IFBB Pro League Men’s Open bodybuilder Kristoffer Berner has passed away at the age of 42.
Berner was in the final prep stages to compete in the 2024 Chicago Pro on July 20-21 in Chicago, IL. Berner’s death on Sunday, July 14, has been confirmed by multiple reports. Officials have not verified the cause of death.
According to his Facebook page, Berner was born on Aug. 1, 1981, and lived in Rodby, Denmark. “The Danish Giant” would have celebrated his 43rd birthday at the beginning of August.
Berner first burst onto the bodybuilding scene when he placed fourth at the 2017 Amateur Olympia San Marino show in San Marino, Italy. Five years later, he became an IFBB Pro, thanks to winning his pro card at the 2022 NPC Worldwide Sweden Grand Prix.
Berner debuted in the IFBB Pro League at the 2024 New York Pro in Teaneck, NJ, on May 18, 2024. He finished that show tied for 16th place. Nick Walker won that show.
The 2024 Chicago Pro would have been Berner’s second show in the pro ranks. It is unclear if he was working with a coach for that contest. Berner had not posted on social media since he made an Instagram post in December 2023. Several fellow pro bodybuilders have shared condolences on comments for social media posts, including Martin Fitzwater, Fakhri Mubrarak, and Marcus Perry.
Berner’s death is the latest in a string of pro and amateur bodybuilders to pass away in 2024, including NPC bodybuilder Daniel Broadhurst, IFBB Pro League Men’s Open bodybuilders Doug Fruchey and Kevin Gebhardt, and Figure pro Cintia Goldani.
Berner was married at the time of his death, and other family members also survived him. No funeral arrangements were announced at the time of this article’s publication. BarBend will update this article if any further news or developments are announced.
More Bodybuilding Stories
- Powerbuilding Workout Routine, With Tips from a CPT
- The Top 2 Bodybuilding Techniques Ronnie Coleman Used to Build Muscle
- “Getting Stronger Is Risky”: Larry Wheels & John Haack Talk Bench Press Training
- 16 Best Biceps Exercises for a Muscle-Building Workout
Featured Image: @k.berner81 on Instagram
