Bodybuilding champion and former Mr. Universe José Antonio Hernandez Torres has died at the age of 57, leaving fellow athletes and longtime rivals mourning a man they described as a true legend of the sport.
Hernandez Torres, affectionately known as “Jocha,” died in Tenerife just one month before his 58th birthday, according to Spanish outlet Revista el Verdano. A cause of death was not disclosed.
The powerful athlete enjoyed a bodybuilding career that spanned more than four decades and earned him recognition both in Spain and internationally.
Jocha became a six-time Spanish bodybuilding champion and reached one of the biggest milestones of his career in 2004 when he won the prestigious Mr. Universe title.
After retiring from competition, he continued sharing his passion for fitness by opening the Jocha gym in Tenerife.
“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 local neighborhood association wrote in an online tribute.
Fellow strongman José Maria Garcia remembered Jocha as a trailblazer who helped put Spanish bodybuilding on the international stage.
“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.”
He also described Jocha as a “legend of our sport.”
Former bodybuilder Alejandro Mena, who later became a police officer, finished second behind Jocha at the 1989 Spanish championships. However, Mena said his memories of the champion went far beyond their results onstage.
“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.”