Gustavo Badell, star bodybuilder known as ‘The Freakin’ Rican’, dies at 50: friends remember ‘a consummate professional and one of the hardest workers of his generation’
- The cause of death of Gustavo Badell has not yet been publicly revealed
- Previously, he finished third in the Mr. Olympia competition in 2004 and 2005.
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news
Bodybuilder Gustavo Badell dies at the age of 50.
Details about the death of the decorated muscleman remain unclear, but his friend Eddie Abbew confirmed the news on Thursday.
‘I woke up this morning with the information that Gustavo has passed away. My heart goes out to his family and friends of his,” Abbew wrote. ‘Gustavo was ten years younger than me. He is always sad when a young man is taken away too soon. Rest in peace Gustavo and I know you will be missed.
Muscle Tech, a supplement company that worked with Badell, also paid tribute to the retired bodybuilder.
“It was an honor to be represented by a man who was a consummate professional and one of the hardest working bodybuilders of his generation,” a tweet from the company account read. ‘Today we remember the lives Gustavo touched and the legacy he left behind.’
Bodybuilder Gustavo Badell dies at the age of 50, revealed one of his former rivals
Badell retired from bodybuilding but continued to promote health and fitness online.
The native Venezuelan moved to Puerto Rico at age 20 after starting his bodybuilding career at 19, eventually winning the Junior Caribbean Bodybuilding Championship in 1991.
Badell went on to compete in the sport’s biggest events, including the Arnold Classic, World Pro Championships, Ironman Pro, and Atlantic City Pro, which he won.
He finished 24th in his first Mr. Olympia competition in 2002, but was much more impressive in 2004 and 2005, when he finished third behind Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler (no relation to the football player).
Mourners have since rushed to her Instagram page to share their grief.
‘Rest in peace champion,’ wrote bodybuilder Angela Debatin. ‘I had the honor of sharing the Olympia stage with you, we did a guest performance together here in Orlando in 2005.
‘After years, you helped me before the contest to compete in Tampa Pro 2019.
‘We trained together and I will keep those memories forever in my mind!’
Fans wept on Instagram in English and Spanish after Badell’s passing
One fan commented on how young Badell looked at 50.
“She looked so young for her age,” the tweet read. “One of the hardest workers of his generation, he will be truly missed.”
Another bodybuilder added: ‘We lost another great one. One of the most symmetrical and aesthetic of all time. Bodybuilding 4 life brother.’
Badell had been retired since 2012, but remained active online, promoting bodybuilding and personal fitness.
