Another sad new for the bodybuilding world. Sifiso Lungelo Thabethe a young South African bodybuilder and IFBB Junior World Champion suffered an unfortunate fate as he sustained a broken neck while attempting a back flip.
The incident took place this past Saturday during a local bodybuilding event in Thabethe’s hometown of Emlazi.
In a video that’s gone viral, bodybuilder Thabethe is seen entering a gymnasium and walking to a gym mat while whipping up the crowd to get them cheering.
The 23-year-old competitor then ran to the middle of the mat and jumped in the air to attempt the back flip.
But his body never gained enough momentum to rotate and Thabethe landed on the back of his head. His body then rolled over and the man laid motionless on the mat before several people rushed to help.
According to the U.K. Mirror, Thabethe broke his neck and later died of his injuries.
Thabethe was an IFBB junior world champion in the up to 75kg category. He most recently won the IFBB Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix competition in July in the under-23, 75kg division.
According to Muscle Evolution magazine Thabethe “was described by many as a young man with a bright future”.
WARNING: Graphic video
A little reminder… Your Brain has no muscles to protect it.. Keep your head safe all the time. Avoid getting hit on your thinking machine pic.twitter.com/LT1BKXILMr
— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) August 9, 2017
Why couldn’t he just accept victory and raise his hands like a true champ? Look what happens when you do crossfit stuff..a shame though.
Dam it shit fuck
Isn’t that how big ramy got injured
Michael Baeza
Looks like your website can’t handle the traffic.
Such a shame, really good guy & it’s a pity things turned out the way they did. We gonna miss u in the gym big guy. RIP sfiso
terribly sad…Thoughts are with his family.
Amber Renae Peck Tim Wynn
Thats a horrible way to go out..
Link doesn’t work
RIP but how can muscle man do acrobatics and summersaults look at his muscle . That’s double coincidence of wants
Sam Valashjardi Chris St Daniel Andersson Shiiet, han dog
Wow RIP young man
I can’t support drug use in those under 25 years old .. sorry for loss
Greg Taylor saw this before. Why. Why. Why. ♂️
Video is on YouTube
Matt Ryan yo he really died bro!???
Not really breaking news when it happened 7days ago
Igor Majda
Dave Schilder Jimi Duiveman
Alex Prajisteanu lol
James Truran
Andrew Dean
Ernest Smith
worst back flip ever.
Just saw the video of it
Pito Ketjap Louisa
Richard Sauta
Patrick Berg Jeff Hobbs
Mantas Daud
Damn. He wasn’t even close.
Wais Zamani
When did the ifbb have a junior division isn’t npc
Jorge Antonio 🙁
I am sorry for the loss I was just asking
Gyp Gil
John Parsons
RIP buddy
Russ Sherman take note
Thejas Rathan
Kam Gallman Daryl Carter Jordan G Stevens Pauly Miquel – crazy yo!
Michael Hairston Pnba Pro sad brother
Mirko Pietra Salvatore Iadicola
Declan Calvey wtff
Poor fucking guy… Poor family. God have mercy on us all.
That was saddening
Wait what
Isn’t that crazy! It looked like it hurt in the video, I would have never guessed he would die from that though.
Forgot to train his neck
Nick Honzik