Former IFBB pro bodybuilder Tonya Knight has died. Let’s see more details about Tonya Knight and his cause of death in detail.
What happened to Tonya Knight? How did he die?
The information reaching us is that Tonya Knight has died. Tonya Knight was an American Professional female bodybuilder known for her show, American Gladiators.
The deceased had an American Nationality with mixed ethnicity. She made her in the IFBB Pro World Championships in 1988 and had her best win as the IFBB Ms. International champion.
After the news of her demise surfaced online, her colleagues in the building industries and also loved ones shared their tributes.
Mr. Olympia Lee Haney said,
“Sorry to hear about the passing of our dear Tonya. She made muscles a thing of Beauty 🙏🏽❤️”
We are sad to report the passing of legendary American Gladiator and bodybuilder Gold (Tonya Knight).
Tonya has sadly passed away at the age of 56 (1966-2023). Our thoughts are with all of her friends and family. Rest in peace Golden Girl. #RIP #AmericanGladiators pic.twitter.com/px1lZPZYt3
— Gladiators (@GladiatorsTV) February 7, 2023
Tonya Knight Cause Of Death
He was born on 24th March 1966 in Peculiar, Missouri, United States, and died on 7th February 2023 at the age of 56.
Tonya Knight died after battling cancer. She was preceded by her late ex-husband, John Poteat, who was also a bodybuilder and she was survived by her son called Malachi.
Tonya Knight’s bodybuilder passed on and the news of her passing on was broken on 7th February 2023. Tonya Knight in her last interview revealed how she was battling cancer, and that marked her sad health story.
Tonya’s Biography
| Tonya Knight was born in 1966 in Peculiar, Missouri. Tonya lived in Overland Park, Kansas. She was married to the late bodybuilder John Poteat, but they divorced. She has three brothers named Timothy, Todd, and Travis and a few other step and in-law siblings, and a son named Malachi. Tonya was a regular on American Gladiators, as the character Gold, from 1989 to 1992, until she left due to an injury to her left knee. Contest history 1984 NPC USA Championship – 11th (LHW) 1985 NPC USA Championship – 6th (HW) 1986 NPC USA Championship – 4th (HW) 1988 Pro World Championship – 5th 1988 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 4th (later disqualified) 1989 Ms. International – 1st (later disqualified) 1991 IFBB Grand Prix Italy – 1st 1991 Ms. International – 1st 1992 Ms. International – 6th 1993 Jan Tana Classic – 3rd |
Bodybuilding career
After IFBB officials presented strong evidence against Tonya that she got someone other than herself to supply test-passing urine, she admitted that she sent a surrogate to take a mandatory drug test administered before the 1988 Ms. Olympia, where she finished fourth.
In a ruling handed down in November 1989, she was suspended, stripped of her 1989 Ms. International title (which went to runner-up Jackie Paisley), and asked to return her 1989 Ms. International and 1988 Ms. Olympia prize money, totaling $12,000. After the scandal, she returned to the stage in triumph in 1991, winning the Ms. International title, this time without incident. She went on to compete in only two more pro contests, the last in 1993.
Tonya’s Funeral Arrangements and Obituary
Tonya Knight’s funeral arrangements have not yet been disclosed by the family. We are following this up close and regular updates will be made accordingly.
n addition to her contributions to the sport, Tonya appeared on the American Gladiators TV show with popular bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn. She played the character Gold from 1989-1992 until she left due to a shoulder injury.
Tonya is the latest bodybuilder to lose her life to cancer. Men’s Open and Classic Physique competitor Lee Banks recently succumbed to a cancerous carcinoid tumor in his intestines as well. He died at 51 years old; his wife revealed the news just a few days ago.
Jimmy Goodson Posted
I LOVE GOLD! Tonya Knight was one of the top female professional bodybuilders in the world. She won the prestigious Arnold Schwarzenegger IFBB Ms. International 1991, IFBB Grand Prix Italy 1991, and finished fourth in the 1998 Ms. Olympic contest.
Very saddened to hear of the passing of the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Champion and “Gold” of American Gladiators Fame Tonya Knight. All my sympathy to her family and friends.
Heartbroken…#TonyaKnight died today, I was huge fan met her in '91
She was a professional bodybuilder and many might remember her as #Gold from #AmericanGladiatorsThis is real gut punch #FUCKcancer pic.twitter.com/K6DVcnEVEY
— SavingtheRepublic ☠️🇺🇸🇮🇹 (@BMartin1776) February 8, 2023
SavingThe Republic posted
Heartbroken…#TonyaKnight died today, I was a huge fan met her in ’91 She was a professional bodybuilder and many might remember her as #Gold from #AmericanGladiators This is a real gut punch #FUCKcancer.
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