Former Pokemon TCG pro and bodybuilder Gabriel Ganley dies at age 22

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Gabriel Ganley, a 22-year-old Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness influencer who used to compete in Pokemon card games, has passed away.

Athlete Mike Ganley passed away on Saturday, May 23rd, according to his sponsor, the supplement company Integralmedica. The reason for his death has not yet been made public.

I’ve been following this creator, Bbzinho – that’s Ganley online – and he’s seriously blown up in Brazil! He’s become a huge fitness personality with over 2.1 million followers. What I really like is his content – it’s all about workouts and bodybuilding, but he’s way more fun and relatable than a lot of other fitness people I see. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and his humor really makes his videos stand out.

Before becoming well-known in bodybuilding, Ganley was a skilled Pokemon Trading Card Game player. He achieved a top-eight ranking in Latin America and represented Brazil at the Pokemon World Championships in Indianapolis, where he was the highest-performing player from his country.

Gabriel Ganley remembered by fitness community

In 2023, Ganley transitioned from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo after joining Integralmedica, and started competing in bodybuilding. Before dedicating himself to content creation and athletics, he studied Physical Education at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

He created videos about how to train, eat, and get ready for bodybuilding contests. He gained popularity beyond Brazil when videos of his incredible strength – like a 500kg leg press – went viral on social media.

Integralmedica shared a heartfelt farewell to their beloved athlete, affectionately calling him their “eternal little one.” They celebrated his inspiring energy, dedication, and genuine personality, noting how he motivated young fans.

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A post shared by Gabriel Ganley (@ganleygabriel)

Following the news of his passing, Classic Physique competitor Ramon Dino was among those who publicly honored Ganley. In a social media post, Dino described him as a consistently cheerful person who always brought joy to others.

Derek Ganley was getting ready to compete again at the Musclecontest Brasil event in Curitiba this July. According to a report from Brazilian news source G1, he had been training to return to competition after recovering from pneumonia last year.

People from the fitness, bodybuilding, and gaming worlds are sharing their memories and paying tribute after his passing. Many are recalling his achievements as a promising young athlete and his earlier victories in Pokemon card competitions.

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2026-05-24 18:49