The year 2023 hasn’t been the best for the fitness and bodybuilding world. The community is sad because of the loss of their beloved pioneers. They inspired millions of people with their strong spirit and enthusiasm for sport. These prominent figures motivated others with their sculpted body and exceptional talent.
With a heavy heart, the world bid farewell to these magnificent talents who dedicated their lives to bodybuilding and fitness. Here is the list of the bodybuilders who left the world too soon…
Manuel Lomeli
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The veteran bodybuilder tragically lost his life on 26th October. Manuel Lomeli, was reportedly, shot by two attackers while driving his Dodge Ram in San Jeronimo. According to reports, he was en route to the gym when this incident occurred, attempting to reverse his car, causing a collision.
Lomeli had retired from the competitive arena and was engaged in training aspiring bodybuilders. The attack that took his life was the second occurrence this year. Earlier, he was involved in a similar incident where he missed a gunshot that grazed his arm.
Raechelle Chase
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On 20th October, generation Iron broke the news that bodybuilder and fitness influencer Raechelle Chase had passed away. Chase began bodybuilding when she was young. She was married to Chris Chase for 14 years, until a divorce in 2015. Even during these difficult times, the 41-year-old mother of five didn’t give up.
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via IMAGO
She gained popularity as a fitness model, won numerous competitions, and made history as the first New Zealand woman at the Olympia event in Las Vegas. Her accomplishments in bodybuilding left an impressive mark. The body-builder and fitness influencer not only achieved her IFBB Pro card but also secured third place in the Melbourne Pro and New Zealand Pro competitions. Her elder daughter, Anne Chase, described her mother as a source of support, kindness, and wisdom. Despite the obstacles, she shines brightly and has become the wellspring of motivation for many people.
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Neil Currey
In September 2023, IFBB pro bodybuilder Neil Curry died at the age of 34. The Serbian bodybuilder Milos Sarcev took to his Instagram and talked about the demise. There is no official confirmation regarding the cause of his death.
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Currey’s bodybuilding journey began after he left the army. In 2017 he entered the competitive arena and just in time he won New York Pro and earned his invitation to take part in the Mr. Olympia competition. The 34-year-old bodybuilder participated in the 2022 Mr. Olympia and placed 16th.
Lisa Lyon
Lisa Lyon the World Pro Champion passed away at aged 70. She battled cancer, and on 8th September 2023, she sadly lost the fight against the disease. She was the first ever International Federation of Bodybuilding Woman’s World Pro Champion. She gained popularity for her exceptional talent and skills. She played a pivotal role in popularizing women’s bodybuilding.
She achieved a huge success in 1979 by winning the first-ever International Federation of Bodybuilders Woman’s World Pro Championship. With her immense talent in the year 2000, she was honored by being placed in the IFB Hall of Fame. Besides bodybuilding, she also featured in several magazines and tried her hands on acting as well.
Joe Linder
On June 30, 2023, the bodybuilding industry was left shocked when Jo Linder aka Joesthetics passed away. The German bodybuilder was famous for his incredible physique and was popular among those in the fitness community.
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Linder died suddenly of an aneurysm in his girlfriend’s arms at age 30, after unveiling that he had been suffering from neck pain. The 30-year-old garnered fame by sharing his workouts and fitness-engaging content online. People were influenced by his tips and tricks.
Justyn Vicky
Justyn Vicky, fitness influencer and powerlifter, tragically died on July 17th, 2023. He was trying to lift an extremely heavy weight of 210 kg while squatting. Evidently, he struggled with the weights, and imbalanced the barbell, in a few seconds the barbell ended up on his neck, causing a serious injury.
In spite of immediate medical help, he passed away during surgery. Later on, doctors said that his nerves were critically damaged and his neck was broken. Vicky began his fitness journey when he was young. With his sheer dedication and commitment, he soon became popular in the field and used to motivate and inspire others to live a healthy life.
Gustavo Badell
Veteran bodybuilder Gustavo Badell aka the Freaking Rican died in July 2023. He died because of a stroke at age 50. He had been dealing with kidney problems for many years. Badell was in Venezuela but moved to Puerto Rico when he was young and began his bodybuilding journey at an early age and earned his pro card in 1997 at the Caribbean Championships.
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He won the Ironman Pro in 2006 and the same year he also clinched to top at the San Francisco Pro. After three years, he emerged as champion at the Atlantic City Pro show. Badell gave tough competition to the Bodybuilding GOATs Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler and won during the Olympia challenger round in 2005.
Tonya Knight
Tonya Knight, one of the most successful female bodybuilders, passed away at 56. She was battling with cancer but sadly lost her bout with this disease. The news came to light in February 2023. She gained attention in the 1980s for her weightlifting abilities. In 1988, she came fourth in the Ms Olympia contest.
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via IMAGO
Knight was also featured in the popular TV show American Gladiators until 1992. She inspired people with her remarkable journey into fitness and bodybuilding.
The untimely demise of young talents
The other bodybuilders and fitness influencers who left the community in mourn were Catalin Stefanescu, Hugo Sergio, and Eustacio Batista. In July 2023, bodybuilding champ and fitness trainer Catalin Stefanescu mysteriously died at the age of 30. Reportedly, his body was discovered in a 3ft deep area in the village of Lazuri in Dambovita County, Romania. The champ had been there for fishing with a friend before the tragic incident took place.
Hugo Sergio passed away on 29th July 2023. The bodybuilder and fitness trainer died at the ageof 30. He sacrificed his life while saving his family from fire. Nonetheless, the bodybuilder saved his wife, daughter, and their pet during a fire at their apartment in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Unfortunately, he couldn’t escape, despite ensuring the safety of his family.
Just like Manuel Lomeli, Eustacio Batista was also shot to death, when he was working out in the gym. The incident occurred on 17 October inside a gym in Botucatu, Sao Paulo. This horrific incident was recorded by the gym’s CCTV cameras. The 27-year-old was shot numerous times at close range, leading to his collapse. He achieved recognition in the world of bodybuilding by showcasing his astonishing skills. He took part in the Men’s Physique Junior Category Champion in 2018. In addition, he earned the prestigious 2019 State championship award in Espiritu Santo.
Even as these stalwarts of bodybuilding left their fans in mourning, their legacy will continue to live on. The fitness community will remember these names even as time passes.
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