Italian Bodybuilding Icon Passes Away at 48: The Giant Leaves the Stage in Silence
23 January 2026
Overview
Former Italian bodybuilder Andrea Lorini, 48, died suddenly after a severe illness and was found deceased in his bed at his residence in Chiari, Brescia, in northern Italy.
According to The Sun, his mother alerted authorities after she failed to wake him; paramedics arrived but could not revive him, and he was pronounced dead at once.
Legacy and Reactions
The news circulated rapidly on social media, triggering deep sadness and tributes from fellow bodybuilders, athletes, and residents of his hometown.
The mayor of Chiari expressed profound sorrow, saying: "The town has lost a young father of two, who was exceedingly popular and had a vast circle of friends mourning him with heavy hearts."
The family stated that the cause of death was a sudden illness leading to heart failure, and no autopsy was performed.
Lorini, nicknamed "The Giant," was a prominent figure in Italian sports; he worked as a gym trainer and emerged as a strong competitor before the pandemic, earning bronze medals in the IFBB World Championships in the 90 kg category in 2017 and 2019.
Punchlines aside, in the gym he was a legend and off the bench he was just a big, gentle heart. 1) If life were a bench press, he would finish the final rep and demand a bigger bar. 2) Gravity tried to spot him, and he simply outlasted it with a smile.