{"id":69682,"date":"2025-08-15T20:44:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T20:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/69682\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T20:44:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T20:44:08","slug":"fitness-influencer-and-bodybuilding-champion-dies-at-37","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/69682\/","title":{"rendered":"Fitness influencer and bodybuilding champion dies at 37"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" data-tb-category-link=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sports<\/a><a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" data-tb-category-link=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\/other-sports\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Other Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"article-subtitle\">Hayley McNeff, an American bodybuilder who won multiple state championships and was featured in a documentary, died at her home.<\/p>\n<p>Published Aug 15, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 5\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n<p><a aria-label=\"Join the conversation\" class=\"article-meta-comment-count\" data-story-comment-component=\"\" href=\"#comments-area\">   <\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can save this article by registering for free <a class=\"bookmark-link\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/register\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Or <a class=\"bookmark-link\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/sign-in\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bobybuilder Hayley McNeff died at 37 years old.\" class=\"featured-image__image type:primaryImage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0816-hayley-mcneff-bodybuilder-instagram.jpg\"  height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"\/>Bobybuilder Hayley McNeff died at 37 years old. InstagramArticle content<\/p>\n<p>Former bodybuilding champion Hayley McNeff died last Friday at the age of 37 in an \u201cunexpected\u201d shock to those that knew her.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 2<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Toronto Sun\" class=\"market-logo\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.3.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\" width=\"280\"\/><\/p>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<p>Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<p>Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">An <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" published=\"\" on=\"\" boston.com=\"\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.com\/news\/massachusetts-obituaries\/2025\/08\/12\/local-obituary-hayley-mcneff-concord-native-umass-amherst-grad-and-champion-bodybuilder\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">obituary published on Boston.com<\/a> on Tuesday described her death as \u201cunexpected but peaceful\u201d while her <a href=\"https:\/\/ca.news.yahoo.com\/fitness-influencer-hayley-mcneffs-family-185359379.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">family confirmed to People<\/a> that she died at her home in Sudbury, Mass.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHayley was like a beam of light in this world. She had boundless energy and was very determined to achieve whatever she set out to do,\u201d Hayley\u2019s father, Dave, told People in a statement. \u201cShe set her sights on bodybuilding and fitness and achieved the highest success that sector offered. She loved us and we love Hayley very much, we miss her madly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Per the obituary, McNeff graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an accomplished bodybuilder in the 2000s, capturing state titles in both Maryland and Delaware.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lifelong athlete, she excelled as an accomplished equestrian, a talented board diver and skier as a youth and young adult,\u201d the obituary reads.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"opening envelope\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.3.2\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-middaySun.svg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">Your noon-hour look at what&#8217;s happening in Toronto and beyond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer__new-story-page text-size--tiny\">By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">A welcome email is on its way. If you don&#8217;t see it, please check your junk folder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page newsletter__feedback--last\">The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page js-submit-error\" hidden=\"\" id=\"submitErrorTORSUN_YourMiddaySun\" style=\"margin-top:8px\">We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 3<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>McNeff also was featured in Raising the Bar, a 2005 documentary described as \u201d one of the first of a new wave of realistic and honest bodybuilding documentaries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Loading...\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.3.2\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg\" width=\"64\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n<p>Play Video<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 4<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe quest for getting huge will never end,\u201d McNeff said in the documentary. \u201cThere\u2019s no limit. I hope there\u2019s a day that I\u2019ll be able to look in the mirror 100% of the time and be like, \u2018Yeah man, I\u2019m huge.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McNeff pursued a graduate degree in psychology after retiring from the sport, but remained interested in fitness.<\/p>\n<p>Her Instagram bio described her as a \u201cnationally ranked bodybuilder, nutritionist and life coach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 5<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe had a gift for making those around her laugh and feel welcomed,\u201d the obituary reads. \u201cHer energy and determination was a constant in her life and she always accomplished what she set out to achieve. She treasured her friendships and nurtured strong, lasting relationships with those who knew her best. Hayley will be deeply missed by her parents, siblings, extended family, and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A service for McNeff is set to be held on Saturday, and her family has asked attendees to make a donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in her honour.<\/p>\n<p>Read More<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/sports\/other-sports\/bodybuilder-dies-after-serious-error?utm_source=read-more\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bodybuilder Jodi Vance died from a heart attack at 20 years old.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0305-jodi-vance-bodybuilder-insta.jpg\"  class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Trainer says 20-year-old bodybuilder died after \u2018serious error\u2019<\/p>\n<p> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/sports\/other-sports\/south-korean-bodybuilder-youtuber-dead?utm_source=read-more\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"South Korean bodybuilding and YouTube star Park Seung-hyun.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0109-park-seung-hyun-bodybuilder.jpg\"  class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>South Korean bodybuilder, YouTube star dead at 35<\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Check out our <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" section=\"\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sports section<\/a> for the latest news and analysis.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links SportsOther Sports Hayley McNeff, an American bodybuilder who won multiple state championships and was featured&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69683,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[6647,102,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-69682","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69682\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}