In the early morning hours of Thursday, February 2nd, legendary bodybuilder Lee Banks passed away at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. The American professional athlete has a carcinoid tumour in his intestines, which is a kind of cancer.
His wife, Lafayette Banks, said on Facebook that he had passed away. She paired his photographs with a heartfelt note about him.
What Mrs. Banks had to say: Sorrowfully, I must inform you that my greatest love passed away at Mayo Clinic & Hospital Jacksonville at 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023, earning his wings and returning his soul to the house of our LORD forever.
Source: Fitness volt
In 2018, while getting ready for a bodybuilding competition, Lee Banks found out about his health problems, as Lafayette said in her post:
Lee noticed a drastic shift in his metabolism in 2018, while training for a competition. His checkups and test results have been perfect for months, indicating that he is in excellent health. And yet, he knew, and he kept going. It wasn’t until 2020 that doctors discovered he had a carcinoid tumour in his intestines, and by then it had already progressed to stage 4. My hero fought many battles before succumbing to carcinoid disease complications. Don’t forget that he wasn’t just a buff guy. He was a soldier, and he faced the dangers of war every day.
As an extension, she said
I just need time to miss my spouse, my love, my partner in everything, my lone provider and soul provider. Then, by HIS DIVINE GRACE and with your support, we will perpetuate his service in recognition of his many contributions and the gifts he has given to the world.
The 51-year-old was an extreme gym rat who had won a number of bodybuilding competitions.
Taking a deeper dive into Lee Banks’ professional career Banks’ professional career kicked off in 2002, when he participated in the NPC All-South Championships. In the heavyweight division of the bodybuilding competition, he placed sixth. He didn’t win the competition until 2005, two years after he’d finished sixth in the lightweight division.
Lee Banks was seventh in the 2006 USA Championship and sixth at the NPC Nationals. In 2007, he repeated his success and won the NPC All-South Championship and placed third at the NPC National Championship.
After a prosperous career in the NPC, Lee Banks won the IFBB North American Championship in 2010, earning him a professional card in the IFBB. He has participated in many IFBB competitions, including the 2018 IFBB Arnold Classic, where he placed fifteenth.
Lee Banks was an accomplished athlete who excelled in the classic physique category of his sport. The 2017 Chicago Pro was his best showing, and he also placed in the top 10 in Olympia. Banks placed second overall in the IFBB Atlantic Coast Pro.
Lee Banks was also a thriving businessman in addition to his bodybuilding career. Charity work and financial support for cancer research were other prominent features of his legacy. When he passed away in April, Banks was preparing for an event that was set to take place in May.
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