The bodybuilding community is mourning the devastating loss of Jodi Vance, a coach and athlete, who tragically passed away at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Vance, who was attending the event in a coaching capacity, suffered a fatal heart attack, which reports suggest was triggered by severe dehydration.
Her sudden passing has left a significant impact on the fitness world, sparking discussions about the dangers of extreme weight-cutting methods, dehydration, and diuretic misuse, practices that have long been a concern in bodybuilding.
Jodi Vance was not competing at the event but was present at the Arnold Sports Festival to coach and support her athletes. Reports indicate she was backstage assisting competitors when she started feeling unwell, experiencing vomiting and dehydration-related symptoms.
While there was speculation about her preparing for competition, her coach, Justin Mihaly, clarified that she was not training for the Arnold Amateur event and was instead 20 weeks out from her next scheduled competition.
Heartbreaking Announcement from Family
The news of Jodi’s passing was confirmed through an emotional statement on her Instagram page, where her family expressed their sorrow and urged others to prioritize their health:
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“For those who haven’t heard yet, Jodi passed away yesterday afternoon. Her heart stopped due to complications of severe dehydration. Despite all efforts by the hospital, they were unable to revive her. She was a beautiful person inside and out, and she will be missed every single day. This was sudden and unexpected. Please give her family time to process this loss in peace. If anyone takes anything from this, please put your health first.”
Tributes from Friends and Athletes
Jodi’s impact extended far beyond the competition stage. She was a mentor, coach, and inspiration to many in the bodybuilding community. One of her closest friends and athletes, Lee Doernte, shared a touching tribute reflecting on the final moments leading up to her passing:
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life. I lost my best friend, coach, nutritionist, partner, family member, and the most brilliant, beautiful girl I’ve met in many years. For the last 2 years, Jodi trained with me, posed me, coached me, and shared her life with me. Yesterday, as I was on stage competing, Jodi suffered from massive dehydration from vomiting. Being the ever professional, she didn’t tell anyone as she stated, ‘I’m a coach first.’ A friend took her back to the hotel to get her fluids. During the break, she became unresponsive and was rushed to the ER. Jodi had a heart attack and couldn’t be saved. She died never seeing that she helped me achieve a dream. Nothing will ever express how much I’ll miss you.”
Coach’s Statement
Jodi’s passing has also raised questions about the potential dangers of extreme competition prep. Her coach, Justin Mihaly, revealed that she had taken dangerous substances without his or her family’s knowledge, possibly to improve her physique for the Arnold Expo.
“Jodi used two extremely hazardous substances to improve her physique. I assume just for the Arnold Expo. Without my knowledge, my approval, without family’s knowledge, their approval. But Jodi was not prepping for Arnold. She was not in peak weeks. There’s no reason she should have been dehydrated. Jodi competed back in December.”
According to Mihaly, Jodi had an alarmingly high potassium level at the hospital, which suggests that she may have used potassium-sparing diuretics. These substances are commonly used in bodybuilding to eliminate water retention for a leaner look, but their misuse can be fatal.
“That diuretic, combined with the harsh fat-burning drug, which is something I’ve become an advocate against, caught me and everyone by surprise. It had some poor downstream effects. It caused Jodi to code, which means her heart stopped. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.”
Read also: Remembering 28 Bodybuilders Who Passed Away
Dangers of Extreme Dehydration in Bodybuilding
Jodi’s passing is a sobering reminder of the dangers of extreme dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and diuretic use in bodybuilding. Competitors often resort to drastic methods to achieve peak conditioning, but the risks can be severe:
- Severe electrolyte imbalances
- Kidney and organ failure
- Extreme dehydration leading to heat exhaustion
- Cardiac arrest
Sadly, this is not the first time the bodybuilding community has witnessed such a tragedy. In 1992, professional bodybuilder Mohammed Benaziza passed away from severe dehydration, drawing attention to the dangerous lengths some athletes go to for competitive success.
While Jodi Vance was still early in her competitive journey, she had already left a powerful mark on the bodybuilding community. She was a dedicated athlete, mentor, and friend who helped shape the careers of many competitors.
Her passing serves as a wake-up call about the dangers of extreme weight-cutting practices. As the fitness world reflects on this tragedy, her legacy may inspire a push for safer competition standards and greater awareness around the importance of prioritizing health over temporary results.
We at Fitness Volt extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jodi Vance during this incredibly difficult time.
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