A bodybuilder has tragically died after participating in a competition in Brazil.Antônio Souza was a 26-year-old bodybuilder who had been partaking in bodybuilding events for about five years.Prior to competing at the Navega Open in Santa Catarina on Saturday (August 3), Souza had told his wife, Yone Silva, that he had a "strong pain feeling in his chest," as reported by the Daily Mail.Souza still went ahead with competing and took home a trophy for his top three finish in his category, however, he reportedly suffered cardiac arrest while on stage. He was attended to by doctors present at the competition but unfortunately, he passed away.The bodybuilder's wife shared a heartbreaking message on Instagram, confirming her beloved husband's sudden death."Rest in peace my eternal love, life may be over but my love will be forever, your departure left a void, but your memory will remain. Mourning," she penned under a video of Souza at a competition.The post has now been flooded with condolences and tribute messages from her followers. "My condolences. May God comfort your loss," one user said."Be strong, may God comfort your heart and your entire family," a second user penned, while a third added: "May God comfort his heart and his family.. May God rest his soul... he's in the arms of God the Father almighty.... rest in peace."Silvia also spoke to Brazilian news outlet G1 about the tragedy and claimed that Souza took diuretics - a medication that helps reduce fluid buildup in the body. "He was very dehydrated. Very dry, unfortunately," Silva told the outlet, as cited by Daily Mail.She also opened up about his dedication to bodybuilding, adding: "This is an addictive and at the same time competitive sport. Antônio was very focused on this sport."He'd been dedicated to the sport of bodybuilding. (stock image) Credit: vuk8691/Getty Images The Navega Open released a statement about Souza’s death at the event, saying: "Our condolences to (the) family and friends for this inestimable loss."The late bodybuilder started training at the age of 15. He saw the sport as a way to help provide a better life for his mother, his sister Mary Braz revealed."His dream was to be recognized for doing what he loved and to be able to give our mother a better life," she said. "He was always very focused, he never waited for anyone for anything.""He always knew his goal and he literally gave his life for this sport, he competed until his last breath," she added.Many of Souza’s friends and family have now changed their profile pictures on social media to commemorate their loved one's memory.Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.Featured image credit: Vuk8691 / Getty

MMA fighter Justin Thornton has died at the age of 38.

The veteran fighter died more than a month after he was knocked out by Dillon Cleckler, during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event on August 20 in Mississippi.

BKFC President Dave Feldman confirmed Thornton's tragic death on Monday, October 1.

"This morning we were very saddened to be notified of the passing of one of our fighters, Justin Thornton, who competed at BKFC 20 on August 20, 2021," Feldman said in a statement to MMA Fighting.

"We join the rest of the combat sports community in sending our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."

MMA Fighting reported the Thornton-Cleckler fight lasted for a matter of seconds before Thornton collapsed in the ring, after taking multiple blows to the face.

According to TMZ, the fighter stayed down for several minutes. Thornton was hospitalized and suffered serious injuries.

A post on Thornton's Facebook page made on September 23 said the fighter was paralyzed, required assistance breathing, and also suffered an infection in his lungs and spinal cord.

His partner Amber Willard said at the time despite his injuries he was in good spirits, and even joked with her.

In the post, she wrote: "I've been with Justin on and off the past 7 years those who know me personally and have met me you guys know who you are I'm here with him and I'm never leaving, him and I are very much in love!"

She continued: "As y'all know he is paralyzed he DOES NOT have a pacemaker. Here is as followed, he is on a ventilator, he has a tracheotomy, he is on ivs for infection in his lungs and medication for his spinal cord injury.

"I bathe him 4 times a week. I feed him when I am able and I give him drinks all the time. "He watches his favorite tv shows and movies on my tablet... He makes jokes."

It is not clear at this time why his health declined.

Prior to his BKFC debut, Thornton was a regular on the MMA circuit and took on the likes of Lex McMahon and UFC heavyweights Chase Sherman, Walt Harris.

Featured image credit: Allan Swart / Alamy

American wrestling star Alan Vera has tragically passed away at the age of 33.News of the Pan American champion's heartbreaking death was revealed in a statement issued by USA Wrestling executive director Rich Bender.“Our hearts have been broken,” Bender penned, cited by Fox News. “Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Elena, Alina, and all of Alan’s family, as well as those who have known Alan. The wrestling community mourns the loss of a great champion, whose incredible life impacted so many within USA Wrestling and around the world.""Vera was well-known for his exciting style of wrestling, which often included high-amplitude throws and strong parterre skills which led to many exposures on the mat. However, he will be remembered more for the kind of man that he was, a positive, friendly, upbeat person who brought joy to those around him," USA Wrestling added.Credit: GoFundMeVera suffered a "sudden cardiac arrest" on July 29 while playing soccer with a group of friends in Jersey City, New Jersey, according to a GoFundMe shared by his family.He was hospitalized after the incident but died on Monday (September 23) around 8PM after the "unexpected infection took hold over the weekend," per the donations page."His body, despite fighting with every ounce of strength for the past two months, could no longer endure the battle," his family wrote. "While his passing brings a sense of peace knowing he is no longer suffering, the void left behind is immeasurable."We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and generosity we've received throughout this difficult time," they continued. "However, as we face the next steps in honoring Alan’s memory handling unforeseen expenses, and supporting Alan's baby Alina, we humbly ask for your continued support."Any contribution, no matter the size, will help us through this challenging time. Thank you for standing with us during this journey," the page concluded.As of the time of writing, $49,746 has been raised of the $50,000 goal.Vera has been a member of the Greco-Roman National Team since 2020. Credit: Tim Nwachukwu / GettyThe Cuban-born athlete quickly became a star in Greco-Roman wrestling for the Cuban National Team, winning bronze at the 2015 Pan American Games and securing gold at the Pan American Championships in 2016.Later that year, Vera immigrated to the United States and pursued citizenship. He then became eligible to compete for the American team, winning four Senior National titles, and solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's elite competitors.Vera’s soccer club, New Jersey Wolves FC, shared a tribute post on Instagram, which read that the late athlete's “spirit on and off the field inspired us all” and that his “kindness will forever echo in our hearts.” He is survived by his wife Elena Pirozhkova, who is a two-time Olympic wrestler, and their infant daughter Alina.Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.Featured image credit: Sarah Stier / Getty

