Jonah Lomu, the man who revolutionized rugby, died – Le Figaro Sport

his sport legend, Jonah Lomu died Wednesday at the age of 40 following a heart attack.

Sad 2015. A few hundred yards Christmas, a star of world sport -légende its discipline- has died this Wednesday, 18 November 2015 side of Auckland. At 40, Jonah Lomu died of a heart attack, who was suffering from kidney dysfunction for many years

This man, known by the whole world, revolutionized the sport. Rugby . With an impressive physique, Jonah Lomu will forever be the one that tips the rugby in another dimension. Because of its power, style and image, all blacks winger will be remembered forever, like a Michael Jordan, a Pelé or Björn Borg. Of those who have given their sport, their time and history. For eternity.

Jonah Lomu sportingly born June 18, 1995 during the semifinal between Blacks and England. That day, the twenty colossus scored four tries to offer his nation a place in the final of the World Cup in South Africa. “ This is a monster, it will clear sooner the better “, launched even annoyed, Captain Rose, Will Carling. At that time, Lomu clashes. Surprises. And frightened all his opponents.

The reason? A monstrous physical (1, 95m, 118 kg), incredible speed (10.8 seconds in the 100m) and follies of support for such a template. Jonah Lomu destroys everything in its path and becomes logically his sport gondola head, just emerging from amateurism. Marketing campaign, sponsors, advertising revenue: the New Zealander has established itself as the first superstar of his discipline. Yet his career lasted only 10 years, with a peak during the World 1999: it included eight trials, to the surprise elimination of the All Blacks in the semi-final against France. With 37 tests in 63 appearances (1994-2002), Jonah Lomu will keep a sense of unfinished business by never lifting the World Cup despite dominating unparalleled in the history of rugby.

I was this guy (…) that terrassait his opponents, scored essays, won matches, amused. And I found myself so sick I could not even pass a small baby

Jonah Lomu

In early 1997, doctors diagnosed him a rare genetic disease affecting the kidneys. The treatment is tough. Shock. And lasts eight months. The native of Auckland is struggling to return to the land and succeeds at the World Cup 1999. But the disease reminds him four years later. In May 2003, at age 27, it is placed on dialysis which forced him to give up the World Cup in Australia. A year later, he underwent a kidney transplant at high risk. He later described the months before his transplant as the worst period of his life. “ I was that guy (…) terrassait his opponents, scored essays, won matches, amused. And I found myself so sick I could not even pass a small baby . “

On 10 December 2005, 28 months after the operation, it replays in Europe under the jersey Cardiff Blues before returning to Auckland where he played for the province of North Harbour. But “Big Jonah” is no more than a shadow of himself. He tried one last experiment in Marseille, Federal 1 (third division) in 2009, which repositioned the post of 8 he pushes his last loads – unworthy of his best. A detail in the immense route of the rugby star.

Present in England for the coronation of his All Blacks brothers at the recent World Cup, Jonah Lomu knew he was on borrowed time, with marked daily by the harshness of his dialysis. He kept smiling. More than ever. This Wednesday is that we have lost.