Photo: @jodi.vance.fit/Instagram
Bodybuilder Jodi Vance died at the age of 20 after suffering a fatal heart attack while attending, but not competing in the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, last Thursday (February 27).
"Her heart stopped due to complications of severe dehydration," Vance's family wrote in a post shared on her Instagram account. "Despite all efforts by the hospital, they were unable to revive her. She was a beautiful person inside and out and she will be missed every single day. This was sudden and unexpected. Please give her family time to process this loss in peace. If anyone takes anything from this, please put your heath first."
Vance attended the Arnold Sports Festival, a multi-sport event featured as part of a weekend fitness expo named in honor of legendary actor and seven-time Mr. Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger, to help coach her pupils, according to TMZ Sports. The professional bodybuilder reportedly felt sick after attending the competition and was transported to a local hospital, where she was later declared dead.
Vance's coach, Justin Mihaly, claimed that she had used potentially harmful supplements without his knowledge despite not having any upcoming competitions scheduled prior to her death.
“Jodi made a serious error,” Mihaly said. “Jodi used two extremely hazardous substances to improve her physique — I assume just for the Arnold Expo — without my knowledge, my approval, without family’s knowledge, their approval … There is no reason that she should have been dehydrating.”