He had recently gotten engaged
Bodybuilding champion dies at 31
October 24, 2025 – 10:14 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Just a few weeks ago, Kadu Santos became Brazilian champion and also wanted to get married soon. Now the bodybuilder has suddenly died.
Brazilian bodybuilder Ricardo Nolasco Dos Santos, better known as Kadu Santos, is dead. The 31-year-old died unexpectedly on Monday (October 20th). Just a few weeks earlier, he had proposed to his girlfriend – right on the bodybuilding stage.
The news was confirmed by the deceased’s father, Amauri Santos, on social media. “The saddest day of my life. My beloved son,” he wrote on Instagram.
Santos was a bodybuilding champion eleven times in his career. Most recently he won the Brazilian super heavyweight championship title over 102 kilos. In addition to his competitions, he worked as a personal trainer and regularly published training and nutrition tips on Instagram – where he was followed by over 13,000 people. The exact cause of death is not yet known.
Bodybuilder Kadu Santos proposed to his girlfriend on stage
In addition to his sporting successes, Santos also recently had a happy time in his private life. On July 19, he proposed to his partner Sabrina Wollman on stage at a bodybuilding competition.
The two had been a couple since August 2021. In a post on Instagram after the proposal, Wollman wrote: She loves him with all her heart, admires him and is proud of how they have developed together.
Bodybuilding colleague Diego Wiegand has now reacted to the sad news of his death. “There is certainly a celebration in heaven today,” he wrote. Kadu was an exceptional athlete, trainer and person.
“It’s very difficult to accept,” Wiegand continued. He’s not over it yet, but Santos has left a legacy – as an athlete and as a person.