5 Gruesome Sports Injuries That Shocked Spectators

We love high-octane sports. The more dangerous the game, the more thrilling it is to watch. Gruesome injuries come with the territory, but sometimes they’re so bad, even the most hardened sports fanatics can’t help but cringe. From broken bones and severed limbs to slit throats and internal bleeding, the injuries sustained by athletes are a testament to their strength, endurance, and fortitude. Here are five of the most gnarly sports injuries that left fans with knots in their stomachs.

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5. Hasim Rahman’s Insane Hematoma

Hasim Rahman was attempting to make a comeback after losing a much-anticipated rematch with Lennox Lewis. But when he took on former champion Evander Holyfield, he got a taste of the aging icon’s infamous brutality in the ring. Holyfield headbutted Rahman and then repeatedly went after the growing lump on his forehead.

The swelling was the result of burst blood vessels leaking into the tissue of Rahman’s forehead, a condition known as hematoma. A ringside doctor examined Rahman and decided to end the fight, leaving Holyfield with a victory by technical knock-out.


4. Terry Butcher’s Bloody Forehead

Legendary English footballer Terry Butcher took endurance to a new level during the 1989 World Cup qualifier game against Sweden. Early in the match, Butcher suffered a deep cut on his forehead that required several stitches. He may have been down, but wasn’t out – not by a long shot. Butcher continued to play valiantly, heading the ball without the slightest hint of apprehension. His stitches tore and blood from his re-opened wound dyed his shirt red, yet he finished the match nonetheless.


3. Djibril Cisse’s Horrifying Tibia Fracture

Even Terry Butcher would be out of commission after a leg fracture like this. French striker Djibril Cisse broke his leg just ten minutes into a World Cup warm-up match with China, knocking him out of the rest of the tournament.


2. Kevin Ware’s Protruding Shin

Speaking of leg fractures, college basketball’s Kevin Ware suffered a compound fracture in his right leg while playing for Louisville against Duke University. The protruding fracture noticeably disturbed players and coaches on both teams, but Ware repeatedly told Louisville players to “just win the game!” He was taken to a hospital and underwent emergency surgery while his team honored his request and beat Duke 85–63.


1. This Bullfighter Getting Gored In The Gonads

Spain: home of delicious food, mid-day naps, and the killing of animals for sport. But however you feel about the controversial practice of bullfighting, we can all agree that getting gored by one in the tender areas can’t feel nice. The pictured fighter is Jose Tomas, who miraculously survived the encounter.