At the IFBB, his most noteworthy placing were two top-five finishes at the Masters Olympia. In July, female bodybuilder Odalis Santos Mena, 23, suffered cardiac arrestand died following a botched operation to stop her excess underarm sweat. However, a brain aneurysm in 2018 would prove to be fatal as he passed on the first of January 2019. Pumping Iron Filmmaker George Butler has died. His death was said to be due to natural causes. She won the NPC National Championships and made a name for herself. Bodybuilder Shockingly Dies in Sleep at the Age of 43 Daszkiewicz was 60 at the time of his passing. He was a freakishly strong powerlifter by the same token. The Tragic Downfall of Ms. Olympia Runner-Up Denise Rutkowski Daves incredible physique earned him a role alongside starring actress Sharon Tate, in the 1967 comedy Dont Make Waves. Two residents who were at the pool saw him fall in and immediately pulled him out. After experiencing a heart attack while swimming off the coast of San Teodoro, Sardinia, Columbu drowned and later died during transportation by helicopter to a hospital. Rhoden was no ordinary bodybuilder. The pro-bodybuilder passed away on January 29, her sister announced online. Follow Us. Irvine won the prestigious Mr. Canada Junior title in 1957, at the age of 20, in bodybuilding and strength. It just doesnt seem real to share the news that Muscle Insider cover model Shawn Flexatron Rhoden passed away from a heart attack at age 46. Rest in peace George. Not only was he a loyal and committed soldier in the trenches, he was also a loyal and devoted bodybuilder to our sport, contributing and supporting it through bursaries, donations, and giving back to the sport in so many ways. Matthew is an ACE (American Council On Exercise) certified fitness professional who has had a passion for fitness since elementary school and continues to research and learn how to build muscle effectively through training and diet. Bodybuilder & Adult Actress Joanna Thomas Dies at 43 But as late bodybuilder Rich Piana admitted in 2016 the use of steroids - which he says is widespread and almost inevitable for professionals - "hurts your body.". Koko Da Doll, 35, whose name was Rasheeda Williams, "was the latest victim of violence against Black transgender women," the director, D. Smith, said in a statement. She went on to win her IFBB Pro Card at the 1995 Canadian Nationals. While the cause of death is unknown, some reports claim that he died peacefully in his sleep. The death of his beloved brother was too much to bear for Ray. ", But he admitted: "If you want to become a professional bodybuilder, guess what? Known in the Canadian Bodybuilding industry as a national competitor and contest-prep coach, Dustin was responsible for coaching and guiding countless clients to reach their fitness goals, which resulted in many trophies and awards in recognition of his clients achievements. But she got a call to an apartment complex to deal with an angry tenant who shot and killed Enriquez along with another officer. He also had a few acting gigs in a Canadian TV show. She became interested in the sport at age 14 when she saw a bodybuilding magazine that belonged to a college student staying with her family. Died: June 26, 2006. On 6th November 2021, news broke that Shawn Rhoden, the 2018 Mr. Olympia, had passed away due to a heart attack. She competed at Ms. Olympia and other big shows while even becoming a nurse in the process. I Feel Really Ill": Last Words of the Female Bodybuilder Who Died Right Before 2021 Europa Pro Contest. Mike Mitchell gained attention due to his incredible size that also helped him land some movie roles. He turned Pro in 2016 and had his best finish at the 2019 Arnold Classic Ohio. Srdoc served some time after being in trouble with the law and subsequently, was also in several media ads due to his tough and vascular look. 21 Bodybuilders who Died of Heart Attacks 1. In July, female bodybuilder Odalis Santos Mena, 23, suffered cardiac arrest and died following a botched operation to stop her excess underarm sweat. He was 68. According to official reports, Mike Mentzer died ofheart complications,but most people consider heart attack to be the cause of his passing. But more importantly, Pumping Iron and Pumping Iron 2 helped popularize bodybuilding and weight training to the masses. Make no mistake, this article is not about dissing the pro bodybuilders or their choices. Scott Milne was a Canadian bodybuilder who turned Pro 2002 and competed from 1996-2004. The Late 70s-80s bodybuilder Jusup Wilkosz was a twice Mr. Universe winner (79-80) who also placed third at Mr. Olympia (84) competition. According to Georges coach, Justin Miller, he was energetic and on point, both mentally and physically, and hence the tragic news came out of nowhere. Yes, if your goal