Legendary American bodybuilder Cedric McMillan has passed away at the age of 44, his long-time sponsor has confirmed.
The bodybuilding community has been sharing emotional tributes to the former Arnold Classic winner, whose cause of death has not yet been announced.
Supplements company Black Skull USA, which served as McMillan’s sponsor, confirmed the sad news on social media yesterday, 12 April, with a statement from CEO Marcelo Bella saying: “We regret to inform you that our friend and brother @cedricmcmillan passed away today.
“Cedric will be greatly missed as an athlete, comrade, friend, and father. Our prayers are with all his family and friends. He ‘fought the good fight’ and now he rests."
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McMillan, who won the Arnold Classic in 2017, was forced to step back from competing last year following a near-death experience – having ended up on life support after contracting Covid and then pneumonia.
Speaking to Generation Iron, McMillan explained how his health struggled after Covid, which led him to develop heart issues.
"I was almost dead," he said. "My wife was with me, but I was outta here, seriously. But I didn't see no white light. I was that close."
In the wake of the McMillan’s death, tributes have poured in from the bodybuilding community – including the Arnold Sports Festival, which sent its ‘most heartfelt condolences’ to his family.
The festival said: “Our entire family at the Arnold Sports Festival is heartbroken to learn of the passing of 2017 Arnold Classic Champion Cedric McMillan.
“Known for his larger than life personality, his infectious smile, a gentle heart, and a sense of humor that was loved by fellow competitors and fans alike, Cedric will be deeply missed.
“While Cedric’s competitive accomplishments, which included multiple professional wins alongside his 2017 Arnold Classic title, made him a star in the world of bodybuilding and fitness, the career he was most proud of was his 20+ years of selfless service to his country in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class in July of 2021.”
Fellow bodybuilder Kai Greene also honoured McMillan in an Instagram post, writing: “Feeling uneasy with the news of your sudden departure from this dimension to the next.
“@cedricmcmillan was a father, a friend, a competitor, a man of uniform, a man of many hats who always knew how to make other people laugh and make everyone around him feel like family. This is how I will remember you, my brother. Rest In Peace Champ."
Retired Canadian star Fouad Abiad said McMillan was ‘talented’ and ‘so important’ to everyone, and ‘didn’t even know it’.
He added: “I just want to say a couple things about Cedric. He was so talented, so important for us all and he didn’t even know it. He was so hard on himself, he didn’t know he was the leader in any group he walked with. He thought you had to win the big show to be the leader but he was without even trying. He always did it his way, always commanded respect, always brought everyone together as a team, his years in the military were evident that way.
“Even winning the Arnold he brought us altogether as if we had all won. Not a selfish bone in his body.”
Jess Hardiman