Sifiso Lungelo Thabethe, Rest in Peace

[Curt James]

Only 23 years old. This is so incredibly sad. I'm not linking the video because I just don't want to watch that, but wanted to pay my respects to a young man who met an unfortunate end.

Junior IFBB World Champ Dies After Botched Back Flip

Sifiso-Lungelo-Thabethe.jpg

Another sad new for the bodybuilding world. Sifiso Lungelo Thabethe a young South African bodybuilder and IFBB Junior World Champion suffered an unfortunate fate as he sustained a broken neck while attempting a back flip.

The incident took place this past Saturday during a local bodybuilding event in Thabethe’s hometown of Emlazi.

In a video that’s gone viral, bodybuilder Thabethe is seen entering a gymnasium and walking to a gym mat while whipping up the crowd to get them cheering.

The 23-year-old competitor then ran to the middle of the mat and jumped in the air to attempt the back flip.

But his body never gained enough momentum to rotate and Thabethe landed on the back of his head. His body then rolled over and the man laid motionless on the mat before several people rushed to help.

According to the U.K. Mirror, Thabethe broke his neck and later died of his injuries.

Thabethe was an IFBB junior world champion in the up to 75kg category. He most recently won the IFBB Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix competition in July in the under-23, 75kg division.

According to Muscle Evolution magazine Thabethe “was described by many as a young man with a bright future”.

[Curt James]

I haven't watched the video, but just saw on my Facebook newsfeed that someone (not medical personnel) moved his legs after the accident. I'm sure that didn't do him any good.