Chad McCrary, a Pro Men’s Wheelchair bodybuilding standout, passed away at age 49 on January 2, 2023. The news was first made available via a statement released by his brother; a cause of death has yet to be revealed.
McCrary’s brother, Lance McCrary, posted a video Friday confirming his brother’s demise, with the caption, ‘RIP Chad McCrary: April 1, 1974 – January 2, 2024.’
“Like everybody, I’m very sad and stunned. It’s a hard one. Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know that Chad was good to us and for me, it was finally good to meet him in person in Florida.
But, what I am always going to take away is what we all got to experience with him was just the comradery and it’s always everything that I think all of us try to achieve in this life is having good friends and comradery. I don’t have much to say. Just, the heart hurts. That’s the simplest way to put it. So thanks, and peace and love to everybody,” said Lance McCrary.
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Having tested himself with powerlifting, Chad McCrary eventually made his way over to bodybuilding. He bulked up to the best of his ability for the transition until disaster struck five years later. McCrary fell victim to a motocross accident which resulted in paralysis from the waist down. Using the misfortune as fuel, McCrary kicked off his Men’s Pro Wheelchair bodybuilding career.
Remembering Chad McCrary’s Bodybuilding Contributions
As an NPC bodybuilder, McCrary stood out thanks to his impressive proportions and conditioning levels. He later became a national champion in the heavyweight and masters divisions in 2016 and again in 2020. Making the big jump into the IFBB Pro League, McCrary continued to impress.
The Wheelchair standout finished fourth at the 2022 Arnold Classic and established himself as a top-10 finisher at the 2022 Olympia contest. It was at this show that Chad McCrary got the opportunity to test himself against the best Wheelchair athletes on the planet, which included former five-time Men’s Wheelchair Olympia titleholder, Harold ‘King Kong’ Kelley, who was dethroned by Karol Milewski.
Known for his motivating personality and competitive spirit, McCrary’s absence serves as a major blow to the division.
Chad McCrary’s Competition History
- 2005 NPC Heart of Texas – (1st place)
- 2006 NPC Arkansas State – (1st place)
- 2006 NPC Heart of Texas – (1st place)
- 2006 NPC Lone Star Classic – (1st place)
- 2008 NPC USA Wheelchair Nationals – (2nd place)
- 2008 NPC USA Wheelchair Championship – (2nd place)
- 2016 NPC Wheelchair Nationals – (1st place)
- 2017 NPC Wheelchair Nationals – (2nd place)
- 2020 NPC Wheelchair Nationals – (1st place)
- 2021 Dallas Europa Games – (2nd place)
- 2022 IFBB Dallas Pro – (3rd place)
- 2022 Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair – (4th place)
- 2022 Pro Wheelchair Olympia – (9th place)
Bodybuilding has seen a concerning number of deaths shake up the sport lately. Unfortunately, younger people aren’t immune to these tragedies either. In 2023, several prominent fitness influencers lost their lives before the age of 35, such as Jo Lindner (30), Larissa Borges (33), Catalin Stefanescu (30), and Christian Figueiredo (29).
During his time here, Pro Wheelchair’s McCrary conducted himself honorably and set the tone on stage with high energy anytime he competed. With a handful of titles to his name and herculean strength, his legacy will live on as the division grows.
Our staff at Fitness Volt sends out our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Chad McCrary.
READ: Every Wheelchair Olympia Winner Since 2018
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Died suddenly … Hmmmm sure seem to be hearing that phrase a lot in the last 3 years. Must be some sort of crazy coincidence….