List of Bodybuilding Stars That Passed Away In 2023 – Joesthetics, Lisa Lyon And More

The cycle of life and death is an inescapable part of the world we live in. Irrespective of how different philosophies and belief systems perceive the idea of death, it is an extremely painful experience to lose the people that are close to you or those who inspire you.

The year 2023 is nearing its end and a lot has happened in the last eleven months. The bodybuilding world went through a major churning out process and witnessed the emergence of new talent that will keep the torch burning. But unfortunately, there are some beloved figures that will live only in our memories going forward.

Many notable people in the fitness and bodybuilding industry passed away in 2023. In this article, we pay tribute to them and take a look at their achievements in the fitness and bodybuilding industry. 

Laith Abdullah Algaz AKA Leo Rex

Leo Rex became popular in the YouTube fitness community because of his channel Leo and Longevity. His content revolved around topics related to men’s health and performance longevity. He was well-respected within the fitness community for well researched takes on different topics and in-depth knowledge of fitness and well being.

In January 2023, Leo was found dead in the bedroom of Tony Huge’s house in Pattaya Lagoon village in Thailand. To the shock of his friends, Leo’s house was ransacked and various items were lying around the house and bathroom. The mysterious death raised a lot of eyebrows when the news of Leo Rex’s passing was made public. But tragically, there has been no closure about the potential involvement of anyone or the exact reasons for his death.

Tonya Knight

One of the most prominent female bodybuilders of the 1980s, Tonya Knight established herself as one of the foremost competitors with excellent posing, well-proportioned physique and great conditioning. She competed professionally for a little over half a decade but left a lasting legacy in the sport.

Her only Ms. Olympia appearance came in the year 1988 where Knight finished fourth. She then went on to win the 1989 Ms. International competition. However, both results were overturned due to breach of drug testing protocol on her behalf.

Returning in 1991, Tonya Knight recaptured the Ms. International crown without any controversy. She officially retired from bodybuilding in 1993. Apart from bodybuilding, Tonya Knight also appeared in American television series The American Gladiators alongside Mike O’Hearn.

Knight breathed her last on February 7, 2023 after a prolonged battle with cancer. However, her legacy lives on. At the peak of her career, the former Ms. International winner competed against some of the greatest female bodybuilders of her era like Anja Schreiner and Cory Everson.

Lee Banks

Lee Banks started his bodybuilding career all the way back in 2002 and competed until as recently as 2019. He started out as a Men’s Open division competitor and participated in several pro shows. However, he did his best work in the Classic Physique division. He made the transition to the division in 2017 and achieved a runner-up finish at the 2017 Chicago Pro. The competitive season culminated into a top ten finish at the 2017 Olympia.

In addition to being a professional bodybuilder, Lee Banks was a successful businessman and the owner of a successful business studio. He was also a promoter of ‘Natural Gym Association’ and was working on an event that was scheduled to take place in May 2023. But unfortunately, Lee Banks succumbed to the cancerous carcinoid tumor in the intestines that he was fighting with for a while. On February 2, 2023, Lee Banks passed away because of the disease.

Kurt Marnul

Kurt Marnul was a proud representative of the European bodybuilding scene in the 1950s and 1960s. The veteran bodybuilder became the Austrian National Bodybuilding Champion in 1962, 1963 and 1964. He also transitioned to becoming a bodybuilding trainer and started his own gym in the year 1958. Marnul trained Arnold Schwarzenegger in the early years of his development.

Arnold met Kurt Marnul in the 1960s when he was a teenager. He had just started to lift weights at the time. Under Marnul’s guidance, Arnold won the 1966 FIHC Mr. Universe show. Although he went on to become one of the greatest bodybuilders in history, Arnold Schwarzenegger always credited Kurt Marnul as his first idol and trainer. Kurt Marnul lived a long and healthy life. On February 8, 2023, Kurt Marnul said goodbye to the world.

Happy 90th birthday, Kurt Marnul! You were a mentor to @Schwarzenegger when he got started as The Oak's trainer. We honor you for all you've done for Arnold and for your contributions to the world of bodybuilding! #KurtMarnul pic.twitter.com/RCE8bTQ2xI

— The Arnold Fans (@TheArnoldFans) May 30, 2019

Mike Quinn

‘Mighty Mike’ Quinn was an elite bodybuilder from the 1980s and 1990s. He quickly became popular with a freakish physique and charismatic personality. His massive arms had a separate fan base back in the day. He was dubbed as the bad boy of the sport and he often shared unfiltered opinions on sensitive topics like steroid use in bodybuilding.

Mike Quinn’s best standing on the prestigious Olympia stage came in the year 1988 when he finished fifth in the Men’s Open division. On May 30, 2023, Mike Quinn’s sister Kellie Quinn reported the news of his sad demise after a prolonged illness. He was 61 years old.

