Dave Mirra, BMX Bike Legend, Dies at the Age of 41

Police in Greenville, North Carolina, announced BMX legend Dave Mirra died Thursday.

Local authorities are still investigating the incident and noted an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound was the preliminary cause of death.

Shortly before his death, Mirra shared a photo of himself and his wife, Lauren:

"We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift," Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said. "He called Greenville, North Carolina, home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage."

The 41-year-old Mirra was a fixture of the X Games as the event was gaining traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s. According to the X Games' official website, he won 14 gold, six silver and four bronze medals. The 24 combined medals are the second-most in X Games history behind Bob Burnquist's 27:

In 2011, Mirra retired from competitive BMX events and transitioned to a full-time rally-racing career with Subaru Rally Team USA. In 2008, Mirra earned a bronze medal in rally-car racing at the X Games.

Mirra was also a crossover star, lending his name to the Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX video game series, which spawned four entries. For a short time, he also served as host of MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge.