Alena Kosinova was a female bodybuilder who hailed from the Czech Republic. After she came in second at the 2020 Europa Pro bodybuilding show, Alena wanted to win it the following year. However, moments before stepping onto the stage at the Europa Pro 2021, Alena tragically passed away.
The Czech bodybuilder won the Ben Weider Legacy Cup in New Zealand in 2017. In 2019, she won her ‘pro card’ in the Women’s Physique category at the Czech Virus Open Cup. After moving to the Women’s bodybuilding category, she found success.
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Moments before stepping on the bodybuilding stage
Alena Kosinova had trained rigorously for the 2021 Europa Pro bodybuilding contest. Kosinova was backstage, in costume, and had put on the tan. However, she didn’t step on stage to show off her hard work to the judges and the audience. “I won’t be able to do it. I feel really ill,” Alena told a fellow Czech bodybuilder, Ivana Dvorakova. Reportedly, Alena took PEDs regularly.
We regret to report that IFBB Pro Alena Kosinova has passed away. Our thoughts and with her family, friends and fans. #alenakosinova #femalemuscle #womensbodybuilding pic.twitter.com/PDbbP3j9ti
— MUSCLE INSIDER® (@muscleinsider) August 15, 2021
The bodybuilder had experienced cramps during a show in Portugal a few weeks earlier. However, this time, she couldn’t even move. Ivana and other competitors helped Kosinova lie down and gave her water with salt and sugar. After waiting an hour, the ambulance arrived and took Alena to a hospital. However, the IFBB pro never made it out of the hospital.
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Alena’s coach, Shelby Starnes, didn’t attend the show. Starnes is among the most renowned female bodybuilding coaches and has a busy schedule. However, according to the Washington Post, Starnes received another alarming email shortly after Alena passed. Another mentee, Jodie Engle, required hospitalization and might need to undergo open-heart surgery.
“I was stupid because I turned over the reins to somebody that was more reckless than myself,” Jodie told the Washington Post. After Alena’s death, another athlete training under Stranes decided to step away from the sport entirely. “I care about my health,” said Maggy Kheir. She had previously faced thyroid issues.
The one that shook the world
In the last two decades, many bodybuilders have lost their lives. Many of them were found to be using PEDs. However, back in the 90s, such deaths were almost unheard of until Andreas Münzer. Like Alena, Münzer rushed to a hospital after suddenly falling ill but never made it out. The autopsy report showed Münzer had various PEDs in his system.
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Andreas Munzer – The Ideal Way to Massive Legs (1995) https://t.co/VqaApiWFHV pic.twitter.com/Kd4esGXFRo
— Conor Heffernan (@PhysCstudy) July 24, 2019
The Austrian had an enlarged heart. He also had massive tumors in his kidneys in his liver. Münzer’s shocking death stunned the bodybuilding world. However, deaths among seemingly healthy bodybuilders have not reduced. Drug testing also remains absent. Even the most prestigious bodybuilding competition, Mr. Olympia, does not test its athletes.
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Watch this story – Arnold Schwarzenegger and Other Athletes Who Suffered From Depression and Anxiety
What’s your opinion on bodybuilders suddenly falling ill with fatal consequences?