Oh wow - I didn't expect that at all. Horrible news.
She was ten years older than me, so I was in senior elementary school when she was making Thunder Bay proud, but she was very close to someone who I knew very well. All of her friends here were around her age, and given the 10-year age gap, I didn't fall into her social group in any way until 2005 [in 2007], at which point Melissa was not living here [at least not specifically at that time in 2007, unless she moved back for a period after].
Our closest mutual friend shared some stories that she shared with him, which I shouldn't in turn share here, out of respect that Melissa has passed. She is not here to confirm or deny the stories, and I heard them second hand from one of her friends during her success period in the 1990s, so I can't be 100% certain types they are correct, but I didn't have much reason to doubt their validity.
Let's just say...the bodybuilding and physique world can be a bit sleazy at times. More than is openly spoken of very often. Probably because competitors impacted fear reprisals in placings and media coverage.
Incidentally, our closest mutual friend has done WAY more in every steroid, peptide, and other PED under the sun, and enough recreational drugs to kill an elephant, yet is still alive at age 48. Genetic potential to survive despite abuse can be so unpredictable.
I was to young to meet Melissa during her success era in the 1990s, and she was living away from Thunder Bay by the time I met people in her former social circle.
I'm uncertain if she ever came back here to live post-2007. Many who leave do come back, some of whom even leave again, only to come back again [those usually stay put here once they return for a second time].
50 years old is way too young.
Condolences to Melissa's family, friends, and other loved ones.
She was a local treasure here in the mid- to late 1990s.
RIP Melissa Coates.
I had no idea this happened. Thanks for posting this, Body-Buildah. I'm sharing this with some people in my local community now.
