of for a person to do. I wonder if Mike gave one single thought to his wife and family and their feelings in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
I know most feel that way, but for some it seems like the only way out, and that they would be better off with out him. Unless you have ever felt that depth of depression, you can't understand.
You can only pray this never touches you personally, yes it's a selfish act but a person who gets this low is not capable of rashionizing
I hope no one you love family or friends ever reaches the point that they feel they have no hope. While suicide is a selfish act none of us carry the perceived weight that these people feel that no matter what tomorrow won't bring a better day. May his family find peace and closure during this terribly difficult time.
A permanent solution to a temporary problem, condemning his wife and two children with guilt complexes that they may never really recover from. How sad he didn't give a thought to them before taking the cowardly way out.
I wonder if you gave thought to his wife and kids when you wrote your comment. Some thing's do not have to be written.
shut it!
Ellen, YOU do not know the circumstances, therefore, YOU cannot be a judge! Things are so tight right now for EVERYONE and I can see more suicides coming!
You clearly know little about serious mental health issues that mant people suffer from, or you wouldn't be so quick to make such a broad generalized statement like you did. There may be times when it is a cowardly act, but far more often it is the only perceived option to escape indescribable emotional pain. Please do not be so quick to judge. I do feel for his family - it is a horrible situation for all.
You have no right to pass judgment on this man and why he made this decision! You have no idea who he was and what kind of pain he may have lived in. You live your life the way it feels good to you but dont you dare pass judgment on the way someone else lives theirs.
Someone who commits suicide is ill. It's not a selfish act, it's a disfuctional, desperate one. So, naturally they dont think of their loved ones, they do not have the capability of thinking beyond their own pain. I feel sorry for him, his family and others that suffer as he did.
So you are an expert on suicide?
Nice regurgitated BS Ellen. Every time someone commits suicide someone says "suicide is such a selfish act, blah blah blah." How unoriginal of you. You have no idea how hopeless and useless he felt. He was probably so depressed he thought his family would be better off without him. Do you call that "selfish." Get a life.
If someone is mentally ill enought to commit suicide, he really does not have the capacity to think of the consequences to his wife, children, parents. He is hurting so bad that he can not find another way to feel better other than taking his own life justifying it to himself that his family will be better off without him. It is a sad situation for all involved.
Mental illness is not about being selfish; it is an illness like any other. Would you blame a cancer patient for his illness? If your pet was suffering (and mentally ill people suffer termendous pain) and you refused to euthanize it you would be considered a cruel person. Suicide is an undesirable outcome for loved ones, but at least he no longer feels the pain no one understands exists.
May the goddess bless those in that kind of pain.
If Mike suffered from clinical depression, a stong possibility, everyone must remember that a person with this condition does not process life stresses like those with normal brain chemistry. When non-depressed people enter a room, they know there is still a door when the lights go out-the clinically depressed become convinced that there is no longer a door-a simple metaphor but an example of how they can process stress. they are also convinced that their family and the world are better off without them.
It is not a selfesh act at all, just the only way they see-we all need to reach out and help.
Ellen is right.
I've dealt with depression and contemplated suicide. The people on here commenting about mental illness have no idea what they're talking about.
Suicide is about control. It's the ultimate act of selfishness and cowardice.
God forgives..... and has a special place
for those that hurt so bad inside they
commit suicide.
Just goes to show that you know nothing about the topic. Do some research before you start judging.