Update (11/10/21 9:15pm EST): Early reports of Victor Richard’s death seem to have been incorrect. A family member has confirmed that Richards is alive and well. Full update can be found here.
Original story follows:
Early reports indicate that former bodybuilder Victor Richards has passed away at age 56.
This has been a devastating year in the sport of bodybuilding and there has been some more tragic news. Victor Richards has reportedly passed away at the age of 56, according to GI Russia and a Facebook post by Andreas Cahling. The cause of death has not been released.
At the time of this writing there has been no official announcement by the Richard family or exact confirmation on the date and time of his passing. News of his passing is beginning to spread across social media – and sources close to Generation Iron have reported that Victor Richards has died.
Most notably, Andreas Cahling has announced the death on his official Facebook page:
Originally born in Nigeria, Richards gained a passion for bodybuilding early on in his life. He was a three-sport athlete in high school who excelled in football, wrestling, and track and field. This is when he began to improve his physique. Richards earned his pro card while in Nigeria.
Victor Richards’ competitive history began in 1982 when he entered The American Cup. He finished first in the teenage heavyweight division and second overall. Richards continued to work on his physique and by age 18, he grew to 240 pounds. Richards entered The Orange County Muscle Classic where he finished fourth. At 19 years old, Richards was becoming a well known name and that only continued as he progressed.
Richards began appearing on the cover of fitness magazines at 21 years old. He carried a massive frame that weighed close to 300 pounds of solid muscle. In 1992, Richards entered the 1992 Nigerian Championships and finished in first place. This is where he earned his Pro card. Despite the achievement, Richards did not compete in the IFBB. There was a bit of resistance that kept Richards from entering an NPC competition and taking the next step toward the IFBB.
During his early days of bodybuilding, Richards looked up to the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva. This is not surprising given his massive build and passion for the sport.
Victor Richards competed in just five competitors during his career and earned four victories. It remains a mystery why he was never able to compete in the IFBB despite earning his Pro card in Nigeria.
Victor Richards Bodybuilding History
- 1982 American Cup – 2nd
- 1983 Teen Los Angeles – 1st
- 1984 California Gold Cup Classic – 1st
- 1989 Mr. Barbados – 1st
- 1992 Nigerian Championships – 1st and Overall
The death of Victor Richards comes during a difficult time in the sport. This comes after the tragic deaths of Shawn Rhoden and George Peterson.
This is still a developing story. Generation Iron will continue to update as more information becomes available. The entire Generation Iron staff sends condolences to friends and family of Victor Richards during this tragic time.
