Sonny Schmidt (1953–2004) was a Samoan professional bodybuilder.

Biography

He was born Edmond Alten Schmidt on 9 September 1953 or 19 September 1953. He grew up in

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...

. He later lived in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and travelled frequently to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

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 5'10" 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 Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...

from

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...

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 Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sepa ...

. Schmidt died on 25 January 2004 from cancer.

References

Australian sportspeople of Samoan descent Samoan expatriates in Australia Australian male bodybuilders 1953 births 2004 deaths Deaths from cancer in Victoria (state) {{Bodybuilding-bio-stub