Fitness influencer Gabriel Ganley, a Brazilian bodybuilder with millions of social media followers, has died.
He was 22.
His sudden death was caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Brazilian news service NSC Total reported Monday (May 25), after obtaining the death certificate.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a thickening of the heart muscle that can make it hard for the vital organ to relax and pump blood properly, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It’s most often due to genetic abnormalities in the heart muscle, the American Heart Association notes on its website. Most people don’t know they have it, and in rare cases it “can cause heart-related sudden death,” Mayo said. “As a result, sudden cardiac death might be the first sign of the condition.”
A friend found Ganley face down on his kitchen floor Saturday morning after the athlete hadn’t been heard from since the previous Thursday, NSC Total reported.
The Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat said it was investigating his death as suspicious, even though the friend who found him noted “no apparent signs of violence” at the scene, CNN Brasil reported. On Monday the PSS said it was continuing to investigate while awaiting further test results.
Police responding to the scene on Saturday seized several medications, possibly anabolic steroids, NSC Total reported, citing a police report.
Ganley’s mother travelled to Sao Paolo as soon as she heard of her son’s death. When she had last spoken with Gabriel on Thursday, he seemed fine and had no health complaints, she told NSC. She also said her son had no heart disease history.
Ganley was known for generously sharing his workout videos and fitness information with his followers via Instagram (2.3 million), TikTok (1.3 million) and YouTube (403,000), inspiring them along the way.
He himself began lifting at age 15, inspired by videos of iconic bodybuilders from the 1980s and 90s. Among his feats, Ganley had once gone viral for an Instagram video of him leg pressing 500kg (about 1,100 pounds).
The bodybuilding world mourned Ganley, who was just a few weeks away from competing in Brazil’s biggest bodybuilding tournament, Musclecontest Brazil.
“We have lost far more than a talented and dedicated athlete with a brilliant future ahead of him,” supplement manufacturer Integral Médica, which sponsors Ganley, said in a statement confirming his death.
“We have lost a sports influencer who inspired thousands of young people daily with his energy, discipline, and authenticity. Ganley left his mark wherever he went. His charisma, his presence, and his passion for life will remain alive in the memories of all who had the privilege of knowing him and walking alongside him.” – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
