BY ANGEL AMIRANTE, Junior
BLYTHEWOOD - Rich Piana died in Florida on Aug. 25, after being placed under a medically induced coma. Piana was a very famous social media bodybuilding star.
Piana was mainly known for his intense regimen, and use of anabolic steroids. Being very open about his steroid use, he received a lot of criticism, but he did not promote the use of steroids.
His mother was a bodybuilder, that’s how he started getting into bodybuilding. Fitness is in his DNA, so entering his first bodybuilding competition at the age of 15, he had high hopes, but did not place in the competition. Multiple attempts after, Piana then relied on anabolic steroids, to which he saw great improvement.
After the obvious improvements, Piana began to place 7th and 11th place in national bodybuilding competitions, according to The Sun. As well as earning the title of Mr. California in 1998.
In 2014 he publicly admitted to using anabolic steroids, which was a very controversial matter. Although through the years of his career, he clearly stated that he does not support the use of anabolic steroids.
“If you have the choice to be natural or do steroids, be natural. There’s no reason to do steroids, you’re only hurting your body, you’re hurting yourself, and if you wanna become a professional bodybuilder, guess what; you’re probably gonna have to do them,” Piana said in a video he posted on social media.
Piana collapsed in his home a couple of weeks before he died, he was then placed under a medically induced coma, according to People and The Sun.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, steroids can have many detrimental side effects, some short term, and some long term effects that can lead to fatal accidents. Some long term effects are liver failure, kidney failure, enlarged heart, high blood pressure, and changes in blood cholesterol, all of which increase the risk of stroke and heart attack, even in younger people.
“I’ve also done research on steroids, how it causes medical problems,” Weightlifting student Kevon Catoe said.
Although steroid use was not the direct cause of Piana’s death, it might’ve been a contributing factor throughout the years of use.
“It’s not worth it. If you can’t do it natural, you don’t need to be doing it at all,” former bodybuilder and Environmental Science teacher Michael Varnadore stated.
Piana understood the consequences of steroids, and he knew how to use them and how to get the results he wanted. While going through cycles, he would dedicate himself every day to intense workout sessions, which not many people could handle.
He used to post videos and pictures of him lifting massive amounts of weights. His records are: bench press: 225kg (495lb) 3 reps, squats: 265kg (585lb) 2 reps, deadlifts: 265kg (585lb) 1 reps, and barbell curl: 125kg (275lb) 3 reps, reported by Greatest Physiques.
He would also eat nine meals every day, as well as “protein shakes big enough to drown a toddler in,” Felix Biederman stated in his article “Youtube Bodybuilders Rich Piana And Dmitry Klokov Can Teach You How To Live.”
After hearing about the death of Piana, many bodybuilders, close friends, and fans expressed their feelings.
Mike O’Hearn, a famous bodybuilder and close friend of Rich Piana for over two decades, wrote a heartwarming message on facebook and instagram, and published a touching video expressing his feelings.
“One of nicest guys you’ll ever meet and I was lucky to call him my friend for 25 years. Being together just days before and talking about doing so much together. All I can think today is as Rich and I were joking around and excited for the future, there is nothing more important than today and the time you share with family and friends. Please call your friends and love ones today. Tell them you love them and please live in the moments with them. Tomorrow is promised to no one. Rich showed us all to: be original and never settle; Live with passion and chase your dream. Rich you will always be my Barbarian brother! The world and I will miss you brother #richPiana,” O’Hearn wrote on a Facebook post about Piana on the day he died.
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Piana was a legendary and admirable person, it is a shame that he passed so early, and he will never be forgotten by his millions of fans. Rest in peace Rich Piana, you will always be remembered and missed, much weight will be lifted in your honor.