Joe Lindner AKA Joesthetics

German bodybuilder and fitness influencer Joe Lindner was known for pushing the limits in the gym. He was one of the most disciplined individuals in the fitness community and the results showed in his excellent physique. At 30 years of age, Lindner’s career was booming and he was on the forefront of the YouTube fitness community.

But in a shocking turn of events, Joe Lindner AKA Joesethetics tragically passed away from an aneurysm. He complained about neck pain a few days before his tragic passing but ignored it. Joe Lindner was lying in his girlfriend’s arms when he passed away from an aneurysm. The German bodybuilder’s untimely death came as a massive shock to the fitness and bodybuilding community.

Gustavo Badell

‘The Freakin Rican’ competed against the likes of Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman in the 2000s era of bodybuilding. The most impressive performance of Badell’s pro career came at the 2005 Olympia when he defeated both Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler in the challenge rounds.

But apart from that, Badell won several pro shows like the 2006 Iron Man Pro Invitational, 2006 San Francisco Pro Invitational and the 2009 Atlantic City Pro. Following a 13th place finish at the 2012 Arnold Classic, ‘The Freakin Rican’ called it a career. IN July 2023, it was reported that Gustavo Badell passed away at 50 years of age.

He had suffered from a kidney ailment and was a recipient of the organ. However, it is not clear if the problem with kidneys caused his death. Nick Trigili of Bodybuilding and BS revealed that Badell was trying to bulk up at the time of his passing.

Larissa Borges

Fitness influencer Larissa Borges, 33, passed away on August 28, 2023 after two episodes of cardiac arrest. The news of her untimely demise was shared by her family on social media. Borges was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack while traveling in Gramado. The 33-year-old was in coma for one week before her passing and fought bravely against death. But the second heart attack proved fatal and she could not survive it.

Lisa Lyon

Women’s bodybuilding pioneer Lisa Lyon also bid adieu to the world in the year 2023. Lyon is credited for ingraining the spirit of bodybuilding in women. By doing this, she opened up a big door of opportunities for women in the 1970s.

Lisa Lyon was unique in the sense that she displayed an elite level of fitness without compromising her femininity. She had the perfect proportions and aesthetic appeal that accentuates a woman’s beauty. Although she did not have a storied professional bodybuilding career, Lyon made a huge impact on the minds of women and played a significant role in turning them towards the sport.

Lisa Lyon was battling pancreatic cancer in hospice care at her San Fernando Valley home. She succumbed to the disease on September 8, 2023.

Lisa Lyon, bodybuilding pioneer and inspiration for Marvel’s Elektra, dead at 70 https://t.co/h2q6C8MkGc pic.twitter.com/zplIvUr0UJ

— New York Post (@nypost) September 9, 2023

Neil Currey

34-year-old bodybuilder Neil Currey ended his own life in September 2023. Currey was a Classic Physique competitor that made his professional bodybuilding debut in 2019. He secured the first pro win of his career at the 2022 New York Pro. The win had secured him the 2022 Olympia qualification where he finished 16th.

Neil Curry was making rapid progress in his career and his growth intrigued the experts about his rise in the division. However, his untimely demise sent the bodybuilding world into shock.

Here is the complete list of notable bodybuilders and fitness industry professionals that passed away in 2023:

1. Eric Fleishman
2. Murat Gonul
3. Amy Richardson
4. Leo Longevity
5. Lee Banks
6. Tonya Knight
7. Kurt Marnul
8. Dawn Whitham
9. Ed Fury
10. Billy Graham (WWE superstar)
11. Mike Quinn
12. Daniel Quattlebaum
13. Jo Lindner
14. Don Reinhoudt
15. Catalin Stefanescu
16. Gustavo Badell
17. Ashish Sakharkar
18. Justin Vicky
19. Larissa Borges
20. Ahmo Hight
21. Lisa Lyon
22. Neil Currey
23. Christian Figueiredo
24. Eustacio Batista
25. Raechelle Chase
26. Luis Manuel Lomeli

Bodybuilder deaths and their impact on the community

Untimely deaths of bodybuilders at a young age are becoming a growing cause of concern in the bodybuilding industry. Deaths of Cedric McMillan and 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden intensified the fear last year and tragic passing of emerging talent like Joe Lindner has only added fuel to the fire.

These instances have raised a lot of questions about the negative impact of intense bodybuilding lifestyle on long-term health and performance longevity. Irrespective of whether their deaths were directly related to the arduous lifestyle or not, there needs to be a more cautious approach to bodybuilding and fitness training.

Apart from the natural causes or health conditions, bodybuilders like Manuel Lomeli and Eustacio Batista lost their lives in violent encounters. Meanwhile, others like Justin Vicky, Christian Figueiredo and Catalin Stefaescu lost their lives to freak accidents or medical complications.

Fitness Volt gives heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the bodybuilders that passed away in 2023. Through our journalistic work, we will make sure that they continue to live on through the lasting legacies created by them.

Read also: 21 Bodybuilders Who Died of Heart Attack

Featured Image: @ifbbprogustavobadell, @tonyaknightpro and @joesthetics on Instagram 

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