Tributes pour in for “inspirational” World Irish Dancing Champion Ian Luebbers

Ian Luebbers’s family has shared heartbreaking statements on social media

Tributes for the late Ian Luebbers continue to pour in from around the world in the wake of the untimely death of the 24-year-old Irish dancing World Champion.

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Luebbers, a native of Downington, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly on June 11, 2019. Authorities have "no reason to believe that Ian’s death was anything other than an accident," according to a statement shared online by his family.

An obituary for Ian Luebbers reads: “Ian had a brilliant mind, was a superb athlete, passionate dancer, avid reader, and incredibly gifted writer. He was boundlessly creative, relentlessly curious and had his own unique and wonderful wit."

"Ian had many accomplishments but it was never about that for him, and he cared most about the journey, the impact and the connections that he made along the way. As a result, he was an inspiration to many. He always remained humble and his quick wit and easy smile will be sorely missed and always remembered.”

The obituary added that the Luebbers family plans to announce a charity where friends and family can direct donations in Ian’s memory if they so wish.

On June 13, Cassidy Luebbers, older sister to Ian, shared a public post about the untimely death of her beloved brother:

On Instagram, Ian’s younger brother Owen shared a post in memory of his older brother:

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Ian and his two siblings have all enjoyed great success in competitive Irish dancing within the CLRG organization.

Niall Holly, who helped coach Luebbers to his Senior Men’s World Championship title in 2018 through his Holly and Kavanagh Dance Academy in Dublin, shared a statement along with a video from the night Luebbers celebrated his title:

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Irish Dancing Magazine shared a tribute to Luebbers, who was named by the Magazine as “Most Likely to Succeed” in their 2015 ‘Irish Dancing Man of the Year’ feature.

A statement posted online from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha [CLRG], the Irish dance organization in which Luebbers competed, remembers Luebbers as "a champion Irish Dancer, a brother, and a friend to many in our global dance community:"

A statement from the Mid-Atlantic Region Oireachtas, the regional qualifier for Irish dancers in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania which Ian won several times throughout his career, said: “Ian was an integral member of our MAR family and was an inspirational role model for all our dancers not only by his hard work and talent, but also for his warmth and encouragement.”

Friends of the Luebbers family created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses for the family on June 13; in less than a day, more than $17,000 was raised, more than triple the initial goal of $5,000.

Below, a video fo Ian Luebbers performing his World Championship-winning set piece in 2018: