Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness influencer Gabriel Ganley, known online as “Bbzinho,” has died. Multiple Brazilian reports listed him as 22.
The news quickly shook Brazil’s fitness scene, where Ganley had become one of the most recognizable young names in bodybuilding. He built a large audience through training clips, physique updates, and a playful gym-culture persona that connected with younger lifters.
By the time of his death, Ganley had roughly 2 million Instagram followers and a major supplement sponsorship, making him one of the sport’s more visible rising figures in Brazil.
What Happened to Gabriel Ganley?
Brazilian reports state that sponsor IntegralMédica confirmed Ganley’s death on May 23 and described him as its “eternal bbzinho.”
“Today the pain speaks louder. With great sadness, we say goodbye to our eternal bbzinho, who lived intensely and with whom we had historic and unforgettable moments in our family,” the company wrote, according to Brazilian media reports.
An official cause of death has not been released. Several bodybuilding pages have circulated hypoglycemia as a possible factor, but that claim has not been confirmed by Ganley’s family or sponsor.
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose drops too low and can become dangerous if not treated quickly. It should not be treated as Ganley’s cause of death unless an official statement confirms it.
Who Was Gabriel Ganley?
Ganley was born in Rio de Janeiro, according to Brazilian outlet Vale Atual. Brazilian sports outlet ge profiled him in 2025 among notable natural bodybuilding names and reported that he started lifting at 15 after watching bodybuilding icons from the 1980s and 1990s.
His mother initially limited him to three gym sessions per week over injury concerns. He also practiced martial arts before focusing fully on bodybuilding.
His profile jumped through size, strength, and social media reach. Lance covered a viral clip of him performing a 500-kilogram leg press, one of the videos that pushed him beyond Brazil’s hardcore lifting audience.
By 2025, ge reported that Ganley had more than 1.2 million followers, major sponsorships, and guidance from prominent names, including Jorlan Vieira. His Instagram audience later grew to roughly 2 million.
Beltrão Agora, citing G1, reported that Ganley studied Physical Education for two years at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where he began posting early fitness content. The report also said he moved to São Paulo in 2023 after signing a sponsorship deal and started competing in bodybuilding around the same period.
O Povo reported that Ganley first gained attention while promoting natural bodybuilding, with early competitions in 2023 and 2024 following that model. The outlet said he later told followers he had started using anabolic steroids, withdrew from 2025 competitions due to pneumonia, and was preparing for Musclecontest Brasil in Curitiba this year.
Tributes Pour in for Gabriel Ganley
Classic Physique star Ramon Dino shared one of the most detailed tributes, recalling a meeting after Dino’s Mr. Olympia victory and a later training session arranged through Oficial Farma.
“Always happy, always playful, always making those around him laugh,” Dino wrote in Portuguese. “Rest in peace, my friend.”
Brazilian bodybuilder Gabriel Zancanelli called him “a unique personality” with standout charisma and said he was still in shock. “May God comfort his family and friends. Rest in peace Bbzinho,” he wrote.
RxMuscle also paid tribute, calling Ganley a Brazilian superstar. Its post listed him as 23, while Brazilian outlets including O Povo, Correio Braziliense, TV SBC, Vale Atual, and Beltrão Agora reported 22.
Coach Fabrício Pacholok said their few meetings were always full of “good energy, many laughs, and jokes.” IFBB Pro Leandro Peres wrote that Ganley left “an eternal trail of light” and called him “an unforgettable friend.”
A Sudden Loss for Brazilian Bodybuilding
Ganley’s death adds to a difficult stretch for bodybuilding in 2026. Other losses covered this year include Albert Beckles, Craig Monson, Bi Jiaqi, Jason Lowe, Andrea Lorini, Mehdi Zatparvar, Davoud Sohrabi, Jose Sebastian Anzola Quintero, Jayne Trcka, and Kevin Notario Nunes.
His youth, reach, and fast rise made the news hit hard. For many Brazilian fans, Ganley represented the newer generation of bodybuilding: social-first, ambitious, and deeply tied to gym culture. The team at FitnessVolt sends its condolences to Ganley’s family, friends, teammates, and fans.
