Randy Starkman covered 12 Olympic Games, won two National Newspaper Awards and was generally lauded as one of the best amateur sports reporters in the country. He passed away this morning in a Toronto hospital at the age of 51.

Randy Starkman covered 12 Olympic Games, won two National Newspaper Awards and was generally lauded as one of the best amateur sports reporters in the country. He passed away this morning in a Toronto hospital at the age of 51.

According to the Toronto Star, Starkman became sick upon returning from Montreal, where he was covering Olympic swimming trials. He was admitted to hospital last week after being diagnosed with pneumonia and spent several days in intensive care.  

His death was sudden and came as a shock to the journalism and sports communities in which he was so entrenched. Many took to Twitter to express their disbelief, their condolences and to share their favourite stories of Starkman.