However, if an individual that plays sport harbours a condition that’s capable of causing sudden cardiac death - such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or a blocked artery - then sport is three times more likely to kill that individual. So there’s a bit of an irony, sport promotes longevity of life and reduces the risk of death from a cardiac problem but increases the risk of sudden death in an individual who already has a cardiac condition.