Former Japanese ice dancing champion Reed dies of heart attack at 30

Even if it were an underlying heart condition, you would think that a pro athlete who relies heavily on cardio exertion would have been subjected to routine medical checks.

Rest in peace

DaDude: "I will never forget when Japan's Olympic chief Mori criticized the Reeds for losing in the Olympics and questioned why Japan has them on the team though they gave up their U.S. citizenship to play for Japan. Mori probably didn't even bat an eyelid to this news."

Agreed, but to be fair, that sad sack Mori also criticised Asada Mao for "losing Japan's gold" to Kim Yuna. The guy is just an all around piece of garbage.

Peeping Tom: No, DaDude has a point. Not just Mori, but various others talked about how the Reeds were "not Japanese" and yet somehow claimed the American skater, Mirai Nagasu was Japanese when she did well. You see this ALL THE TIME here; Kazuo Ishiguro was not Japanese until he won the Nobel Prize, and then he was. Osaka Naomi was not Japanese until she won big, and then she was. Now you're hearing a lot less about her by the "locals", by the way. If you want to talk about washouts, talk about the Japanese baseball players who get kicked out of the MLB after being benched or on the DL for most of their contract, then come back here to open arms and massive contracts.

In any case, and more to the point, I agree with all that this is shocking and he was far too young to go.

Rest in Peace=RIP

Are they not going yo talk about how odd it is to die from a heart attack at age 30?

peeping tom - thanks for your reply.

Other comments were made at that time by others who also questioned their "loyalty" to Japan or were just getting an easy entry so as to speak.

Other athletes have had the same discriminatory slights directed at them, more often than not disguised as "just comments".

Nowadays such public comments, esp by prominent people would be extremely rare, as thankfully people acknowledge a wider view of Japneseness. This can be witnessed by the natural acceptance of people such as Naomi Osaka or Sani Brown. A decade+ ago - more difficult.

And I hope you're not accusing me of Japan hating. Commenting on real situations does not equate to hate.

And yes - way too young to die.

For me as a truly amateur ice skating appreciator, ice dancing / pairs is the best to watch. Chris & Cathy Reed, while never world champions have put in some memorable performances. We can find on youtube.

"I also recall that moment when Mori then head of the olympic committee, put down Chris & Cathy Reed as not good enough for the US team so they came to Japan - essentially meaning they are not "real" Japanese."

A very twisted sense of interpretation you're got in there.

For 99.99% of "normal people" the quote "not good enough for the US team so the came to Japan" essentially means they're rubbish, couldn't, failed to be make it in the US, therefore decided to suck in another tit, i.e. Japan.

They got in probably because Japan was lacking in that category.

That's how 99.99% of normal folk would interpret that sentence.

Anyway, too young to die.

Rest In Peace.

DaDude - spot on.

I also recall that moment when Mori then head of the olympic committee, put down Chris & Cathy Reed as not good enough for the US team so they came to Japan - essentially meaning they are not "real" Japanese.

At the same time he criticized Mao Asada for her poor showing as some one who often falls and lets the team down.

Many people loved watching the Reeds and this is sadly a life lost way too soon.

How sad it is. Sometimes even the most fittest elite athletes can be susceptible to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (abnormality of the heart artery) as was mentioned by Carolee Thumma. RIP, Chris.

Oh my god, what a shocker. A fit, young guy is the last person you'd expect. I wonder whether he had any underlying health problems, as timeon says. Very sad.

I will never forget when Japan's Olympic chief Mori criticized the Reeds for losing in the Olympics and questioned why Japan has them on the team though they gave up their U.S. citizenship to play for Japan. Mori probably didn't even bat an eyelid to this news.

Well, Mori is a nasty, out-of-touch so-and-so. Didn't he also criticize Asada Mao when she fell on her backside in Sochi? I wonder whether he'll even be around during the next Olympics.

Rest in Peace and prayers with his family.

I will never forget when Japan's Olympic chief Mori criticized the Reeds for losing in the Olympics and questioned why Japan has them on the team though they gave up their U.S. citizenship to play for Japan. Mori probably didn't even bat an eyelid to this news.

That’s messed up. RIP.

Very sad, so heartbreaking for his family, friends, and fans. Reminds me of Russian pair skater Sergei Grinkov of Grinkov and Gordeeva fame, he too was only 28 years old when he died of a heart attack at Lake Placid New York during a exhibition skate.

This is absolutely horrible, such a young age and a pro athlete, leaving a healthy life style and frequent health checks. It may have been an undetected, underlying condition

Way too young! RIP