A teenage bodybuilder with a “brilliant future” ahead of him has been found dead in his home in Brazil.
19-year-old Matheus Pavlak transformed his body in just five years after taking up the grueling sport to overcome obesity.
The police officer’s son regularly competed in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, where he lived. Last year, he won an under-23 competition in his hometown of the same name to earn the title of “Mr. Blumenau.”
In May this year he finished fourth and sixth in other regional competitions.
He was found dead in his home on Sunday afternoon, probably after a heart attack.
Matheus Pavlak started bodybuilding in 2019 to overcome his childhood obesity
The 19-year-old was a regular competitor in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, where he lived
Matheus (right) won a U23 competition last year to become Mr. Blumenau in his hometown
Former coach Lucas Chegatti posted an emotional tribute to the teenager after news of his passing emerged, along with pictures of his former star pupil celebrating one of his match victories. He wrote: ‘Today ends in a sad day with the loss of a great friend, a great boy who leaves us prematurely, a tragedy that took us by surprise.
‘He had a bright future ahead of him as a respected athlete.
‘God has His plans, but it’s hard to understand. I have no words to express the pressure I feel on my heart.
‘I was Matheus’ first coach and I am proud that I was able to take care of him like a son.
‘I promised him that he would beat me one day and he did. The first time we fought, he won.
“He was no longer part of my team, but I know I managed to create a great athlete. May God comfort his family and take care of our boy.”
He also said that Matheus decided to take up bodybuilding to overcome his childhood weight problems: ‘He started training harder around 2019 because of his obesity.
“When we met in 2022, we aligned our training and focused on making him a champion.”
Matheus himself posted photos and videos of his remarkable body transformation on his own social media, showing how he has grown from a chubby boy to a talented athlete in just a few years.
He wrote with the images: ‘It doesn’t matter how difficult or impossible your dream is.
The teenager was found dead in his home on Sunday afternoon after suffering a heart attack. Pictured: Matheus before he started his bodybuilding adventure
In May of this year, the teenager finished fourth and sixth in other regional competitions
Matheus himself had posted photos and video footage of his remarkable body transformation on his own social media
“If you really want it, you’ll make it happen. I DID IT.”
Critics claim that anabolic steroids likely caused Matheus’ untimely death.
Someone wrote on his Instagram: ‘It’s impossible to get that much muscle definition at 19.
“If anyone is to blame, it is the person who prescribed this flood of steroids.”
Another replied: ‘It’s not the fault of those who sell, but of those who decide to use them.’
But an acquaintance of the tragic teenager raged: ‘How is it possible that there are people who can insult the memory of a boy who is no longer there to defend himself!!
Much strength to Matheus’ family.
“And a message to the authors of these poisonous and inhumane comments: be careful. You reap what you sow.”
Matheus’ death is the latest in a series of high-profile tragedies involving bodybuilders.
In May, a bodybuilder from Mallorca died at the age of 50 after surviving cancer and life-threatening peritonitis.
At the time, Xisco Serra’s untimely death was locally attributed to natural causes after he developed stomach problems.
Critics claim that anabolic steroids likely caused Matheus’ untimely death
He went from a chubby boy to a well-trained athlete in just a few years
The sports science graduate started weightlifting at the age of 16 and began competing thirty years ago, taking part in around 90 competitions in total.
His most notable victories on the international stage include Mr World IBFA in Rome in 2011 and Mr Universe IBFA in the 40-plus category in 2014. That same year, he was named overall Musclebeach Champion after competing in Venice, California.
He took part in the competition last year, when he was crowned champion in Tenerife.
In April, a Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness instructor died at the age of 29 after losing his battle with Covid.
Jonas Filho, better known as Jonas Big, worried his 10,400 followers on Instagram after posting photos of himself on life support in a hospital in the city of Fortaleza shortly after his admission.
He captioned the photos: ‘Only God knows the pain and tears of the clown.’
In an earlier post, referring to his humble upbringing in the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceara, he wrote alongside a photo of him working out in the gym: ‘When you come from a poor family, you only have one option and one chance. The option to work to have the chance to turn the game around. And I don’t think about anything else.’
A few days before his death, it was announced that a Portuguese bodybuilder had died in Cologne (Germany) at the age of 46.
Marco Luis, better known in his native language by his nickname Monster or Monstro, worked as an online coach and motivator.
His Canadian-born wife Mariza Luis confirmed the sad news, saying he was “in his ‘paradise’ doing what he loves most.”
Marco Luis, who hails from the volcanic island of Terceira in the Azores archipelago, had nearly 25,000 followers on Instagram and his own YouTube channel alone.
He called bodybuilding “his life and passion” and previously called himself the “most muscular bodybuilder ever” online.