A professional bodybuilder and mother of an 11-year-old son has died just weeks after competing on one of her sport’s biggest stages.
Marianne von Gierke died Wednesday at 40, Chile’s bodybuilding federation announced. A cause of death was not disclosed, per the New York Post.
Von Gierke recently finished 13th in the women’s physique category at Olympia, improving on her 16th-place finish in 2024. She turned professional in 2021 and also worked as a trainer.
She remained active on social media in the days before her death, sharing a post congratulating a friend on her physique transformation just hours earlier.
In another recent post, von Gierke thanked her boyfriend of 10 years, Juan Cofré García, for supporting her through the demands of training and competition.
“He is with me 365 days a year, not only when things go well, but also through every difficult stage of a preparation,” she wrote.
She described him as the person who shared her good days, doubts, frustrations and goals, offering support that spectators never saw onstage.
“Thank you for walking by my side, sharing my dreams and being a fundamental part of every achievement,” she wrote. “My season ends. Our path continues.”
García responded that he was “extremely proud” of her accomplishments and promised his continued support.
Chile’s bodybuilding federation remembered von Gierke as an athlete who “left an unforgettable mark on bodybuilding” and established a legacy in her category.
“Her effort, career and all that she achieved will remain in the memory of our sporting community,” the federation said.