is to get in shape and you have no intentions of competing or using any drug. Zyzz just transformed his body only four years of the time period. He also competed in about 4-5 national level shows. We remember Mike as a veteran from the wars he served in (Bosnia 1996 and 1999, UN Mission Ethiopia) who proudly wore his uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces serving our country, as well as an accomplished bodybuilder. Not only was John a wealth of information when it came to training and supplements, but he was a dear friend of ours here at Muscle Insider. Published: 14:40 EDT, 26 April 2023 . George Da Bull Peterson passed away days before competing at the 2021 Olympia. . Bill was a friend and a great human being. Instagram star dies after botched operation to fix sweating - New York Post Shawn continued with, "Every day you teach me something new princess. Jusup Wilkosz 16. The mother-of-two's passing in April came shortly after the deaths of fellow stars Cedric McMillan, Tom Prince and Ashley Gearhart. Shawn went on to have a very successful competitive career, with his final competition being his greatest victory, when he beat out Phil Heath to win the 2018 Mr. Olympia title. Bodybuilders Are Dying: An Investigation Into Modern Bodybuilding Questions still need to be answered. In this post he wrote,"Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take, But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away." He also took home fifth place in Mr. Universe in 1997. While long-time bodybuilding and fitness businessman Bob Hoffman had already established York Barbell in York, Pennsylvania, the two businessmen came to a mutual understanding that they would not attempt to poach business from each others respective countries. Inside bodybuilding tragedies from heart attacks & clots to addiction He died of a heart attack at the age of 47 in 2014. The bodybuilding champ turned actor died on a boat in Turkey at the age of 65. A post shared by Fitness Volt (@fitnessvoltnetwork). In an Instagram post, Greg Valentino had this to say: I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW MY BEST FRIEND & BROTHER BOB BONHAM TOOK HIS OWN LIFE TODAY,,,,I LOST A BROTHER & BODYBUILDING LOST A LEGEND!!!!! Daves incredible physique earned him a role alongside starring actress Sharon Tate, in the 1967 comedy. Although he had returned to his routine training soon after the incident, he was found unconscious in his home in August 2017. Columbu was 78 years old and had been retired from bodybuilding for quite some time at the point of his passing. On the other hand, if your goal is to step on a stage and go head to head with the best bodybuilders in the world, things can spiral out of control too fast too soon, especially if you have no idea what you are doing. Dave Palumbo posted the following message about the unfortunate death. Although, the two only competed against and met each other once at the 2013 Toronto Pro show. In the aftermath, attention turned to the lives of the industrys stars and the impacts of the quest to look perfect. We first lost Sergio Oliva Sr. in 2012, Larry Scott died in 2014, and Franco Columbo passed away in 2019. At age 30, Sandoe took his own life after having been known to struggle with issues from his past. Prince's death comes just days after the bodybuilding community was rocked by the passing of Ashley Gearhart. Dallas McCarver 3. This came as a result of her dealing with bladder cancer, a diagnosis that she went public about earlier this year. Female bodybuilder and porn star, 43, who enjoyed 'high life, celebrity parties and fast cars' died from cocktail of drugs after pain from crash injury drove her to heroin Joanna Thomas, 43,. Here are 21 bodybuilders who died due to a heart attack. Sadly, Shawn Rhoden was banned from competing at the 2019 Mr. Olympia contest due to a sexual assault accusation. Related:Shawn Ray Calls Out Chad Nicholls For Steroids & Having Blood All Over His Hands. Stacey Bentley most notably placed fourth at the IFBB Womens World Bodybuilding Championships,in 1979 before going on to win the Frank Zane Pro the same year. In a recent Instagram post, she mentioned that she caught pneumonia and the flu while attending the 2022 Mr. Olympia Weekend. Know as The Sardinian Strongman, Columbu was also well-known for his strength, having PRs that included a 750-pound deadlift, 665-pound squat, 525-pound bench press, and 400-pound clean and jerk. He worked closely with Ben Weider, using his photography to help Ben build popularity in the sport of bodybuilding, and inspire millions around the world. Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding. Yorton suffered serious injuries and was almost killed in an automobile accident in his youth. "When I would tell people that I was studying female bodybuilders, the . The incident was captured on video where the 23-year-old attempted the backflip in front of a crowd and landed on his neck. He is also one of only two bodybuilders (along with Dexter Jackson) to win titles in both the Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia competitions. 7 on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List, Monique Jones, inspire female athletes of all ages. Dave was an early starter to the sport of bodybuilding, beginning to train with make-shift weights as a kid. He was a great man and friend. Sources tell us the cause of death was complications from the virus COVID-19. Tom had many health issues over the years including kidney failure in 2003 which had him on dialysis until he received a kidney transplant in 2012. Leaving us at 82, Chris now joins former Mr Olympians Larry Scott, Shawn Rhoden, and Sergio Oliva. 9 Biggest Female Bodybuilders of All Time 1) Chyna Born as Joan Marie Laurer, Chyna was a famous professional wrestler from the late 90's and early 2000's. She quickly became popular because of her huge frame and freakish strength. Lonnie Teperlabeled him the "best NPC bodybuilder never to win a pro card" in Iron Man Magazine back in the day. IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Nicole Pftzenreuter. Should we expect things to change any time soon? The bodybuilder had been delaying his return to competitive bodybuilding over health issues, but had appeared optimistic about being able to come back in recent months. Born: 1973 (age 45 years) Nationality: Finland. You Won't Believe How HUGE These 9 Female Bodybuilders Are Related: Bodybuilding Community Reacts To Tragic Loss Of Franco Columbu. And of course, there are numerous bodybuilding and fitness magazines over the years you will find his face and physique gracing the covers of. "This is the loss of a life that shouldn't have happened.". It all went downhill from here. Zhanna Rotar 15. You have heard me say Im not a self-made man over and over - people like Jimmy are a big reason why - Arnold Schwarzenegger. The genie is out of the bottle now, and he is not going back inside until health issues concerning steroid use in bodybuilding are discussed openly, and rules to regulate their use are enforced. He won his first title at the age of 24. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); At FitnessVolt.com Our mission is to help our readers to achieve their fitness goals, regardless of where youre at on your journey, we are on a mission to educate You with the latest from strength and fitness space. By today's standards his physique would be considered small but his symmetry, round full muscle bellies and superb muscularity made him a worthy competitor and threat in every show he competed in. The 7 Most Disturbing Deaths In Bodybuilding History However, our reviews are based on well research backed analysis. Tonya confirmed that Laura has been suffering with depression for a number of years. Women's Physique bodybuilder Amy Richardson has passed away at 49 years old. According to the gym owner where Hopstaken worked as a personal trainer,Hans got real sick about six weeks before he passed away. His brother-in-law posted a photo and message in honor of the young bodybuilder. banned from competing at the 2019 Mr. Olympia, he collapsed while posing at the Arnold Classic in Australia, Bodybuilding Community Reacts To Tragic Loss Of Franco Columbu, Remembering 28 Bodybuilders Who Passed Away (2017-2020), Jay Cutler Talks Mike Mentzer Quitting After losing to Arnold Schwarzenegger at 1980 Mr. Olympia, Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Scores 800-lb (362.9-kg) Raw Deadlift For Four-Rep PR, 1950s Bodybuilder Ed Fury Passes Away in California Home at 94, Powerlifting & Bodybuilding Veteran Dawn Whitham Passes Away at 57, Arnold Schwarzeneggers Coach And Austrian Bodybuilder Kurt Marnul Passes Away, 45-Degree Hyperextension Guide: Muscles Worked, How-To, Benefits, and Variations, The Best Supraspinatus Stretching and Strengthening Exercises, Hunter Labrada Shares Tips for Growing Weaker Calves: Big Difference in Training to Pain & True Failure, Sylvester Stallone Cautions Against Working Out Too Hard with Bruce Lee Reference: Will Kill You, Cable Superset Workout: More Muscle in Less Time. Hopstaken passed away at the age of 45 due to a heart attack. The news about the death of Laura was confirmed by fellow pro female bodybuilder Tonya Knight. FollowingMeadows' death in August, fans speculated his passing may have been related to a heart attack the bodybuilder suffered early last year following a career that spanned 30 years. Sean Harris 6. Scott Wilson first found his passion for bodybuilding after entering (and winning) a show on a dare. After retiring from competitive bodybuilding, Melissa went on to compete in