Mr. Universe Dead at 57 Just Weeks Before Birthday

The bodybuilding world is mourning the sudden loss of one of its most decorated champions.

José Antonio Hernandez Torres, the six-time Spanish bodybuilding champion better known to fans as “Jocha,” has died at the age of 57, just one month before his 58th birthday.

The celebrated athlete died in Tenerife, according to Spanish outlet Revista el Verdano. A cause of death has not been revealed.

Jocha became a towering figure in the sport during a career that stretched more than four decades. He reached the pinnacle of bodybuilding in 2004, when he captured the prestigious Mr. Universe title.

Long before that victory, Jocha had already made a name for himself as one of Spain’s strongest international competitors. Fellow bodybuilders recalled how he began challenging the world’s top athletes during the 1980s, helping put Spanish bodybuilding on the global map.

After stepping away from competition, Jocha remained deeply involved in the fitness world. He opened the popular Jocha fitness gym in Tenerife, where he continued sharing his experience and passion with younger athletes.

The La Verdellada-Barrio Nuevo neighborhood association confirmed his death in an emotional online statement.

“With over 40 years’ experience in sport, as well as his entrepreneurial endeavours with his famous gym, we have lost the most internationally decorated sportsman in the history of La Verdellada-Barrio Nuevo,” the association said.

Tributes quickly poured in from Jocha’s former rivals, friends and fellow competitors.

Strongman Jose Maria Garcia hailed him as a “legend of our sport” and remembered him as a trailblazer for Spanish bodybuilding.

“One of the first Spaniards who, in the 1980s, was on a par with the world’s best, representing our country at various international events,” Garcia wrote. “We will always admire him.”

Alejandro Mena, a former bodybuilder who later became a police officer, finished second behind Jocha at the 1989 Spanish championships. He said the champion’s character mattered even more than his trophies.

“Beyond the results, I will always remember him as a wonderful person, an excellent friend and a role model for all of us who love bodybuilding,” Mena said.

“His humility, camaraderie and passion for this sport left an indelible mark on all of us who were lucky enough to know him.”

Jocha leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a champion, gym owner, mentor and one of the most internationally successful bodybuilders in Spanish history.