Vladimir Turchinsky, Dallas McCarver and 8 other bodybuilders who died young

It is no secret that professional bodybuilders use various drugs for muscle growth and maintaining proper physical shape.

Among them are steroids, which, among other things, mimic the activity of testosterone in the body. However, in addition to the “positive” effect – muscle growth and giving athletes body relief, in case of excessive use they can cause serious side effects and even lead to death.

Vladimir Turchinsky (46 years old)

One of the most famous Russian bodybuilders, Vladimir Turchinsky, or Dynamite, passed away at the age of 46. The death of the athlete shocked both loved ones and fans. The fact is that he died at the very peak of his sports career. At that time, the bodybuilder actively participated in filming and in sports competitions.

Vladimir Turchinsky

On December 15, 2009, Turchinsky returned after a long day of filming, had dinner with his family and went to bed. It is noted that there were no signs of indisposition. However, the athlete woke up at five in the morning, tried to get out of bed and lost consciousness. When the ambulance arrived, it was too late – the doctors stated death from a heart attack.

In the course of the investigation it became known that shortly before his death the athlete went to the naval hospital with chest pains, and the day before his death he underwent a blood purification procedure.

After the sudden death of Turchinsky, he was left with a wife, Irina, and two children – a son Ilya from his first marriage and a daughter Christina from the third. It is known that the widow continues to work in the fitness industry, and her 23-year-old daughter entered the production department of the Moscow Art Theater School and tried herself in the modeling business. Meanwhile, the athlete’s heir leads a sheltered lifestyle.

Mike Matarazzo (48 years old).

American Mike Matarazzo entered the history of bodybuilding as one of the owners of the largest biceps in the world. He has participated seven times in the Mr. Olympia contest, the most important competition in the world of bodybuilding, which is held annually by the International Bodybuilding Federation.

Despite his international popularity, Matarazzo never conquered the podium of this tournament. The highest position the athlete held was ninth place. But this did not prevent him from winning the attention and love of the public and journalists. The athlete actively participated in various bodybuilding competitions, which later led to a tragic denouement.

Mike Matarazzo

The athlete began to have serious health problems, including – with the circulatory system and vessels. After almost ten years of continuous training and competition, Matarazzo ended his career due to a developing hernia. He then created his own training course, which is what made him world famous.

However, a few years later, the bodybuilder had a heart attack. Matarazzo decided to have a heart transplant, but never lived to see the operation, dying of another attack at the age of 48.

Andreas Münzer (31).

Professional Austrian bodybuilder Andreas Münzer passed away at the age of 31. The athlete was famous all over the world for his physical shape – his body contained only 4% of fat. To achieve such results, he used special drugs (about 20 kinds), which caused the bodybuilder’s sudden death in 1996.

Andreas Münzer

In addition, the bodybuilder adhered to a strict low-calorie diet of 2000 calories a day, which is low for any athlete adhering to an intensive training regimen.

The incident occurred after the Arnold Classic. – a competition organized by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Muenzer began having unexpected intestinal problems and doctors diagnosed bleeding from his stomach. However, even after it was stopped by the medics, the bodybuilder could not recover. His body was too exhausted and dehydrated after taking steroids, causing his liver and kidneys to fail. After that, the athlete lived only 24 hours and died.

Dallas McCarver (26 years old).

American Dallas McCarver started bodybuilding in high school. Then he played in the American soccer team, where it was necessary to always maintain a strong athletic form. However, the athlete was so fascinated by bodybuilding that he quit the team game and went into bodybuilding. He won his first competition among juniors and continued to develop in this direction.

Dallas McCarver

Already a year later, the athlete received a pro-card, a special title, becoming the youngest pro-athlete in the world. The next three years, McCarver’s career developed rapidly, he won the Chicago Pro title, which allowed him to qualify for Mr. Olympia, where he took eighth place. Just a year later, in 2017, while posing at the Arnold Classic, the bodybuilder collapsed.

Medics later explained that it was due to an upper respiratory tract infection. Six months later, in the same 2017, Dallas McCarver was found dead on the floor in his home. In the autopsy, doctors noted an enlarged liver, as well as kidney and thyroid problems due to steroid abuse.

George Peterson (age 37)

Athlete George Peterson passed away suddenly, at the age of 37. His death came as a real shock to bodybuilding fans from all over the world, because the tragedy happened the day before the start of the Mr. Olympia contest. Interestingly, he was a real favorite of the tournament – a four-time winner of the main competition in the world of bodybuilding.

George Peterson

The day before the start, Petersen was actively posting content on his social media, showing full readiness, good health and great form. His coach Justin Miller found his charge in his hotel room lying face down unconscious. He tried to give him emergency aid, but neither he nor the medics who arrived were able to save the athlete. The autopsy showed that the bodybuilder died of sudden cardiac dysrhythmia caused by cardiovascular disease.

