- May 1 George Haines, American swimming coach (7 x US Olympic teams), dies of a stroke at 82
Floyd Patterson (1935-2006)
May 11 American boxer (world heavyweight champion 1956-59, 1960-62, Olympic gold 1952), dies of prostate cancer at 71
- May 14 James Botten, South African cricketer (all-rounder in 1965 South African series v England), dies at 67
- May 23 Kazimierz Górski, Polish footballer (b. 1921)
- May 26 Kevin O'Flanagan, Irish rugby union winger (1 Test; London Irish RFC), soccer striker (FAI 10 caps; Ireland 3 caps) and administrator (International Olympic Committee 1976-94), dies at 86
- May 26 Ted Schroeder, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1942, Wimbledon 1949), dies of cancer at 84
- May 27 Craig Heyward, American NFL fullback (Pro Bowl 1995; New Orleans Saints), dies from brain cancer at 39
- May 28 Thorleif Schjelderup, Norwegian author and ski jumper (b. 1920)
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions