Champion female bodybuilder dies aged 37 as death ‘unexpected but peaceful’

The death is one of several to have stunned the body-building world in recent months, and fans and competitors are urging for more to be done to protect athletes’ physical and mental health

The bodybuilding world is in a state of shock after the sudden death of champion Hayley McNeff, a fitness influencer and powerhouse athlete, who passed away on August 8 at just 37. Her death, the cause of which has not yet been disclosed, was described as “unexpected but peaceful” in an obituary, and has left fans and peers devastated.

In a post marking her passing on reddit one fan wrote: “RIP she was awesome in Raising the Bar. Awesome lifter, hardcore attitude, and she really liked to push the heavy weights.”

Hailing from Concord, Massachusetts, McNeff was a lifelong athlete who dominated multiple sports. From her early days as a standout in equestrian, board diving, and skiing, to her later reign as a bodybuilding titan, she was a force of nature.

After graduating from Concord-Carlisle High School and UMass Amherst, McNeff stormed the bodybuilding scene in the 2000s, clinching state titles in Maryland and Delaware. Her grit shone in the 2005 documentary Raising The Bar, where she declared,

“The quest for getting huge will never end. There’s no limit. I hope there’s a day that I’ll be able to look in the mirror 100 percent of the time and be like ‘yeah man, I’m huge.’” After retiring, she set her sights on a psychology graduate degree, showcasing her relentless drive.

McNeff’s obituary paints her as a vibrant soul with a “quick wit” and “constant sense of humor,” who made everyone feel welcomed.

“Her energy and determination was a constant in her life and she always accomplished what she set out to achieve,” it read. “She treasured her friendships and nurtured strong, lasting relationships.”

Tributes poured in, with peer bodybuilder Dave Palumbo posting on Instagram: “I’m sad to hear of the passing of former woman bodybuilder. She left us way too soon. She was a good soul, super intelligent and had tremendous potential as a bodybuilder.

This tragedy follows a grim string of bodybuilder deaths. In July, Spanish star Lorena Blanco, 37, died of a suspected heart attack.

June saw Colombian Zunilda Hoyos Mendez, 43, killed in a brutal hammer attack, with her husband found dead by suicide. In May, Brazilian Gui Bull, 30, died from asphyxiation, followed by Wanderson da Silva Moreira, 30, collapsing during a competition.

April’s loss was Vito Pirbazari, 44, felled by a heart attack, and March saw 20-year-old Jodi Vance die from severe dehydration.

A European Society of Cardiology report warns sudden cardiac death claims 38% of male bodybuilder deaths, with pros five times more at risk due to extreme training, crash diets, and dodgy supplements. Many fans of the sport have called on more to be done to dissuade competitors from unhealthy practices such as doping.

McNeff’s family will hold a visitation in her hometown of Massachusetts, on August 16, urging donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in her honour.

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