Bodybuilding Champion Zunilda Mendez Dies at 43 After Being Attacked with Hammer

Bodybuilding champion Zunilda Hoyos Méndez was found dead at a home in Fuengirola, a town on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, on Thursday. She was 43 years old.

Latoya Gayle of People Magazine provided more details.

"At around 1:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 19, police visited a home in the Higuerón West residential area of Fuengirola after a friend filed a missing person report saying they had not seen Zunilda Hoyos Méndez, who also went by Amy, in five days, Spanish news outlets Canaries 7 and SUR reported.

"Police allegedly found the body of Méndez, 43, who was from Colombia, with injuries indicating she had been killed with a hammer, while her American husband, Jarrod Gelling, 46, had knife wounds consistent with suicide, according to reports."

Méndez's niece, Yuleydis, told SUR that her aunt was looking to divorce Gelling due to his aggressive behavior. She was going to care for him after he got knee surgery, and then the two were planning to travel to Portugal for a competition.

“For my aunt, it was her last trip with him — a farewell. She had taken the decision to divorce him, because of his aggressive behavior,” Yuleydis said, per Patrick Reilly of the New York Post.

“They had broken up already once and were apart for quite a while but then got back together again to try to resolve things, although the mistreatment continued,” Yuleydis added.

IFBB professional Behnaz Nasrollahi Azar wrote a eulogy on Instagram in honor of the Colombian bodybuilder, who was also known as "She Hulk."

“A eulogy for my beloved Amy,” Azar wrote, per People. “I don’t know where to begin… my heart is broken, my mind is clouded, and my soul is drowning in shock and sorrow. Amy - my kind, strong, fierce friend. The most powerful woman I knew in the world of bodybuilding, yet with the gentlest heart.

"You were the kindest woman in the world. Every second in my brain are good memories of you and nothing else. Rest in peace, my angel."

Branden Ray, Méndez's bodybuilding coach, also posted in honor of her via Instagram Stories.

“We had 17 days until we were going to hit the stage and shock the world, my friend,” Ray stated. “I told you that you could possibly be top 10 in the world by the end of this year, and I meant it. Rest in paradise, Amy.”

Ray also added: "We were so close to the end, but the closest person to you ended it too soon. Domestic violence should never be taken lightly, because it can leave many with a heavy heart.”