Scottish Bodybuilding Champion Alix Small Dies at 26

Scottish bodybuilding champion and fitness influencer Alix Small died at the age of 26 on Sunday after building a career overcoming severe health struggles.

Her death was confirmed by her mother, Karen Small, and a close friend, according to Source 2, while the Toronto Sun reported that her mother and best friend shared the news with the bodybuilding news channel Beyond The Stage TV.

The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the circumstances surrounding her passing remain unclear, as reported by Dexerto citing TMZ.

Born in Forfar, Scotland, Small claimed two IFBB Pro League titles and reached the Olympia during a competitive career that began when she turned professional in 2019 at the age of 19.

Titles won and Olympia qualification

Small won the fitness champion title at the 2021 Europa Pro Championships in Spain, earning her qualification for the prestigious Olympia competition, where she placed 12th.

“Alix is a phenomenal athlete,” Small’s coach Darren Farrell said at the time. “For a 21-year-old, it’s incredible.”

She secured a second Olympia qualification in 2022 by winning the fitness crown at the Mr. Big Evolution Pro in Portugal, though health issues ultimately forced her to withdraw from the event.

Overcoming teenage anorexia

Before achieving success on international bodybuilding stages, Small faced severe personal battles with eating disorders that began when she was 15 years old.

Her weight dropped to around 70 pounds prior to discovering bodybuilding in 2018, a sport she credited with helping her recovery by shifting her focus toward physical performance rather than mere aesthetics.

“People think bodybuilding is an aesthetics sport and it is but you’ve got to let go of what you look like and it’s about the performance side of it,” she explained in a 2021 interview cited by Dexerto. “That’s really helped me along my journey and I just want to be the best that I can be.”

Tributes from family and peers

Following her death, community members and fellow athletes shared memories of the Scottish competitor across social media.

“Shocked to hear to the terrible news of the passing of 2 x Fitness Pro winner and Olympian alixsmallll,” the account Beyond The Stage TV posted on Instagram.

“We are simply devastated,” Karen Small wrote in a tribute reported by Dexerto. “She was my best friend and we did everything together. The world will be a lonely place without her.”

Fellow bodybuilder Phoebe Goodwin also remembered her peer, writing, “You were such a funny, caring and thoughtful person, and I’ll always remember the kindness you showed me. I’ll never forget you being there for me when we got home after winning my IFBB Pro card. It’s a memory I’ll always hold close.”