Brazilian bodybuilding influencer Mailson Araujo has died at just 35 years old, hours after sharing gym photos on Instagram and days before he was set to compete. The athlete suffered a medical emergency at his home in Alagoinhas, Brazil, on Monday, July 13. His mother, a nursing technician, immediately performed CPR, and first responders were called to the scene, but he was pronounced dead.
Araujo, who earned his professional bodybuilding card in 2023, was in the final stages of preparation for the Musclecontest Brazil 2026 competition in Curitiba, scheduled for July 17. The Men’s Physique athlete had built a following of over 32,000 on Instagram, where he regularly shared training videos, progress photos, and fitness advice.
His final Instagram post, shared just hours before his death, showed him working out in the gym and receiving physiotherapy treatment. The post has since become a place for family, friends, and fans to mourn. The cause of death has not been publicly released. Araujo was also a singer who performed at his local evangelical church.
