- May 1 Terry Medwin, Welsh soccer forward (30 caps; Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur), dies at 91
- May 2 Peter Oosterhuis, British golfer (British Open 1974, 82 runner-up; Ryder Cup x 6; Harry Vardon Trophy 1971-74), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 75
- May 2 Sjoukje Dijkstra, Dutch figure skater (Olympic gold women's singles 1964; World C'ship gold 1962, 63, 64), dies at 82
- May 3 Imerio Massignan, Italian road cyclist (Tour de France Mountains classification 1960, 61), dies at 87
- May 3 László Hammerl, Hungarian sport shooter (Olympic gold 50m rifle prone 1964; silver 1968; bronze rifle three 1964), dies at 82
- May 4 Dagoberto Fontes, Uruguayan soccer forward (13 caps; Defensor SC), dies at 80
- May 5 César Luis Menotti, Argentine soccer manager (Argentina Winner FIFA World Cup 1978) and striker (11 caps; CA Rosario Central), dies from anemia at 85
- May 6 Hootie Ingram, American college football coach (Clemson Uni 1970-72) and executive (AD Florida State Uni 1981–89, Alabama 1989–95), dies at 90
- May 6 Joel Collier, American football coach (HC Buffalo Bills 1966-68; DC Denver Broncos 1972–88), dies at 91
- May 8 Jimmy Johnson, American Pro Football HOF cornerback (4 × First-team All-Pro; 5 × Pro Bowl; SF 49ers), dies at 86
- May 9 Jon Urbanchek, American swimming coach (US Olympic Team 1988, 92, 96, 2000, 04; HC University of Michigan 1982-2004; ISHOF), dies at 87
- May 11 Ron Ellis, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Summit Series 1972; Stanley Cup 1967, 4 x NHL All Star; Toronto Maple Leafs), dies at 79
- May 12 Ron Lynch, Australian rugby league forward (12 Tests; NSW 17 games, Parramatta 194 games), dies at 84
- May 13 Lucien Mias, French rugby union lock (29 Tests; RC Narbonne, SC Mazamet), dies at 93
- May 15 Tates Locke, American basketball coach (Army, Clemson University, Indiana State Uni), dies at 87
- May 17 Sid Going, New Zealand rugby union halfback (29 Tests; Northland RU), dies at 80
- May 19 Jim Otto, American Pro Football HOF center (AFL C'ship 1967; 9 × First-team All-AFL & AFL All-Star; 3 x Pro Bowl; Oakland Raiders), dies at 86
- May 20 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, German soccer defender (47 caps West Germany; 1. FC Köln, AC Milan 222 games), dies at 85
- May 22 David Wilkie, Scottish swimmer (Olympic gold 200m breaststroke 1976; World C 'ship gold 200m breaststroke 1973, 75, 100m 1975), dies from cancer at 70
- May 22 Petri Sulonen, Finnish soccer defender (10 caps; TPS 319 games), dies from ALS at 60
- May 24 Derek Morgan, English rugby union executive (President RFU 2023-24) and No. 8 (9 Tests; Northumberland RU), dies at 88
- May 26 Chip Kell, American College Football HOF center (University of Tennessee; CFL Edmonton Eskimos), dies of pneumonia at 75
Bill Walton (1952-2024)
May 27 American Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA C'ship 1977, 1986; NBA Finals MVP 1977; Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics), dies from cancer at 71 [1]
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