Leroy Saunders, a respected gym owner and fitness coach, has died after collapsing during a HYROX competition in Thailand. The 41-year-old, originally from South Africa, was taken to a local Bangkok hospital, but was pronounced dead following lengthy emergency assistance, including CPR.
The tragedy occurred at the BYD HYROX Bangkok event, with Saunders having lost consciousness in the event that ran from August 13 to 16. Held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the event featured Open, Pro, Doubles, Doubles Pro, and Relay divisions. Thousands of athletes had signed up to be involved.
Saunders’ family broke the news of his passing on social media on August 18, writing:
“Until the last second of this moment, Leroy lived his life without regret or hesitation.
The cause of death remains unclear, with the family having asked for time and respect until medical records are confirmed. Saunders will be remembered for his tireless work in the fitness community, having mentored thousands throughout his career.
A Popular Face in the Fitness Industry
As the owner of IAOT in Bangkok, Saunders also founded Fight by Design, a 12-week training program specifically for mixed martial arts (MMA), Muay Thai, and boxing enthusiasts. He was an impressive athlete himself, regularly competing in HYROX events. This included a Doubles time of 1:17:51 in 2025.
There has been no shortage of praise for Saunders online. Kind words have come from trainers, gym members, HYROX athletes, and fighters, many of whom spoke of his dedication to supporting others. Saunders was known for making everyone “feel welcome” and training individuals to become “better athletes”.
Fundraiser Established for Saunders’ Family
Details of Saunders’ memorial will be announced in due course by his family, who thanked well-wishers for their powerful support. A WhyDonate fund has been set up to support his family, which has raised ฿ 197,366 ($6,019.66) at the time of writing. The fundraiser story further displays why his death is such a loss to the fitness community:
“He gave everything to this sport and to the people around him. His passion for coaching was genuine, his knowledge was deep, and his energy was the kind that made every room feel different when he walked in.”
The Thai CrossFit community will come together on August 23 to complete the “Leroy” partner workout in his honor. “Let’s celebrate his life by doing what he invested so much of it into, HARD WORK,” a caption on the fundraising page read.
