Bodybuilder Mailson Araújo, 35, died Monday after collapsing at his home in Alagoinhas, Brazil, just days before he was scheduled to compete in the Musclecontest event in Curitiba.
The cause of death has not yet been released. Araújo's mother, who is a nurse, and first responders attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been a professional athlete for three years, earning his pro card in 2023 after winning the Arnold Classic South America title. Araújo had several top-four finishes, including a third-place finish at the 2023 Muscleman competition. Hours before his collapse, he posted photos on social media of himself working out and showing off his physique, captioning one post, "In the process, enjoying every day."
Fellow bodybuilders, including Maiki Ono and Lucas Moraes, paid tribute to Araújo online, with Moraes describing him as a "giant."