The Tragic Death Of Bodybuilding Champion Shawn Rhoden
Shawn Rhoden has died. The bodybuilder, who once held the title of Mr. Olympia, died aged 46 on November 6 after experiencing "a fatal heart attack," according to Generation Iron. The outlet claimed he'd also dealt with unspecified "prior health concerns," while Muscle and Fitness reported he suffered the heart attack that took his life one day before his death.
Rhoden, who was also known as Flexatron, earned himself the Mr. Olympia title in 2018 but hadn't competed since in the competition since then after being banned in the wake of a rape allegation made against him (via Bar Bend). The bodybuilder's lawyers told TMZ Sports at the time that he "vigorously denies the charges" and "looks forward to being cleared of these false accusations in court." At the time of his death, the case had not been proven in court.
Rhoden is survived by his daughter, Cora Capri, who he proudly showed off on his Instagram mere days before his death. The star shared a snap of himself and his little girl dressed up for Halloween on October 30, which showed him in a gold mask while she was an adorable Bat Girl.
Rhoden posted his final public Instagram upload on November 5, which showed him shirtless in the gym. "Brick by brick and patience it will take . See you on the other side," he captioned it, adding the hashtags "#thechallenge," "#train," "#fitness," "#musclebeach," and "#flexatron."
Tributes have poured in for the star since his death was announced.
Shawn Rhoden tributes
Shawn Rhoden's trainer, Chris Aceto, confirmed his death on Instagram alongside a touching tribute. In the caption, Aceto praised Rhoden's "desire, ability and need to validate others," while describing him in part as "a giver. Not a taker." Aceto sweetly noted that Rhoden "never spoke badly about anyone" and was "full of kindness, goodness and empathy."
Fellow bodybuilder Rich Gaspari paid tribute to Rhoden via Instagram with a picture of him during a competition. He wrote in the caption that Rhoden's death came as a shock, adding, "It's very sad to hear of his passing. He had always been a gentleman towards me. Shawn had one of the most aesthetic physiques in bodybuilding. My condolences to his family." He added the hashtags "#rip" and "#ripbrother."
Bodybuilder Flex Lewis also shared his thoughts on Instagram. He shared a lengthy message alongside a photo of the two with their children, and told fans in the caption it had taken him a long time and several drafts to share his true thoughts on the tragedy. Alongside his personal tribute, Lewis shared that he believed "too many athletes are not having regular health checks" and "lives can be saved if something is implemented or you can't compete." The cause of Rhoden's heart attack has not been shared publicly. "We lost a good man today, a friend, a father and a champion, I say this with great sadness but I feel this life could of been saved," he added.