Police Probe Unclear Circumstances Behind Death of Fitness Icon Gilad Yankelvich

The cause of death of Gilad Yankelvich, a celebrated fitness guru, remains unclear. His body was found at the base of the 16-story apartment building where he lived in Hawaii, and police there are investigating. He died about two weeks ago, and the exact circumstances are still not known.

Yankelvich will be buried in Israel beside his parents. His family plans to continue commemorating him and his legacy of healthy living and exercise as a way of life.

Born and raised in Israel, Yankelvich was a gifted athlete in his youth, competed in the decathlon, and served as a combat fitness officer in the IDF. In the late 1970s he moved to the United States to pursue the Olympics, but injuries ended that dream and led him into professional fitness training, a career that made him one of the pioneers of global aerobics.

His breakthrough came in 1983 with the TV program "Bodies in Motion," which he created and hosted. Filmed against Hawaii's beaches and broadcast by ESPN, it aired in more than 80 countries, including Israel, and brought home exercise into daily life for millions. Over more than four decades, he released dozens of best-selling workout videos and DVDs and was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in the United States.

Sports Channel described him as an inspiration and a dedicated professional who helped popularize fitness and healthy living in Israel for generations of viewers and trainees.