It’s a sad day in the sport as we report the death of German Open Bodybuilding standout Kevin Gebhardt. According to various media outlets, Kevin Gebhardt died at the tender age of 31; at the time of this writing, his cause of death is unknown. 

At 14 years old, an impressionable Gebhardt fell in love with bodybuilding and weightlifting thanks to his uncle’s influence. From the moment he began strength training, Gebhardt knew it was his calling. He first competed at the NABBA, the NAC, and then at the DBFV. Gebhardt earned his IFBB Pro Card by winning in the EVLS Prague Pro Qualifier in 2018 and went on to make a successful Pro debut. 

Having rubbed elbows with prolific coaches like Milos Sarcev, Gebhardt was determined to leave his mark in bodybuilding. However, in recent years, he also began to embrace the responsibilities of a coach and trainer to aspiring athletes. 

IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and Coach, Kevin Gebhardt Dies at 31

Considering the sparse number of high-profile German bodybuilders in the IFBB Pro League, this news serves as a shock to not only his fans but also those who followed his career closely in his home country. It should be noted that in his last Instagram post published in late April, the bodybuilder updated fans on an operation to repair a torn tendon, as depicted below: 

In his last IFBB Pro appearances, Kevin Gebhardt took 10th at the 2021 Yamamoto Cup Pro and then placed outside of the top 15 at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, won by Rafael Brandao. Having tested himself against the best of the Men’s Open class, Gebhardt’s passion for competing was on constant display, even when he was helping shape other athletes for bodybuilding shows. 

Boasting over 10,000 followers on Instagram, Gebhardt became a highly sought-after coach, whose contributions to the sport of bodybuilding won’t soon be forgotten. He joins a long list of fallen athletes who have met their fate unexpectedly as of late. Deepak Gupta, who was only one year older than Gebhardt, shockingly died inside a gym after fainting during a workout. 

Fellow fitness coach and bodybuilder, Xisco Serra met his demise recently as well. The Spanish bodybuilding star passed away at 50 after years of battling a skin cancer diagnosis. Although performance-enhancing drugs are often pointed to any time a bodybuilder dies, it remains uncertain what caused Germany’s Kevin Gebhardt’s untimely death. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends, family, and anyone affected by the sudden death of Kevin Gebhardt. His career and contributions to bodybuilding will be remembered for years to come. 

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