Chad McCrary, Former Bodybuilding Champion, Dies at Age 49

Former bodybuilding champion Chad McCrary has died at the age of 49.

Per TMZ Sports, Lance McCrary, Cody's brother, confirmed his brother died and thanked people for offering their condolences "during this difficult time."

An obituary in the Texarkana Gazette stated McCrary died on Jan. 4. The official cause of death is unknown.

Per Declan Gallagher of Men's Journal, McCrary's professional bodybuilding career began in 2000 when he weighed 160 pounds. He bulked up to 240 pounds by 2003.

McCrary was paralyzed from the waist down in 2005 following an accident in a cross-country motocross race, but he was able to keep competing as a bodybuilder in the wheelchair division.

In a profile on WheelchairBodybuilding.com, McCrary made it sound like there wasn't much of an adjustment for him to remain competitive after his accident.

"I was already evolved in bodybuilding and just carried it over to the wheelchair. ... Just kept lifting and had to modify most all standing exercises to a seated or lying position," he said.

Gallagher noted McCrary most recently competed in the Wheelchair Olympia and Arnold Classic in 2022. He placed top-10 in the former and finished fourth in the latter.

McCrary won the 2016 NPC Wheelchair Nationals in the heavyweight and masters divisions.