The fitness community is coming to terms with another crushing loss. On Jan. 30, 2026, Chinese bodybuilder Bi Jiaqi died in his sleep at just 26 years old. In the wake of his passing, a cardiologist warned about extreme bodybuilding prep practices. As of this writing, a cause of death has not been disclosed.
Bi Jiaqi was a prominent fitness content creator with a passion for bodybuilding. He regularly posted physique updates and training sessions on the Chinese-based social media platform Weibo. Hours before he died, he was mapping out his next bodybuilding competition.
In recent photos of Jiaqi, his friends noticed that he looked off. They reportedly mentioned that his lips looked purple, and he had prominent veins bulging on his neck. However, they chalked these issues up to fatigue and intense training.
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Chinese Bodybuilding Influencer Bi Jiaqi Dead at 26
The Daily Mail was among the first to report on his tragic death. According to a cardiologist, long-term high-intensity training can strain the cardiovascular system.
“Long-term high-intensity fitness training can place a huge burden on the cardiovascular system.”
He noted that Jiaqi’s bodybuilding prep tactics, like dehydration and fat reduction methods, could have caused his blood to thicken, leading to a thrombosis risk.
“In particular, the dehydration and fat reduction methods commonly used by bodybuilders before competitions can make the blood thicker, greatly increasing the risk of thrombosis.”
Moreover, he emphasized that excessive exercise can increase the risk of sudden death:
‘Exercise is a double-edged sword – both inactivity and excessive exercise are bad for the heart,” Zhang Yu, a cardiologist at Fuwai Hospital in Shenzhen, shared. “Long-term overload training may lead to myocardial fibrosis and myocardial hypertrophy, which may increase the risk of sudden death.”
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Days before he died, Jiaqi posted a selfie online, joking that his ‘head was swollen like a steamed bun,’ as reported by Need to Know.
Bodybuilders have been dying at an alarming rate lately. ‘Brazilian Popeye’ Arlindo de Souza, who was known for injecting his biceps with the site-enhancement oil synthol, died at 51 years old. Classic Physique IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Fabiano Andrade also lost his life recently.
In light of so many tragedies, bodybuilding legends have spoken up. Former seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger has stressed that the sport is dangerous and sometimes kills people.
An autopsy of Bi Jiaqi’s body will be conducted to find out the true cause of his death. Our team at Fitness Volt wishes his friend and family our deepest condolences.
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