Santiago, Chile — The bodybuilding world is mourning the sudden death of Marianne Belén von Gierke Barassi, a pioneering Chilean IFBB Pro Women’s Physique competitor and attorney, who passed away Wednesday at age 40. Her death, confirmed by NPC Worldwide Chile and fellow athlete Felipe Isaac Fierro, comes less than three weeks after she placed 13th at the 2026 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas.
No official cause of death has been disclosed by her family or authorities.
Von Gierke, a native of Chile’s remote Magallanes region near Punta Arenas, balanced a demanding dual career as a practicing lawyer and elite athlete. She began competing in 2014, earned her professional card in 2021 at the NPC Worldwide International Championship in Orlando, and quickly rose as one of Chile’s most accomplished female bodybuilders.
Her breakthrough came in 2024 when she won the Vancouver Island Pro in Canada, qualifying for her Olympia debut, where she finished 16th. In 2026 she continued her ascent: sixth at the Texas Pro, then a dominant victory at the Rising Phoenix Arizona Pro that secured her second Olympia invitation. At the September 24-27 event she improved to 13th, showing sharper conditioning and greater stage presence.
NPC Chile described her as an athlete who “left an indelible mark on bodybuilding,” praising her dedication, discipline, and role in elevating Chilean representation on the global stage. “We will remember her for bringing her talent to the Mr. Olympia stage, leaving a legacy in her category and inspiring those who shared this passion,” the organization said in a statement.
Colleagues and fans remembered von Gierke not only for her competitive results but for mentoring younger athletes and proudly carrying the flag of Magallanes to international venues in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. She was widely regarded as a trailblazer for Chilean women in the Women’s Physique division.
Funeral arrangements were pending as tributes poured in from across the sport. Von Gierke’s combination of professional achievement, athletic excellence, and quiet determination leaves a lasting example for competitors who follow.
The bodybuilding community extends its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and the many athletes she inspired.