Former Mr. Olympia competitor Dwayne “King Q” Quamina has died suddenly at 40, weeks after posting a stark warning to fans about taking life for granted.
The Trinidad and Tobago native, who lived in California, passed away on Sunday, according to the Trinidad Express. He had competed just days earlier at the Atlanta Pro event, where he finished sixth in the 212-pound division. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
Quamina served in the Navy for over a decade before pivoting to professional bodybuilding in 2016. The muscleman, known to fans as “King Q,” captured the lightweight title at the 2016 NPC USA Championships and followed that with victory at the 2017 Europa Phoenix Pro event. He reached the sport’s pinnacle by competing in the 2018 Mr. Olympia tournament, where he placed 10th.
The athlete stepped away from competition before mounting a comeback last year, finishing third at the Chicago Pro event. Speaking at a bench press event in El Centro last year, Quamina reflected on his military service and its lasting impact. “As a veteran, when I got out, the sense of brotherhood is often missed,” he said.
Quamina was also an online coach who built a following of approximately 100,000 across social media platforms, where he regularly shared motivational content. In a July 28 Instagram post that has taken on haunting significance, he delivered an urgent message to his followers. “Stop taking life for granted go all the way and have zero regrets when it’s all over!!” He wrote.
He continued pressing his audience to maximize their potential in subsequent posts. “Stop negotiating with your potential!” He shared. “Some of the most powerful words I’ve ever heard.” In another gym video, he posed a direct challenge: “Who do you want to become? Once you figure that out all that’s left is to go out and become.”
The bodybuilder expressed satisfaction with his final competitive showing. He said he was “very happy with [the] package” he brought to the Atlanta event, which proved to be his last. Quamina leaves behind his wife, Leah, and their children.
Fellow competitors have flooded social media with tributes to the fallen athlete. “We shared some awesome memories both on and off the stage,” bodybuilder Shaun Clarida wrote. Clarida, 42, is a prominent figure in the same 212 division where Quamina competed.
Polish bodybuilder Karol Małecki Ale Lekkie expressed disbelief at the sudden loss. “It’s absolutely tragic. We competed together just a week ago at the Atlanta Pro. It’s hard to believe he’s gone,” he said.
Friend Keri Valdez offered a sweeping remembrance of Quamina’s character and impact. “Dwayne Quamina was so much more than a name—he was a devoted father, a loving husband, a loyal friend, a proud veteran, and a fitness champion who inspired those around him through his strength, dedication, and determination,” she shared.
Valdez continued, “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. His loss has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.”
In the viral moment that preceded his death, Quamina’s final social media posts struck an unusually solemn tone for the typically upbeat coach, with his July 28 warning about not taking life for granted now resonating across bodybuilding forums and fan pages as a chilling final testament.
The 2024 Mr. Olympia competition is scheduled for Las Vegas in October.