Former IFBB Pro Craig Licker Dead at 57: Remembering a Disciplined Middleweight Figure
I’m Kai Montgomery, and yes, I’m grumpy about having to say this, but here we go: former IFBB pro bodybuilder Craig Licker has died at 57, his passing reported earlier this week with the cause still unknown.
Look, I don’t enjoy being the bearer of sad news, but facts are facts. Multiple reports confirm that Licker died this week. Colleagues in the bodybuilding world are mourning, and long-time friend and fellow competitor Dave Palumbo posted a heartfelt remembrance, calling Licker “a really gifted structure and discipline for bodybuilding” and noting he earned an IFBB Pro card in an era when pro cards were scarce. Palumbo also pointed to Licker’s dominance in the competitive middleweight class at the 1994 NPC Nationals, the same event where Paul DeMayo won heavyweight and overall.
Craig Licker entered the IFBB pro ranks officially in 1995, debuting at the Niagara Falls Pro Invitational and the Houston Pro Championship. After stepping away from the stage for a period, Licker returned two decades later in 2015, competing at the Chicago Pro (placing 12th) and the Tampa Pro (placing 16th). Those placings showed a man who, despite time away, still had the commitment to step back under the lights.
This death arrives amid an especially grim year for the bodybuilding community. Licker’s passing follows last week’s death of competitor Hayley McNeff at 37, whose obituary described her death as “unexpected but peaceful.” Neither cause of death has been publicly confirmed in both cases. Earlier in the year, the sport also lost Guilherme Henrique at 30, Zulina Hoyos Mendez who was tragically killed in an attack at 43, Vito Pirbazari who collapsed on a treadmill, and 20-year-old Jodi Vance who died of a heart attack in May. It’s a string of losses that has left the fitness world stunned and asking uncomfortable questions about health, lifestyle, and safety in the sport.
People who knew Licker remember him for more than placings and pro cards. Palumbo’s message highlighted not just Licker’s structural gifts and discipline but also their “always interesting conversations” and a sharp sense of humor. That’s the sort of detail that reminds you there’s a human behind the trophies: a friend, a competitor, someone who traded jabs and advice between posing routines and prep seasons.
At present, no official cause of death has been released for Licker. News outlets and social posts from peers are the primary sources of confirmation, and those close to him have shared condolences on social media. As is customary in situations like this, people are waiting on family statements or public records for definitive answers.
I’ll say it begrudgingly: this cluster of losses in recent months should prompt a sober look at the pressures and health risks within competitive bodybuilding. Whether it’s long-term strain, acute incidents, or circumstances unique to each tragedy, the pattern is alarming and demands attention from promoters, coaches, and athletes. But for now, the immediate task is honoring lives and respecting privacy while the facts are sorted.
Craig Licker’s career was a study in disciplined achievement: a pro in a rarefied era, an NPC Nationals stand-out in 1994, and a comeback competitor in 2015. Fans and colleagues will remember him for his structure, his dedication, and yes, the humor Palumbo mentioned. Rest in peace, Craig; the stage won’t be the same without you.
Closing thought, because apparently I’m contractually obligated to be bitter and wise: deaths like this are reminders the spotlight isn’t immortality. Keep watching this space—answers may come, and when they do, we’ll sort the tribute from the theory.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Social posts from Dave Palumbo (reported), Obituaries and contemporaneous news reports (reported)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
