What happened to Tonya Knight, the female bodybuilder who passed away at 56?

Tonya Knight is revered by fitness fans as a pioneer for women's bodybuilding in the '80s and '90s. On February 7, 2023, the former IFBB pro bodybuilder sadly passed away at the age of 56.

After winning an amateur competition in Japan at the age of 19, Knight made the decision to turn professional. Additionally, in 1988, she relocated to Venice, California, where she began training at the legendary Gold's Gym. The following year, Knight started showing up on the covers of muscle magazines and competed in professional bodybuilding contests. But what caused Tonya Knight's death?

Knight battled cancer for a very long time, which eventually led to her death. She was placed fourth in the 1988 Ms. Olympia and won the 1989 Ms. International when she was only 22 years old. She was later disqualified from both competitions due to a failed drug test. In 1991, she returned and repeated her victories at Ms. International and other professional competitions. After finishing third in 1993, Knight only competed twice more before retiring at the age of 26.

She lived in Overland Park, Kansas. She was formerly married to the late bodybuilder John Poteat, but the marriage ended in divorce. She has three brothers, Timothy, Todd, and Travis, as well as numerous step and in-law siblings. She is survived by a son named Malachi.

---

The life and legacy of Tonya Knight - a bodybuilding icon

The bodybuilding community at large had a lot of respect for Tonya Knight. During her stellar career, she faced off against formidable opponents like Anja Schreiner and Cory Everson.

The revered female bodybuilder took first place at both the 1991 IFBB Grand Prix Italy and the 1991 Ms. International competitions. According to Fitness Volt, Tonya Knight is well-known for her impressive physique, posing techniques, and proportional perfection. Knight won the Ms. International title in 1991, which at the time was the second-most coveted award in bodybuilding.

In addition to her bodybuilding career, she also appeared as the character Gold on the television show American Gladiators. She was a cast member from 1989 to 1992 before an injury forced her departure. Knight co-starred with actor and bodybuilder Mike O'Hearn. She was inducted into the IFBB Pro League Hall of Fame in 2011 due to her accomplishments and contributions to the bodybuilding sport.