Flo Hyman, an American volleyball player, passed away at 31 due to undiagnosed Marfan syndrome, which had caused a fatal aortic dissection on January 24, 1986.
Her death was stated to be a heart attack at first, but her parents didn’t entirely accept it and requested that an autopsy be performed in Culver City, California.
Flo Hyman was a trailblazer who turned her towering height into an unstoppable advantage on the court.
She stood at an impressive height of 196 cm and dominated the game with her powerful spikes, earning her the nickname “The Flying Clutchman.”
She was self-conscious about her rapid growth as a child, often standing head and shoulders above her peers.
When they were three foot tall, I was four foot tall. When they were four foot tall, I was five.
Flo Hyman
Hyman initially struggled with the attention her height brought and was teased as the Jolly Green Giant. However, she learned to embrace her stature and use it to her advantage with encouragement from family and friends.
She was already 1.88m tall at 12 and began playing beach volleyball with her sister, Suzanne. Later, she developed a devastating spike that would become her signature weapon.
Hyman became the University of Houston’s first female scholarship athlete and won the prestigious Broderick Award in 1977 as the nation’s best female collegiate volleyball player.
Moreover, she led the U.S. women’s volleyball team to secure a bronze medal at the 1982 World Championship and a historic silver at the 1984 Olympics.
Flo Hyman’s Tragic Impact Due To Marfan Syndrome
Flo Hyman moved to Japan to play professionally after her Olympic success and became a cultural icon, modeling, acting, and inspiring countless fans.
Her life was cut short tragically on January 24, 1986, when she collapsed during a match in Matsue, Japan.
Today, we honor one of women's volleyball all-time greats. On Jan. 24, 1986, at age 31, Flora “Flo” Hyman collapsed during a pro volleyball match in Japan and passed of a congenital heart disease called Marfan Syndrome.
— AVCA (@AVCAVolleyball) January 24, 2024
Her legacy: https://t.co/rwK6r2WuNt#WeAreAVCA #NGWSD2024 pic.twitter.com/aRczqjlOXh
Initially, thought to be a heart attack, an autopsy later revealed that Hyman had undiagnosed Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting connective tissue.
This condition had caused an aortic dissection, a tear in her heart’s main artery.
Marfan syndrome often goes undetected because its symptoms can be subtle, but the athletic excellence masked the hidden danger in Hyman’s case.
Doctors found a small, weak spot in her aorta that had ruptured during the game. Experts believed she was fortunate to have competed at such a high level for so long.
On January 31, 1986, Flo Hyman was laid to rest in Inglewood, California, mourned by hundreds who remembered her as a champion on and off the court.
The most amazing thing, I got a letter from her written on the day of her death. She wrote it at 9:50 in the morning, in the hotel, waiting for the match. It was a big match, with Hitachi, which had won 88 consecutive matches. The week before, Daiei had lost to Hitachi. After that, Flo organized a program for her team. She studied video. She reorganized the team and helped coach it with the approval of the coach. In the letter, she says she’s so anxious to go play it, knowing that Daiei is going to win it. She says, ‘I’m feeling so proud, so positive, so strong. I can’t wait .
Arie Selinger
Flo Hyman’s Tragic Death Spurs Greater Emphasis on Physical Exams for Athletes
Flo Hyman collapsed and died during a match in Japan in 1986 at just 31 years old.
Her cause of death was an aortic rupture due to undiagnosed Marfan syndrome (MFS), a genetic disorder affecting connective tissue.
Despite Hyman’s elite athletic status and frequent physical exams, her condition went undetected.
Her tall, skinny stature, extended fingers, and hypermobile joints were all classic indicators, but at the time, MFS was considered rare, and testing wasn’t routine.
Her death became a wake-up call for sports medicine. Marfan syndrome, while incurable, can be managed with beta-blockers, activity restrictions, or surgery if aortic weakness is detected.
Tragically, her case highlighted the need for more thorough cardiovascular screenings, especially for tall, thin athletes.
Hyman’s legacy lives on in improved protocols. After her death, her brother, Michael, was tested and found to have an enlarged aorta, requiring life-saving surgery.
Today, young athletes, particularly basketball players with similar physiques, are screened more carefully.
In 2014, Baylor star Isaiah Austin was diagnosed with MFS just before the NBA draft, ending his professional prospects but likely saving his life.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Flora Jean Hyman, the second of eight children born to George W. Hyman and Warrene Hyman, was born on July 31, 1954, in Los Angeles, California.
- She was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame for her achievements and pioneering role in 1988.
