Bodybuilder Dwayne Quamina Dead At 40 Just One Week After Competing At 2026 Atlanta Pro
IFBB Pro League bodybuilder and former Olympia competitor Dwayne Quamina has died at just 40 years old, only one week after stepping onstage at the 2026 Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro Supershow.
Quamina’s death was confirmed on Sunday, Aug. 16. His wife, Leah Jerez, announced the heartbreaking news in a post on Instagram. At the time of publication, a cause of death has not been disclosed. There had also been no public indication that Quamina was dealing with any recent health problems.
The news is particularly shocking considering how recently Quamina was competing. On Aug. 9, he took the stage in the Men’s 212 division at the Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro Supershow and finished sixth overall.
Just days before his death, Quamina was still publicly discussing his bodybuilding career and preparation. In a post from Aug. 11, he reflected on having spent 15 years in competitive bodybuilding.
Dwayne Quamina Was An Olympia-Level 212 Bodybuilder
Quamina built an impressive career in the 212 division that eventually took him to bodybuilding’s biggest stage.
He won the Lightweight division at the 2016 NPC USA Championships before establishing himself as an IFBB Pro. His breakthrough as a professional came with a victory at the 2017 Europa Phoenix Pro, which helped establish him as a legitimate force in the 212 division.
Quamina reached the Mr. Olympia stage in 2018 and finished 10th in the 212 Olympia, the highest-profile appearance of his professional career.
After competing through 2019, Quamina stepped away from the stage for several years. He eventually made his comeback in 2025 and immediately proved he could still compete at a high level, finishing third at the Chicago Pro and fourth at the Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro. His sixth-place finish in Atlanta earlier this month would ultimately become the final competition of his career.
Quamina Was Also A U.S. Navy Veteran
Long before his success on the professional bodybuilding stage, Quamina served in the United States Navy.
His military service remained an important part of his identity after leaving the Navy. Quamina participated in events supporting fellow veterans and spoke openly about the importance of recreating the sense of community that many service members lose after leaving the military.
In 2025, Quamina participated in a Reps 4 Vets event at 4:13 Fitness Center, where he bench pressed 100 pounds for an incredible 95 repetitions. He would later smash his own record with 150 reps. Speaking about the event and his experience as a veteran, Quamina explained what the veteran community meant to him.
“As a veteran, when I got out, the sense of brotherhood is often missed.”
Quamina said events bringing veterans together helped create that feeling of “community and belonging again.”
He also remained heavily involved in fitness outside of competition. Quamina worked as an ISSA-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach and used his experience in the Navy and bodybuilding to help clients through their own challenges.
Cause Of Dwayne Quamina’s Death Has Not Been Announced
Given Quamina’s age and the fact that he competed just seven days before his death, there will inevitably be questions surrounding what happened. However, there is currently no verified information connecting his death to bodybuilding, contest preparation, performance-enhancing drugs, or any specific medical condition.
Until Quamina’s family or another authoritative source provides additional information, any claims about the circumstances surrounding his death would be speculation.
Quamina leaves behind a bodybuilding career that included an IFBB Pro victory, an appearance on the Mr. Olympia stage, and a successful return to competition after several years away.
More importantly, he was a Navy veteran, husband, coach and member of the fitness community whose impact extended well beyond his placings onstage.
Generation Iron sends its condolences to Dwayne Quamina’s family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
Image embed via Instagram @kingq_ifbbpro
