How did Stacey Cummings die? Tributes pour in for 31-year-old Texas bodybuilder
Stacey Cummings, a 31-year-old bodybuilder, gym owner, and mother of two died unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 20. The cause of Cummings' death is unknown, at this time. Cummings was a well-liked figure in the world of female bodybuilding, and the news of her death was met with an outpouring of love and support from those who knew her.
Cummings began bodybuilding in 2013, and three years later, in 2016, she earned her certification as an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness professional. She participated in the bikini division in the 2021 IFBB Texas Pro and co-owns the Flex Fitness 24/7 club in McKinney, Texas, with her husband, Bryant Fought, a fellow bodybuilder. Cummings and Fought married and had two children.
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On the day she died, Cummings was active on Instagram, uploading a photo of herself posing in a silver bikini with the caption, 'Just over here trying to remind myself what I'm capable of....' The unexpected news stunned the bodybuilding community as well as those close to Cummings. The National Physique Committee's Texas branch issued a statement saying, "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unfortunate and untimely passing of IFBB Pro Stacey Cummings."
After hearing the news, Kelly Lynn, a bodybuilding professional and a friend of Cummings wrote a touching tribute on her Facebook page. "Unbelievable to hear of Stacey Cummings passing. What a beautiful woman. I can't believe it. We did 3 shows together in 2020 and I was at Nationals when she turned pro. How crazy. Just 31 years old. She also has 2 kids. Heartbreaking. It is so incredibly sad to see so many people pass away as of late. I don't know her full story as to what happened, I just know she overcame many demons in her past. This one hit home. May she rest in peace," Lynn wrote.
Cummings' death is the latest in a string of high-profile early fatalities that has devastated the bodybuilding world in the last year. Cedric McMillan, the 2017 Arnold Classic champion, died of a heart attack while running on a treadmill last week at the age of 44. Tom Prince, a retired bodybuilder, died of cancer at the age of 52 in February, just days after Ashley Gearhart, 37, died of unknown circumstances. In November, the winner of the 2018 Mr. Olympia competition, Chuck Kirkendall, 46, stated he had recently suffered a heart attack, while in August, 49-year-old star John Meadows died of a blood clot.