A 19-year-old Brazilian bodybuilder, Matheus Pavlak, was discovered dead at his home on Sunday afternoon, with reports indicating that a heart attack may have been the cause. Pavlak, who had transformed his body in just five years after beginning bodybuilding to overcome obesity, was a prominent figure in the sport, particularly in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.
Pavlak’s achievements included placing fourth and sixth in recent regional competitions and winning the U23 contest in 2023, earning him the title of “Mr. Blumenau” in his hometown. His unexpected death has led to speculation about the potential role of anabolic steroids in his health issues. Social media users have pointed to his impressive physique at such a young age, suggesting that performance-enhancing drugs may have contributed to the fatal heart attack.
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In response to these accusations, a friend of Pavlak defended his memory on social media, condemning those who would “offend the memory of a boy who is no longer here to defend himself.”
Pavlak had often shared photos of his remarkable body transformation, accompanied by the motivational caption, “No matter how difficult or impossible your dream is, if you really want it, you will get there. I DID.”
His former coach, Lucas Chegatti, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his protégé, describing Pavlak as a “spectacular young man” with a promising future. On Instagram, Chegatti shared, “Today ends in a sad day with the loss of a great friend, a tragedy that has taken us by surprise. He had a brilliant future ahead of him as a respected athlete. God has his plans, but it’s hard to understand.”
Chegatti, who first coached Pavlak in 2022, added, “I promised him that one day he would beat me, and said and done, the first time we competed against each other, he ended up winning.”
Pavlak’s death is the latest in a series of tragedies involving bodybuilders, raising concerns about the sport’s long-term health risks. Earlier this year, Brazilian bodybuilder Jonas Filho, 29, died after battling Covid, and in May, a 50-year-old Majorcan bodybuilder, also a cancer survivor, passed away.