- May 1 Taisto Mäki, Finnish athlete (WR 2 miles, 5,000m and 10,000m simultaneously 1939-42), dies at 68
- May 15 Curtis Stevens, American bobsledder (Olympic gold 2-man [with brother Hubert] 1932), dies at 80
- May 31 Nigel Howard, English cricket batsman and captain (4 Tests; Lancashire, MCC), dies at 54
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