Jodi Vance was reportedly not competing at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival but there in a coaching capacity before she died
The bodybuilding community is mourning the sudden loss of coach and athlete Jodi Vance, who tragically passed away during the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Initial reports from friends and family suggest that severe dehydration led to a major heart attack, resulting in her untimely death.
Jodi Vance was a relative newcomer to the competitive bodybuilding scene but had already made notable strides. She competed in the Women’s Physique division at the 2024 NPC Battle of Texas, securing a commendable third place.
Her dedication and passion for the sport were evident, both as a competitor and as a coach.
Role at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival
Although not competing at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival, Vance attended in her capacity as a coach, supporting athletes throughout the weekend event. Reports indicate she was backstage serving as a posing coach when she began to feel unwell, experiencing vomiting and eventually requiring hospitalization.
Speculation arose regarding Vance’s potential participation in the Arnold Amateur bodybuilding event. However, her coach, Justin Mihaly, clarified that she was not preparing for competition at the Arnold Sports Festival and was approximately 20 weeks out from her next planned show.
Family’s Heartfelt Announcement
Vance’s family confirmed her passing through a poignant post on her Instagram page:
“From Jodi’s family and loved ones: For those that haven’t heard yet, Jodi passed away yesterday afternoon. Her heart stopped due to complications of severe dehydration. Despite all efforts by the hospital, they were unable to revive her. She was a beautiful person inside and out, and she will be missed every single day. This was sudden and unexpected. Please give her family time to process this loss in peace. If anyone takes anything from this, please put your health first.”
Tributes and Recollections
Lee Doernte, a close friend and mentee, shared his grief and recounted the events leading up to Vance’s passing:
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life. I lost my best friend, coach, nutritionist, partner, family member, and the most brilliant, beautiful girl I’ve met in many years. For the last 2 years, Jodi Vance trained with me, posed me, coached me, and shared her life with me. Yesterday, as I was on stage competing, Jodi suffered from massive dehydration from vomiting. Being the ever professional, she didn’t tell anyone as she stated, ‘I’m a coach first.’ A friend took her back to the hotel to get her fluids. During the break, she became unresponsive and was rushed to the ER. Jodi had a heart attack and couldn’t be saved. She died never seeing that she helped me achieve a dream. Nothing will ever express how much I’ll miss you.”
Coach’s Insights on the Tragedy
Justin Mihaly, Vance’s coach, provided further details in an emotional Instagram video, revealing that she had taken hazardous substances without his or her family’s knowledge:
“Jodi used two extremely hazardous substances to improve her physique. I assume just for the Arnold Expo. Without my knowledge, my approval, without family’s knowledge, their approval. But Jodi was not prepping for Arnold. She was not in peak weeks. There’s no reason she should have been dehydrated. Jodi competed back in December. Jodi wanted to compete throughout Texas this year.”
He continued:
“Anyone who knows her knows how challenged that would be. Her work ethic was actually second to nobody. It was so hard getting her to pull back, but one of the drugs that was used was something that Jodi had expressed interest to me before, to use for her last preparation. But as with any client who had undergone protocols that were pretty intense under my tutelage over the past couple of years, bodybuilding has intense protocols at times. It is an intense freaking sport. We had a conversation and decided it’s not to be used at that time. Jodi had a potassium rating of nine at the hospital, which suggests a potassium-sparing diuretic had been used. That’s an insanely high reading. And this reading is something I did not see firsthand. This is what I was told. We do know she had access to these things, and we now know that it was being used. That diuretic combined with the harsh fat-burning drug, which is something I’ve become an advocate against, caught me and everyone by surprise. It had some poor downstream effects. It caused Jodi to code, which means her heart stopped. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.”
You can watch Justin Mihany’s full video post below:
The Dangers of Diuretic Use in Bodybuilding
Jodi Vance’s tragic death underscores the potential dangers associated with diuretic use in bodybuilding. Diuretics are substances that promote the production of urine, aiding in the reduction of water retention to achieve a leaner appearance. However, their misuse can lead to severe health complications, including electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, kidney failure, and even death.
Historically, there have been instances where bodybuilders suffered adverse effects due to diuretic misuse. For example, in 1992, professional bodybuilder Mohammed Benaziza died after competing in a contest in Europe. An autopsy showed that he was severely dehydrated and experienced cardiovascular failure after using a combination of diuretics for the show.
Community Response and Reflection
The bodybuilding community has been deeply affected by Jodi Vance’s passing, prompting discussions about the pressures athletes face to achieve peak physical condition and the potential risks associated with certain practices. Many are advocating for increased awareness and education on the safe use of supplements and performance-enhancing substances.
As the community mourns the loss of Jodi Vance, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of prioritizing health and well-being over aesthetic goals. Her dedication to the sport and her athletes will be remembered, and her legacy may inspire a reevaluation of the measures taken in pursuit of excellence in bodybuilding.
The sudden and tragic death of Jodi Vance has cast a somber shadow over the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival. As investigations continue and the community reflects on this loss, it is imperative to emphasize the significance of health and safety in the world of competitive bodybuilding. Jodi’s commitment to her craft and her unwavering support for fellow athletes will not be forgotten.
Images via Instagram @jodi.vance.fit
