Sonny Schmidt (1953–2004) was a Samoan professional bodybuilder. He placed in many events between 1989 and 1999. The career highlight for Schmidt came when he won the 1995 IFBB Masters Olympia, becoming the first Samoan to do so.
Biography
He was born Edmond Alten Schmidt on 9 September 1953 or 19 September 1953. He grew up in Western Samoa. He later lived in Melbourne, Australia and travelled frequently to the United States for competitions.
He placed in many events between 1989 and 1999. The career highlight for Schmidt came when he won the 1995 IFBB Masters Olympia, becoming the first Samoan to do so. Schmidt was 5'9" and weighed 240 pounds at competition weight. He was arrested in 2000 on allegations that he assisted Australian drug lord Tony Mokbel to import cocaine from Mexico City into Australia. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to a period of three years imprisonment. Around this time Schmidt became a born-again Christian.
Schmidt died on 25 January 2004 from cancer.
References
- Jim Schmaltz (1 April 2004). "Remembering Sonny: Masters Olympia champ Sonny Schmidt dies of cancer at age 50.(Obituary)". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- "Schmidt, Sonny". musclememory.com. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Schmaltz, Jim (April 2004). "Remembering Sonny: Masters Olympia champ Sonny Schmidt dies of cancer at age 50". findarticles.com. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- Marty Gallagher (1 January 1996). "Sonny Schmidt: How he won the Masters Olympia". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- R v Mokbel [2006] VSC 119, Supreme Court (Vic, Australia).
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