Rich Piana (46).

American bodybuilder Rich Piana passed away at the age of 46 for the same reason. He was not only a bodybuilder, but also engaged in his blog and created a line of sports nutrition. The athlete himself repeatedly said in interviews that he did not hide his intake of steroids and synthetic growth hormones. According to him, he had been taking them since he was 18 years old, which certainly led to dire consequences. He died in his home from a sudden fall.

Rich Piana

When medics arrived on the scene, they found crushed white powder, so they immediately administered an opiate antidote. Piana spent the next few weeks in a coma and soon died without ever regaining consciousness. An autopsy revealed that the bodybuilder’s heart and liver were hypertrophied and weighed twice as much as normal. In addition, the use of banned substances aggravated the athlete’s condition.

Joe Lindner (30 years old).

German bodybuilder Joe Lindner, better known by the nickname Joesthetics, passed away at the age of 30. In addition to bodybuilding, Lindner maintained his own blog with 8.4 million subscribers. The bodybuilder inspired millions of people to exercise by talking about nutrition and training. However, he died suddenly from an aneurysm, a localized dilation of blood vessels that led to bleeding.

Joe Lindner

The athlete’s girlfriend later said that Lindner complained of neck pain a few days before his death, but did not take it seriously. In addition, shortly before his death, the athlete had suffered a covid, which could also have contributed to the deterioration of his condition. Later, doctors found that the bodybuilder died of a brain aneurysm – thinning of the wall of the cerebral artery.

Aziz Shavershyan (Zyzz, 22).

One of the youngest bodybuilders who started out as a gamer died of heart failure due to steroid intake at the age of 22. Zyzz was born in Moscow, but at an early age his family moved to Australia where the athlete grew up. He became popular through online videos and gaming. Later, the bodybuilder got into sports, started going to the gym and created his own Sports Nutrition Brand. He also launched his own clothing line and wrote a book on bodybuilding.

Aziz Shavershyan

Aziz died suddenly of a heart attack, which happened to him in a sauna during a vacation in Thailand. By the time the medics arrived, it was already impossible to save the athlete. The autopsy also revealed that the bodybuilder had a congenital heart defect, which was aggravated by taking steroids.

Artyom Masalov (27)

Artem Masalov, a well-known Russian bodybuilder born in Vladivostok, passed away at the age of 27. Masalov took an early interest in sports and became a professional bodybuilder. He twice won Russian bodybuilding tournaments in St. Petersburg, and in his circles he was called “Living Steel” because of how strong and tough he was.

Artyom Masalov

However, the bodybuilder died prematurely at an early age, and the true cause of death still cannot be determined. He was found in St. Petersburg two days after his death, which was later determined by the investigation. Doctors do not deny the version of steroid abuse, although the true cause has not been revealed.

Baytollah Abbaspour (36).

The world-famous Iranian bodybuilder Baitollah Abbaspour began his sports career at the age of 17. He was an instant success, winning the first tournament he participated in. After the athlete built a successful career, the apogee of which was qualification for the “Mr. Olympia”, he had to leave his favorite occupation.

Baitollah Abbaspour

The reason for this was vasculitis, a disease of the walls of blood vessels. After a long struggle with the disease, the bodybuilder died at the age of 36, leaving behind a great sporting legacy.

Physician’s Opinion

Ph.D., expert in evidence-based practices and health management

“What is the main reason for the early death of bodybuilders? Is this sport really becoming dangerous and how to stop in time to stay healthy?”

Mortality among professional bodybuilders is a topic of active debate in sports circles. While specific numbers may vary depending on the source, some studies indicate an increased risk of early death in bodybuilders.

Here are four reasons:

Steroid abuse. Anabolic steroids, widely used by bodybuilders for accelerated muscle growth and recovery from workouts, carry serious risks. A study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that steroid use can significantly increase the risk of heart disease;

Improper nutrition and diets. The daily nutrition and diets that bodybuilders follow also deserve attention. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research says the potential risks of extreme diets aimed at rapid weight loss can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies;

Excessive physical activity. Continuous and intense exercise without proper recovery can also cause problems. The authors of the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology paper emphasized that such an approach can significantly increase the risk of injuries, especially those related to joints and muscles;

use of stimulant medications. The use of performance-enhancing drugs such as fat burners and stimulants is becoming increasingly popular among athletes. However, according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, these drugs can cause serious cardiovascular and neurological complications.

Despite all the benefits, exercise can carry certain risks. It is advisable to consult your doctor and trainer before beginning intensive exercise. Use only authorized and tested drugs to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your athletic journey.