Sonny Schmidt (1953–2004) was a Samoan professional bodybuilder.[1] He placed in many events between 1989 and 1999. The career highlight for Schmidt came when he won the 1995 IFBBMasters Olympia, becoming the first Samoan to do so.
Biography
He was born Edmond Alten Schmidt on 9 September 1953[2] or 19 September 1953.[3] 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 IFBBMasters Olympia,[4] becoming the first Samoan to do so. Schmidt was 5'9" and weighed 240 pounds at competition weight.[3] 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.[5] Around this time Schmidt became a born-again Christian.[3]
