Pro bodybuilder Kevin Gebhardt dies at 31 just days after ‘knee surgery’ as tributes pour in for German star

GERMAN bodybuilder Kevin Gebhardt has died weeks after undergoing serious knee surgery aged just 31.

The International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) pro was a beloved athlete and up and coming coach as tributes continue to pour in from the heartbroken bodybuilding community.

Gebhardt was last heard from on social media on April 26, as he told his fans he was at home recovering from serious surgery to repair a torn tendon in his knee.

He posted an Instagram photo with the caption: “Time heals all the breaks!”

No official cause of death has been announced yet but reports say he died on Sunday.

As a 14-year-old, Gebhardt first fell in love with bodybuilding as he started to lift weights after taking after his beloved uncle.

Back in 2018, Gebhardt won the EVLS Prague Qualifiers in his best ever finish in an event.

He went on to finish in the top 10 of various competitions including the 2021 Yamamoto Cup Pro, 2021 Egypt Pro and the 2021 EVLS Prague Pro.

Gebhardt was also regarded as an up and coming coach and trainer to younger athletes. 

Fellow bodybuilder Regan Grimes was one of the first to send his condolences to Gebhardt's family as he wrote on social media: “RIP Kevin."

Prolific bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev and close pal of Gebhardt also said: “We have lost another brother of iron. I knew Kevin since his amateur days in 2018…

"[Gebhardt] was a super sweet person, super passionate about bodybuilding, and very hard worker.”

It comes less than two weeks after Majorcan bodybuilder Xisco Serra died aged 50 after surviving a gruelling battle against cancer and a life-threatening peritonitis.

He was well-known and loved in the world of bodybuilding both domestically and internationally with his career spanning over three decades.

In his latest social media post Xisco urged his fans to “Work your Dreams”.

Last month, a Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness influencer tragically died aged only 29 after being rushed to hospital with Covid.

Jonas Filho, known as Jonas Big, was rushed to Sao Jose Hospital in the Ceara state capital Fortaleza in the early hours of April 15.

The influencer left his 10,400 Instagram followers worried after he published photos of himself on a respirator shortly after his admission.

He posted the photos alongside the caption: “Only God knows the pain and tears of the clown.”

It has since emerged that he was diagnosed with pneumonia shortly after, and then Covid-19.

His death was confirmed late on April 19.