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News

Former IFBB Professional Tonya Knight Has Reportedly Passed Away At 56

by Greg Patuto Published on Feb 7, 2023

Tonya Knight bodybuilder
This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Tonya Knight passed away after a long battle with cancer.

The bodybuilding world has lost another legend. Former IFBB professional Tonya Knight passed away after a battle with cancer. The news was announced on Tuesday afternoon, according to SNBC13.

Knight, who hailed from Missouri before moving to Kansas, was talented in many areas at an early age. She made a name for herself on the bodybuilding stage thanks to her impressive physique and work ethic. She brought a great package to the stage thanks to her impressive conditioning.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tonya Knight (@tonyaknightpro)

Tonya Knight’s Career

Tonya Knight burst onto the scene in 1984, where she began competing at the NPC World Championships. She would become a staple in the competition over the next three years before moving to the IFBB Pro League.

In 1988, Knight finished fifth during the Pro World Championships before earning a fourth-place finish in Women’s Bodybuilding. After winning the 1989 Ms. International competition, Knight took time off following controversy with one of her drug tests.

Tonya Knight returned to the stage in 1991, winning the Ms. International competition once again. She would compete two more times in her career, including a third-place finish at the 1993 Jan Tana Classic.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tonya Knight (@tonyaknightpro)

On Sunday, it was announced that Lee Banks passed away after his own battle with cancer. The bodybuilding world has lost many great competitors over the last two years. Tonya Knight quickly became known for her extreme work ethic and it showed when she was able to take the stage during competitions.

Generation Iron sends condolences to friends and family during this time. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Greg Patuto

Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.

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