the WWE and other independent wrestling federations, where she was known to fans as Super Genie. Coroners pointed to a lethal combination of the steroid Mena was taking and the anesthetic,The New York Postreports. But at age 46, Piana collapsed at home and died a few weeks after being in a coma. He earned his Pro card in 1993. Jeff Everson -- a major force in the bodybuilding world -- has died, TMZ Sports has learned. Stacey Cummings, 30, was a mom and business owner in McKinney. His last show before he passed was the 2019 Mr. Olympia which was also his debut where he came in 11th place. Sending condolences to the Love Family, Madeline Love & her sister Liz Love. Hawaiian bodybuilder Ed Corney also appeared in the movie Pumping Iron with Arnold Schwarzenegger and other popular bodybuilders from the 70s. Loved ones say she was beautiful inside and out. Photo: @fitnique on Instagram (modified by author) Source: Instagram American Bodybuilding veteran and current No. IFBB pro bodybuilderScott Milne died unexpectedlyof a heart attack at his home at the age of 46. We just want to take a moment to pay our respects to those that have touched our lives in a special way. "Theres no reason to do steroids, youre only hurting your body, youre hurting yourself. While she did have some success as a junior tennis player, Coates became known as a trailblazer in both professional bodybuilding and pro wrestling. It was heartbreaking news to hear reports that Karen died in a tragic snowmobiling accident near the end of March 2021. Consider this a homage to the athletes who succumbed to heart attacks. 2/26/2019 10:29 AM PT. However, our reviews are based on well research backed analysis. FEMALE BODYBUILDER DIED AFTER BOTCHED OPERATION IN JULY In July, female bodybuilder Odalis Santos Mena, 23, suffered cardiac arrest and died following a botched operation to stop her excess underarm sweat. As he explained to me, after 25 years of steroid use, his bodys connective tissue was essentially coming apart at the seams. Greg Kovacs 18. All Rights Reserved. Mikayla Kingman was a 23-year-old Figure competitor who most notably won the overall at the 2017 NPC Jay Cutler Classic. Cardiomegaly is common in people who use anabolic steroids and HGH (human growth hormone). She made her pro debut in 2003 and has the ability to bench 205 pounds for 10 reps. Tom had many health issues over the years including kidney failure in 2003 which had him on dialysis until he received a kidney transplant in 2012. Bill manufactured and sold more Olympic bars and plates than anyone in history during his ownership of York Barbell. Youre probably going to have to f***ing do them. Anytime we hear of another fitness icon that has passed, it seems to tear away a piece of us that just cant be replaced. She suffered cardiac arrest after receiving anaesthesia and died shortly afterwards. As a result, he became one of the most followed and loved individuals in fitness. It made for a great friend. It also stated that Atwood unknowingly suffered a minor heart attack about a month previous. Following a second surgery, Dearth suffered a heart attack and died. Rich Piana was an icon in the industry. At 50 years of age, Michael died at Hospice Fredericton on February 21, 2021. Michael Bekoev 5. Legendary promoter and gym ownerBob Bonham passed away on October 3rd, 2021. Heres a piece of what Martinez wrote about Mendez on Instagram following his passing. One that I am blessed to have had for so many years. While prepping for the 1980 Olympia, Mike Mentzer started using amphetamines. She was a kind soul and a great role model for up and coming female competitors. Sagnik Bagchi. Chester won the prestigious Mr. American and Mr. Universe bodybuilding competitions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); At FitnessVolt.com Our mission is to help our readers to achieve their fitness goals, regardless of where youre at on your journey, we are on a mission to educate You with the latest from strength and fitness space. A Secaucus, NJ native, Draper won the Mr. New Jersey bodybuilding championship title at the age of 21. Wilkosz passed away at age 71 due to causes unknown at the time. Wed hate to see promising talent give up on the sport due to health and safety issues. Fellow bodybuilder Josh Lenartowicz found him lying on the floor in his Florida home but it was too late. Frank believed that most bodybuilders overtrained and his method worked on a three day a week program where each body part was trained three times in a two week rotation. Beate was popular back home and even had McDonald's as a sponsor. Novoa Mendez was considered one of the strongest men in the Dominican Republic. Tommy and I trained together as IFBB Pros , but spent more time talking about life, our kids (Tom has two from a previous marriage) and