Friends of Bi Jiaqi, a bodybuilding influencer from China, said he didn’t seem right days before his death but put it down to training fatigue. He had ‘purple lips and tired eyes’
11:29, 30 Jan 2026Updated 11:30, 30 Jan 2026
Friends said he didn’t seem right in the days before his death
A bodybuilding influencer has died suddenly in his sleep at the age of 26. Bi Jiaqi, who was known among his online followers for his gruelling workouts and physique, was messaging his friends just hours before his death.
He was said to have been discussing plans for his next bodybuilding competition. The fitness fanatic had reportedly recently bought a new house and promised to host a dinner party for his friends when it was time to move in.
But the Chinese content creator died on Friday morning (January 30) before it was renovated. His pals said they noticed he didn’t seem right in the days leading up to his death but just put it down to training fatigue.
He was known among online followers for his gruelling workouts
While sorting through recent photos, they noticed his lips appeared purple and he had tired eyes. They also said that the blood vessels in his neck were bulging abnormally.
They said these symptoms seem to suggest oxygen deficiency and circulatory problems, which can lead to cardiac arrest. However, the exact cause of his death has yet to be announced.
Earlier this month, Bi, who came from Ningbo in China, posted a selfie and joked that his “head was swollen like a steamed bun”. His training partners thought it was a normal reaction to extreme fat loss and pre-competition dehydration.
The exact cause of death has yet to be announced
Many athletes reduce their body fat percentage to single digits through extreme water and salt restriction to make their muscles more defined, but it can put severe strain on the heart.
Zhang Yu, a cardiologist at Fuwai Hospital in Shenzhen, said: “Long-term high-intensity fitness training can place a huge burden on the cardiovascular system. In particular, the dehydration and fat reduction methods commonly used by bodybuilders before competitions can make the blood thicker, greatly increasing the risk of thrombosis.
Friends said they spoke to him shortly before his death
“Exercise is a double-edged sword – both inactivity and excessive exercise are bad for the heart. Long-term overload training may lead to myocardial fibrosis and myocardial hypertrophy, which may increase the risk of sudden death.”
The bodybuilder’s Weibo followers were shocked by his sudden passing. Many said they thought he was “invincible”.
His body will undergo an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.
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