This year, the bodybuilding industry has lost many great talents, from the young natural bodybuilder Michael Chidozie to the British powerlifter Phil Richard, and so on. Now, 36-year-old bodybuilder Douglas Fruchey has passed away, leaving many to wonder what his career would have been if not for this untimely demise. 

Fruchey’s wife, Carli, broke the news to the world, bringing shock to many who followed Fruchey’s career. For Mike O’Hearn, it is a good friend and a gym partner who left this world. His bond with Fruchey and impending sorrow after his death reflected in the message he wrote for the bodybuilder.

Paying tribute to Fruchey, the four-time Mr. Universe winner posted a video of a workout session with the late bodybuilder using his techniques and benching an immense weight. The Titan wrote in the caption, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” O’Hearn also shed light on the fact that the 300-pound bodybuilder was always there for him and helped him push his limits.   

Then the Titan shed light on the unpredicted nature of life; he wrote, “Life is short, tomorrow is promised to no man.” Fruchey was struggling with some issues that had haunted him. Indicating the same, O’Hearn wrote, “Life is so freaking short and so many people are fighting demons within themselves seek help if you are spinning out of control don’t give up on life , there are people that can help.”

The 300-pound massive mass monster was the winner of the 2021 Mexico Supershow and gained a lot of attention after this victory. Earlier, his wife Carli had shared a series of images of themselves on Instagram, recalling the moments they spent together. She captioned the post, “Rest peacefully my sweet Moosey.” 

Authorities found Fruchey mysteriously dead at his apartment on June 14th, 2024. However, the cause of his death has still not been public. The mass monster called himself a power bodybuilder and wanted to bring powerlifting training into the bodybuilding realm. While Fruchey liked the aesthetics of bodybuilding, he also wished to incorporate functional strength into his physique. This was often visible in his videos with O’Hearn, where he lifted immense weights. 

It wasn’t just the Titan who honored the bodybuilder’s legacy. One of Fruchey’s friends and competitive bodybuilder, Brad Rowe, also talked about him, highlighting the latter’s battles with mental health.

Rowe wants men to prioritize their mental health

While June is the month of men’s mental health awareness, Rowe emphasized that this was “not the men’s mental health awareness post” he “wanted to make.” The coach explained how he had known Fruchey for almost a decade, and that he was a caring and humble man.

Rowe wrote, “I don’t know all the details, but I do know that Doug had his inner battles. He was very open with his past struggles and always seeking a healthy path to overcome.” The coach also had a message for other men as well. “Men- you are not alone. You are not a burden You are enough. You are loved,” he said, in an attempt to reach out to those struggling with their personal mental health battles. 

Fruchey was someone who would have had a great career in the sport, if not for his unexpected death. As the community mourns his death, his legacy will continue to live on, inspiring countless others to work on their physique and push themselves beyond their limits.