IFBB Pro Tom Prince died at the young age of 52 after battling a host of health issues for years as he finally succumbed to cancer. Anyone who’s been tuned in to the sport of bodybuilding knows the name, Tom Prince. He commanded the respect of his peers, although his professional bodybuilding career only lasted 7 years.
WHO IS TOM PRINCE?
Tom Prince was an American IFBB professional bodybuilder that left his mark on the sport, although he competed for a relatively short amount of time. Prince took second place at the 1995 NPC Nationals in the heavyweight class in just his third bodybuilding competition; this sent some shock-waves through the bodybuilding world.Then in 1996 he once again placed second, this time to a young Jay Cutler.
Tom Prince, sometimes called “The Thing,” sported a serious musculature, especially his chest and hamstrings. The biggest win of his career came in 1997 when he won the overall NPC nationals. Prince only competed in 8 pro competitions, with his best finish coming in 2001 at Night Of Champions, where he placed 3rd. His last professional competition was in 2003 at the Southwest Pro, where he finished in 9th place.
Tom Prince Dies At 52 Years Old
Prince’s career was abruptly cut short when he suffered from kidney failure in 2003, then again as he tried to make a comeback the following year.
After spending years on a dialysis machine, he finally received a kidney transplant in 2012. Prince ran a successful property management business with his wife in southern California.
Since the recent news of Tom Prince’s death from cancer, there’s been an outpouring of remembrance from some notable names in the industry, such as Jay Cutler.
Prince was one of the first to go on record and detail his steroid usage in FLEX magazine. He was a trailblazer in this arena as even to this day PED usage is still a topic off the table for many in the sport.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
It’s always tough to see someone so well-liked pass away at such a young age. The team at SET FOR SET sends our heartfelt condolences to Tom’s family, friends, and loved ones. He left his mark on the sport of bodybuilding, and he won’t be forgotten. RIP Tom Prince.
Kiel DiGiovanni
Author