Spanish bodybuilder Xisco Serra, who hailed from Majorca, passed away at 50. The bodybuilder met his untimely end due to a fatal case of peritonitis. Xisco Serra made a lifelong career in competitive bodybuilding. The pro bodybuilder competed for 30 years and participated in over 90 contests.

Although the Spaniard didn’t make it to the IFBB Mr. Olympia, he competed under the International Bodybuilding & Fitness Association (IBFA). Serra’s career highlights include winning the IBFA Mr. World in 2011 and the IBFA Mr. Universe (40+ age category) in 2014. His premature death comes eight years after surviving cancer.

The personal trainer was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2016. A painful treatment followed the diagnosis, but Serra didn’t lose hope. Serra showcased his indomitable willpower in an online biography. “This is the biggest of my battles to win against this disease,” the late IBFA champion said.

“Everything in life happens for a reason: It was necessary that an illness arose that made me focus on life and my future from a different perspective,” added the bodybuilding icon. However, Serra’s trials didn’t end after beating cancer. In 2017, the fitness coach suffered a bacterial infection resulting in peritonitis.

The resulting inflammation of the thin layer of tissue lining his abdomen became life-threatening, but he survived. Unfortunately, the illness returned, and this claimed the 50-year-olds life. The bodybuilding enthusiast continued to train and compete after surviving cancer.

Xisco Serra won the last contest of his life last year in Tenerife, Spain. The late veteran bodybuilder is survived by his family and loved ones, including his five-year-old daughter Maria. Serra’s untimely passing shocked the bodybuilding world.

Bodybuilding fans make an observation

While the bodybuilding community lamented Serra’s untimely death, they also made an interesting observation. “He looked 70,” wrote one fan. “RIP. But looks way older than 50,” wrote another fan. Unfortunately, it remains unknown if the cancer and initial peritonitis played a part in the bodybuilder looking more aged.

“Terrible. Way too young! RIP,” commented one fan. Another fan recalled meeting Serra at his gym. “So sad. I trained in his gym many times, he was so kind,” wrote the fan. Xisco Serra owned XS Fitness Center, a gym in his hometown of Alcudia, Majorca. Another fan opined that Serra should’ve stopped competing after his initial diagnosis. “This has to stop. We clearly see extreme bodybuilding is taking our favorites,” commented the fan.

Xisco Serra lived for bodybuilding and turned it into his profession. The IBFA champion loved the sport so much that he didn’t stop competing even after fending off life-threatening illnesses. The entire fitness community now mourns the loss of the prolific competitor.