Dwayne Quamina, a former Mr. Olympia bodybuilder and Navy veteran, died on Sunday at the age of 40. His death occurred just weeks after he posted a motivational message to his social media followers, urging them to "stop taking life for granted."
A cause of death has not yet been publicly revealed. Quamina, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, was living in California at the time of his passing.
Career and Military Service
Quamina served in the Navy for over a decade before transitioning to bodybuilding in 2016. He was known in the bodybuilding community as "King Q" and competed in the 212-pound division. His competitive achievements include winning the lightweight title at the 2016 NPC USA Championships and the 2017 Europa Phoenix Pro event. He also competed in the 2018 Mr. Olympia tournament, securing 10th place.
After stepping away from the sport, Quamina made a comeback last year, finishing third at the Chicago Pro event. His last competition was the Atlanta Pro event earlier this month, where he placed sixth.
Online Presence and Tributes
In addition to his bodybuilding career, Quamina was an online coach, sharing motivational content with his approximately 100,000 social media followers. In a post dated July 28, he wrote, "Stop taking life for granted go all the way and have zero regrets when it’s all over!!" He also encouraged his followers to "Stop negotiating with your potential!"
Fellow bodybuilders and friends paid tribute to Quamina, remembering him for his strength, dedication, and kindness. Bodybuilder Shaun Clarida shared that they had "awesome memories both on and off the stage." Karol Małecki described Quamina's death as "absolutely tragic," noting they had competed together just a week prior.
Keri Valdez remembered Quamina as "a devoted father, a loving husband, a loyal friend, a proud veteran, and a fitness champion who inspired those around him." Valdez added, "Dwayne was a loving yet fierce man, someone who protected and provided for his family while uplifting others with his presence, kindness, and unwavering spirit."
Quamina is survived by his wife, Leah, and their children.