philosophy, his ever present Masters in English Lit always present. Durr accomplished a lot before his bodybuilding career. He was known to be the largest bodybuilder in the competitive circuit. It has been a very tough year for the Fitness Industry as every month we were saddened by the loss of another bodybuilding legend in 2021, this time its Mr.Olympia Chris Dickerson. He then went on to win the AAU Mr. California the very next year and from there, he won Mr. America and Mr. International. The cause was reportedly a heart attack, and despite CPR being attempted, he was pronounced dead in the gym. She died in her sleep but her cause of death currently remains unknown. Eddie McDonough was a legend, winning the 1974 and 1977 NABBA Mr. Britain while placing 3rd in the Mr. Britain in 1973 and 1976. Virilization Effects Testosterone is one of the primary drugs responsible for helping women bodybuilders build muscle mass. His first show was the 1994 Chicago Pro where he placed 11th. Female bodybuilder and porn star, 43, died from drugs after crash Rhondas closest friends announced her passing on her personal Instagram account, sharing the following sentiments. The event took place from December . People who think the dehydrated bodybuilders with 4% body fat on the Olympia stage are healthy, probably do not understand the words meaning. In July, female bodybuilder Odalis Santos Mena, 23, suffered cardiac arrest and died following a botched operation to stop her excess underarm sweat. Attending bodybuilding contests and expos these days is not the same, without having the chance to catch up with John to share stories and learn whats new. Many paid their respects including the Arnold Sports Festival via Instagram. RIP.. MY LOVE ETERNAL.. 10 Best Preacher Curl Benches in 2023 (Review & Ranked), 6 Best Ancheer Treadmills in 2023 (Review & Ranked). On top of that, Chet had a short stint as an actor in the films, Muscle Beach Party and Dont Make Waves. . Luke Sandoe was a very popular bodybuilder from the UK who had a lot of promise in the Open bodybuilding division. However, Martinez noticed how impressive his physique was and looked out for his fellow countryman. By James Reynolds. He was a USA and National champ from the who went on to have a competitive career up until 2010. He was also on the cover of numerous magazines, including MuscleMag. Frank owned a popular gym in Tampa, Florida and pushed a training concept called "Rotation For Recuperation". Yorton also beat Frank Zane by one point in a competition. According to rumors, Seccarecci collapsed due to a cardiac arrest and struck his head while falling to the floor. Regardedasthe original East Coast Mecca, Bob was one of the original owners of the very popular Strong and Shapely Gym when it opened its doors inNew Jersey in 1984. He won the Mr. Olympia title in 1976 and 1981 and also starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger (his long-time buddy) in the 1977 documentary,Pumping Iron. Although, he was acknowledged most for promoting big shows in the 80s including the World Games Bodybuilding Championships. RIP my friend. - John Robert Cardillo. He finished seventh in their inaugural 1991 World Championships. Iris Kyle is a bodybuilder who has dominated the sport since her first overall Ms. Olympia win in 2004 . Read more. Alena Kosinova was a female bodybuilder who hailed from the Czech Republic. Throughout this past year, weve shared the news far too often of great names in the bodybuilding community that has passed away. Known for his roles in Braveheart and Gladiator, Mitchell passed away from a heart attack in Turkey. Known as a Bodybuilder, a Soldier, a Friend, a Mentor, and someone who had a direct impact on so many lives in and out of the Fitness and Bodybuilding Industry. Check Out:Nathan De Asha Ordered To Pay Thousands From Illegal Steroid Bust Or Face Prison Time. She then retired in 1981 to pursue a career in nursing which she had a passion for. He was a champion, and one of my closest friends, Tom and Becca are Godfather and Godmother to our daughter Milania. Copyright 2010 - 2023 Fitness Volt IBC. Next Read:Arnold Schwarzenegger Remembers the Late Chet Yorton. The athlete died after suffering a pulmonary embolism. Lonniereminiscedthat at the 1991 Nationals in Pittsburgh, regarded by some as the greatest line-up of all time, saw Mendendall land in a distant fifth behind winner Kevin Levrone, runner-up Flex Wheeler, third place Paul "Quadzilla" DeMayo and fourth place Ronnie Coleman. Here are 21 bodybuilders who lost their lives to a heart attack: November 6, 2021 The day the bodybuilding and fitness world was jolted by pro bodybuilder and 2018 Mr. Olympia winner Shawn Rhodens sudden passing, reportedly owing to a heart attack. Daryl Stafford 8. Mikayla Kingman, a Massachusetts-based bodybuilder, has died at the age of 23. The sport of bodybuilding has been under fire lately due to growing cases of cardiac arrests amongst athletes. Daryl Stafford started his bodybuilding journey at age 25 in 1984. Must Read: 21 Bodybuilders Who Died of Heart Attack Here are some common characteristics of steroids on female bodybuilders: 1. Kawak passed away in 2006 at the young age of 47. Condolences to his friends and family." She inspired women to be fit at a time when it was common belief that lifting weights would make women masculine. Haman graduated from the University of Iowa and went on to teach Physical Education and Health at Thomas B. Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Contrary to what many people believe, Dallas Big Country McCarvers demise was not so sudden. Croatian bodybuilder Aleksandar Srdoc made a name for himself in his native land having competed for more than a decade. We do not know, but it is good to see dialogue happening on this front at the top level. While he went on to four more books, this is recognized as his most famous published work. Novoa Mendez was a Dominican bodybuilder who succumbed to a heart attack. Yolanda R. Hughes-Heying (born October 30, 1963) is a professional female bodybuilder from the United States. Monique Jones (born March 12, 1979) is an American professional female bodybuilder. After only a few years of competing, he earned his IFBB Pro Card at the NPC Masters Bodybuilding National Championships in 2007. Gregory developed over 27-inch arms in the prime of his career. You are wise beyond your 6yrs and always know just what to do to make your daddy smile or laugh. He was awardedbodybuilder of the yearby theAssociation of Sports Reporters of Santiago (ACDS)on several occasions. And it is not just well-established stars who succumb to the pressure. Sources close to Evolutionofbodybuilding.net revealed the final moments of Alena's life. Frank Hillebrand 16. We managed to dig up an old interview we did with John back in 2019 at the Granite Supplements booth during the Vancouver Pro/Am. It is believed that this injury / issue is what ultimately caused his heart attack. His close friend Bob Cicherillo had this to say of his passing.TOM PRINCE passed away early this morning with his wife Becca at his side. He was also one of the very few bodybuilders to have defeated Arnold Schwarzenegger. After she came in second at the 2020 Europa Pro bodybuilding show, Alena wanted to win it the . 10th Nov 2021, 07:00 The last on our list was a Mr. USA middleweight champion (2017) who also won the 2015 California Championships. suffered a fatal heart attack in November. Sandoe died earlier in May . Pumping Iron, the book and the movie, drew the general public into our strange little niche sport and brought fitness and this Austrian with an unpronounceable name and a funny accent to the masses. -Arnold Schwarzenegger. Female Physique competitor Mariola Sabanovic-Suarez died of a heart attack at age 43 a few days after her 2019 Tampa Pro showing where she placed 16th. Her IFBB Pro debut was at the Jan Tana Classic in 1998. Every year, we report on the sad news of deaths in bodybuilding. Famous Austrian bodybuilder Kurt Marnul has passed away. Contest background. A popular Mexican fitfluencer and bodybuilder tragically died July 7 after apparently undergoing a botched operation to remedy her profuse perspiration. However, on Christmas Day and at 39, she was struck by a vehicle that killed her according to the reports. It was a tragic loss that his sister, Vicki Gray, believes could have been prevented as there were some symptoms that Mike was experiencing before the heart attack that claimed his life. It came as a crushing blow to our Muscle Insider team and so many others in the industry when we heard the news that IFBB Pro Bodybuilder turned actor Andy Haman had passed away at the age of 55. John Meadows suffered a heart attack in May of 2020, which was caused by blood clots. She nearly died of kidney failure in her adolescence because she used alcohol as a coping strategy. Gregs muscle imbalances combined with his bodybuilders gut hampered his placing in every show. He earned his Pro card at only 21 years of age and it was evident he had all the potential. I got the chance to compete with him in the Toronto pro show in 2013 and his physique caught my eyes because he was very impressive and after learning he was from the same side of town in the #dominicanrepublic el cibao I definitely had to make sure he was ok and understood the prejudging rules.. "In Austria, I kept his cover of Muscle Builder magazine on the wall above my bed for motivation, and when I saw him starring in 'Don't Make Waves', I thought, 'My dreams are possible.'". As a young teenage aspiring bodybuilder, I travelled to Tampa, Florida to meet him.