A young bodybuilder suffered a fatal heart attack after doing a workout in the gym.A man suffered a cardiac arrest during his gym workout. Credit: Enes Evren/GettyJosé Mateus Correia Silva, 28, from Brazil, was reportedly working out with his friends when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest.He was rushed to a nearby fire station in Aguas Claras, Brasilia, to get medical help but multiple resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and José was pronounced dead shortly after.He was laid to rest two days later.While the official cause of death has not yet been revealed, some social media users have alleged steroids may have contributed to the bodybuilder’s death. However, there is no evidence that suggests this at this point in the investigation.Others also wondered whether the man simply pushed his body a little too hard."My neighbor is into professional body building. He said when you're training you're cutting so much and pushing your body to extreme limits to get an edge. Said he sometimes felt like he wanted to die or quit," wrote one person on X.In a statement, his brother Tiago thanked everyone who supported José."I want to thank the entire team that tried to save his life. They were all very professional and provided all the support," he said, as per Need To Know."Heaven gained an angel. We are deeply saddened. He was so loved," Tiago added. "We’ve received so many kind messages, flowers, and expressions of support."We are very Catholic, we believe in eternal life, and we’ll face this together," he concluded.The outlet also reported that the 28-year-old had no other known health issues.While the athlete no longer competed as a bodybuilder, he did finish in ninth place in the 2018 South American Championships in the Men’s Physique Class up to 179cm, per the Daily Mail.He used his free time to coach other high-performance athletes and create videos to post on social media, giving his followers exercise tips as well as motivational content.Other tributes have also been pouring in as the news continues to spread online."Sad, man. Many things happening around these days," wrote one user."Lord have mercy," another added."Thoughts to the family..." a third commented.This loss follows the recent deaths of other young bodybuilders, including Matheus Pavlak and a Belarusian known as 'The Mutant,' who were both victims of heart attacks.Featured Image Credit: Hirurg/Getty

MMA fighter and UFC star Elias Theodorou has tragically passed away at the age of 34.

The mixed martial arts world is mourning the loss of the Canadian fighter, who fought his last professional match against Bryan Baker on December 18, 2021, in the Colorado Combat Club 10 event.

The Daily Mail reports that the middleweight fighter died of cancer, with the fighter choosing not to make his battle with the illness public.

Theodorou died on Sunday, September 11, after being diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer.

Credit: The Canadian Press / Alamy

While studying for his BA degree in Creative Advertising at Humber College, Theodorou started taking MMA classes, and eventually opted to pursue the sport as a career.

During his time in the UFC, he won eight of his 11 fights - defeating the likes of Cezar Ferreira, Dan Kelly, and Trevor Smith. He would ultimately go on to be ranked 13th in the UFC, but departed the UFC after Dana White claimed it would be unlikely for him to become a top five fighter following his loss to Derek Brunson on May 4, 2019.

Throughout his professional MMA career, Theodorou boasted a 19-3 record, with eight of his victories coming by knockout.

News.com.au also reported that Theodorou was the first professional athlete in the US to be granted medical exemption for the use of cannabis.

Following Theodorou's passing, Dana White led tributes on social media, sharing an image of the fighter to his Instagram Stories, along with the caption: "RIP Elias Theodorou".

Credit: Instagram/DanaWhite

TSN MMA reporter Aaron Bronsteter also took to Twitter to say: "Sadly, a representative of Elias Theodorou has confirmed earlier reports that he has passed away at age 34.

“Theodorou was privately battling Stage 4 liver cancer and had only told a select group of people of his diagnosis."

Bronsteter's post continued: "Securing the Therapeutic Use Exemption was a years-long quest that he dedicated his time and resources towards and his legacy for cannabis athletes will be felt for years to come. RIP Elias. A great athlete with a wonderful sense of humour and a smile that would light up a room."

UFC welterweight star Michael Chiesa also shared an emotional video paying tribute to Theodorou - recalling how his friend once literally gave him the shirt off his back.

UFC Senior VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky also took to Twitter to say: "RIP Elias Theodorou. A great person and a HUGE voice for the more fair and equitable treatment of marijuana use in MMA and sport."

Our thoughts are with Theodorou's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured image credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy