Hey Nick! Thank you for this tribute to my uncle Sonny Schmidt. Fyi - there has been a lot of mixed information on the internet about his origin but Sonny or Edmond as we know him was born in Samoa, Savaii island in the village of Safotu in 1953 & moved to New Zealand at the age of 14 where he started his passion for bodybuilding. In the late 70s early 80s he competed a lot in bodybuilding shows in New Zealand, USA & eventually moved to Sydney Australia in the early 90s but still back and forth to New Zealand & Samoa because most of his family where still living there. He was a very quiet and humble person but also very determined and consistent, the Purple Rain song was his favorite and always play as a background song when he guest posts at bodybuilding events he survives of his older brother Fritz Kiapili Bismarck Schmidt still living on their family land in Safotu Savaii island, Samoa. Thanks for the video.
I was lucky enough to meet Sonny at an exhibition in 1989 in Australia when he was reaching his prime. Sonny was a softly spoken giant and a genuinely nice guy. Some years later hearing about his untimely passing was a real shock as he seemed invincible in my memories. RIP.
Thanks Nick, Sonnys my first cousin.. he grew up Samoa then lived in New Zealand before he moved to Australia, a bouncer at the pub "The Glue Pot", and other bars, he has brothers still living in Auckland New Zealand
Good job Nick!! - being a Samoan growing up in the 90s, Sonny was an inspiration because he was the only Samoan I knew on the bodybuilding stage representing our island nation.
Glad you kept it positive about Sonny..I personally trained in the same gym as he did at one time..he was a real gentleman and very down to earth... sad he also passed away at such a young age..💪🏼😔🇦🇺😬
Thanks for sharing Nic. As an Aussie I can remember seeing a lot of Sonny in the muscle mags of the 90's. His life had someone of a tragic ending with jail and cancer. RIP.
Great tribute Nick I was amazed when he won the very first Masters Olympia of all people who didn’t get the exposure he deserved.Condolences to his family members for losing a pillar in the Samoan community he lived his dream that’s what mattered
he also worked as a bouncer at the Billboard night club in Melbourne city center i knew him personally man he was so huge and conditioned all year round and up close always looked insane.
Faa'fetai (Thankyou) Nick for the heads up on Sonny. I remember seeing him on Flex covers in the 90s and was inspired and felt extremely proud that someone from our tiny islands made it this far and flexing with the greats. Malo lava :)
I just noticed how new this video is when you said Rich Piana and Dallas McCarver (RIP Big Country) but it's great to know that Sonny's legacy lives on. Thank you for reminding us of his great physique. Proud to have legends like sonny pave the way for the youth of our tiny island. Thanks Nick, alofa atu💙🙏✊
Another great vid. I was getting ready to ask to you to make one on Sonny. Not only was his conditioning great, but he was so proptional. Keep up the great work!
i remember when i was a kid 20 years ago, i had his poster on my wall from muscle and fitnes magazine. men brings back memories when i was young..and now im an old fuck😥
I saw Sonny training at Tony Doherty's gym in Bendigo a few times. He was squatting with 4-5 plates either side and just reppin' like it weighed nothing. Said g'day to him a few times and he was a real nice bloke.
Heh Nick, I trained with him (in Hawthorn,melb, Australia) and next to him for the 6 weeks before a Mr O. Trained heavy but not crazy hard - just smart. Never forget watching him tying his shoe laces and his arms literally grew about 1 inch and got a pump.... Spence (Australia) P.s keep up the good work - luv ya channel...
Nick -- I like your mini-bios on physique stars. Nice of you to share your wealth of knowledge on the subject. One little thing, "Samoan" is a nationality -- not an ethnicity or race. Sonny Schmidt's ethnicity is technically termed "Pacific Islander". I'm working on a documentary on the race/ethnicity so I thought that I'd share my knowledge. Thanks for all your excellent work.
Thanks Brother ... I guess you do read my post after all ... hehehehe 2nd at the 91 night of champions to Dorian Yates, and i am sure he placed 6th at the 91 Olympia and 7th at the 92 Olympia .. and that pic at 4:32 is amazing
Oh boy! Am I early on this one! You go nick! We will all remember these times when you're the biggest bb channel on youtube in 2020 and kanevsky is mr olympia.
I lived in Hawaii for 3 years when I was younger and my observation was the Hawaiians were mesomorphs with endomorphic traits and the Samoans were mesomorphs with ectomorphic traits and the Tahitians were ectomorphic with mesomorphic traits these three ethnic groups could just look at weights and get big. I saw a Tahitian landscaper that all he did was landscaping and play soccer and he was built better than the guys in the gym lol.
Hey Nick can you please do a comparative video on Strongman Vs Bodybuilder? Btw love your videos and your objective,no-nonsense, and insightful commentary... :)
Sonny was an incredible body builder, not just pretty good bodybuilder, i would take his physique over most of today's competitors, and he was quite big, especially before the stupidity took hold of the sport. And if i remember right he wasn't 100% Samoan, he was half German, and because of that unique mix they (writers) would rave about his incredible genetics. He had no physical weaknesses.
Sonny lived in my city of Melbourne and bounced in clubs before he cracked it in the US, scoring a Weider contract. I met him twice and can say the dude was very impressive and very friendly. He was convicted of cocaine smuggling where he used his Mexican connections to help a well known drug kingpin called Tony Mokbel (currently incarcerated). Whilst inside prison he found a malignant cancerous lump under his arm. My understanding is he was let out early on compassionate grounds where he died soon after.
I always thought the problem with Sonny was that he just looked so well proportioned with nothing crazy going on he was often placed middle of the pack. Crazy as that sounds.
He looked good. I remember him from early 90's with yates and Co. Good balance to his physique. Now all body parts have to look like balloons with less conditioning.
Nick strength and power no more deaths bro or about people that pass on I no its been a fucked up week but let see some hedges yea how's the little guy doing
Nick read the interview that Nasser el sonbaty did called persona non grata I think it was called you can google it. Nasser explains how milos sarcev really used sonny Schmidt and he (Nasser) has some crazy stories about sonny Schmidt and milos sarcev.
Hi Nick, love your videos. I was wondering if you can do a video on Cristiano Ronaldo and if he would be a good competitor in the Men's Physique division. Since his physique is very impressive for a soccer player. :D
He was friends with the guys that trained me in security in melbourne, They said sonny was a nice guy but judging where he hung out and who his friends were would say He was involved in the shady aspects of wheeling and dealing. Mind you the people calling him nice were nutcases hahaha
Hey Nick!
Thank you for this tribute to my uncle Sonny Schmidt.
Fyi - there has been a lot of mixed information on the internet about his origin but Sonny or Edmond as we know him was born in Samoa, Savaii island in the village of Safotu in 1953 & moved to New Zealand at the age of 14 where he started his passion for bodybuilding.
In the late 70s early 80s he competed a lot in bodybuilding shows in New Zealand, USA & eventually moved to Sydney Australia in the early 90s but still back and forth to New Zealand & Samoa because most of his family where still living there. He was a very quiet and humble person but also very determined and consistent, the Purple Rain song was his favorite and always play as a background song when he guest posts at bodybuilding events he survives of his older brother Fritz Kiapili Bismarck Schmidt still living on their family land in Safotu Savaii island, Samoa.
Thanks for the video.
One of the brothers still lives in Manurewa Auckland not to sure if he is still alive, sonny is my first cousin, family are all boxers too
I was lucky enough to meet Sonny at an exhibition in 1989 in Australia when he was reaching his prime. Sonny was a softly spoken giant and a genuinely nice guy. Some years later hearing about his untimely passing was a real shock as he seemed invincible in my memories. RIP.
Thanks Nick, Sonnys my first cousin.. he grew up Samoa then lived in New Zealand before he moved to Australia, a bouncer at the pub "The Glue Pot", and other bars, he has brothers still living in Auckland New Zealand
Good job Nick!! - being a Samoan growing up in the 90s, Sonny was an inspiration because he was the only Samoan I knew on the bodybuilding stage representing our island nation.
Glad you kept it positive about Sonny..I personally trained in the same gym as he did at one time..he was a real gentleman and very down to earth... sad he also passed away at such a young age..💪🏼😔🇦🇺😬
Maaaaan, I couldn't hit the play button fast enough. Sonny was my dude! Thanks for the upload
Oh Nick, you made my day. Being Aussie I have always loved this beast. Apparently the nicest bloke aswell
Thanks for sharing Nic. As an Aussie I can remember seeing a lot of Sonny in the muscle mags of the 90's. His life had someone of a tragic ending with jail and cancer. RIP.
Great tribute Nick I was amazed when he won the very first Masters Olympia of all people who didn’t get the exposure he deserved.Condolences to his family members for losing a pillar in the Samoan community he lived his dream that’s what mattered
Awesome physique, Sonny was always one of my favourites.
I feel like Samoans have some of the best genes in the world to build muscle. They just look at weights and get huge.
I agree, look at Will world Harris.
They have some of the best genetics for getting massive/bulky, not so good genetics for getting lean tho
Sam Cooper : YEAH Sam , and HEADS like FUCKING CINDER BLOCKS
Sam Cooper
...but in the same token they can't get lean...
Zyzyzx Zyzer 😂
Sonny Schmidt was awesome and one of the best back in the early 90s. One more pro who died early
he also worked as a bouncer at the Billboard night club in Melbourne city center i knew him personally man he was so huge and conditioned all year round and up close always looked insane.
Glad I tuned in! I'm Samoan as well 19 and aspire to body build. I had no idea Samoans participated in bodybuilding 🙌🏼 good stuff
Faa'fetai (Thankyou) Nick for the heads up on Sonny. I remember seeing him on Flex covers in the 90s and was inspired and felt extremely proud that someone from our tiny islands made it this far and flexing with the greats. Malo lava :)
Great Bodybuilder and hell of a big heart and all round nice guy just a damn shame he got mixed up with the wrong people .
I just noticed how new this video is when you said Rich Piana and Dallas McCarver (RIP Big Country) but it's great to know that Sonny's legacy lives on. Thank you for reminding us of his great physique. Proud to have legends like sonny pave the way for the youth of our tiny island. Thanks Nick, alofa atu💙🙏✊
Sonny always stood out to me because he was very balanced and symmetrical, always had that super hero type look to his physique.
Great video. I met Sonny Schmidt as a teen when he came to New Zealand for a few shows he was in. Cool guy.
I met Sonny here in NZ, he was a very friendly guy and humble.
Never heard about Sonny. Thanks again Nick!!
Another great vid. I was getting ready to ask to you to make one on Sonny. Not only was his conditioning great, but he was so proptional. Keep up the great work!
That dude is SHREDDED
He had outstanding calves unlike many of the pros today.
Great stuff Nick,,Yeah he was a mix of German and Samoan,,read that back in Musclemag early mid 90s,,,,,your channel ROCKS,,,,
my coach trained with him back in the day said he was really nice!!!
i remember when i was a kid 20 years ago, i had his poster on my wall from muscle and fitnes magazine.
men brings back memories when i was young..and now im an old fuck😥
I saw Sonny training at Tony Doherty's gym in Bendigo a few times. He was squatting with 4-5 plates either side and just reppin' like it weighed nothing. Said g'day to him a few times and he was a real nice bloke.
love your videos of bodybuilders of the past.
Definitely my favorite bodybuilder love u nick
Heh Nick,
I trained with him (in Hawthorn,melb, Australia) and next to him for the 6 weeks before a Mr O.
Trained heavy but not crazy hard - just smart.
Never forget watching him tying his shoe laces and his arms literally grew about 1 inch and got a pump....
Spence (Australia)
P.s keep up the good work - luv ya channel...
Love your content dude, keep up the great work
Sonny was also known as one of the sports true gentleman
thank you for this nick. Im samoan myself.
Nick -- I like your mini-bios on physique stars. Nice of you to share your wealth of knowledge on the subject. One little thing, "Samoan" is a nationality -- not an ethnicity or race. Sonny Schmidt's ethnicity is technically termed "Pacific Islander". I'm working on a documentary on the race/ethnicity so I thought that I'd share my knowledge. Thanks for all your excellent work.
Fuck Nick you just keep me intrigued with all these forgotten muscle men and I love and appreciate ALL your videos.Keep up the good work bro!!!!
Nick you are a great guy that makes very nice videos!
Keep up the good work!
thanks for sharing this video, and a tribute to the legendary Sonny Schmidt ....
Thanks Brother ... I guess you do read my post after all ... hehehehe
2nd at the 91 night of champions to Dorian Yates, and i am sure he placed 6th at the 91 Olympia and 7th at the 92 Olympia ..
and that pic at 4:32 is amazing
Oh boy! Am I early on this one! You go nick! We will all remember these times when you're the biggest bb channel on youtube in 2020 and kanevsky is mr olympia.
His mustache was award winning.
He looks like a more aesthetic version of The Rock #rip
i train with a member from Sonny's family here in Melbourne, and dayuuuuuuuuuuuum, their gentics are so premium
I lived in Hawaii for 3 years when I was younger and my observation was the Hawaiians were mesomorphs with endomorphic traits and the Samoans were mesomorphs with ectomorphic traits and the Tahitians were ectomorphic with mesomorphic traits these three ethnic groups could just look at weights and get big. I saw a Tahitian landscaper that all he did was landscaping and play soccer and he was built better than the guys in the gym lol.
Oh right I remember this dude.
An issue in Muscle & Fitness had an article on him named "The Guns of Samoa"
Tama Samoa!!Miss You Uce!
Yeah growing up in Australia I remember Sonny back in the 90's. He certainly had a great physique. Sad he died so soon!!
hey nick- love the channel!
His conditioning looks awesome!!!
Dom Mazzetti: Natty or not
Derek Knox with guns like his he's on everything
lol
mike is natty dom isnt
simply too big
Derek Knox
Good joke
Derek Knox mike is no where near contest condition so definitively natty even though he is pretty big
Just awesome nice video ... thumbs big up.. 👍👍
Nick I enjoy whatching your videos. I would love to see a video about Shelley Beattie too if possible. Keep up with the amazing work!
Hey Nick can you please do a comparative video on Strongman Vs Bodybuilder?
Btw love your videos and your objective,no-nonsense, and insightful commentary... :)
Sonny was an incredible body builder, not just pretty good bodybuilder, i would take his physique over most of today's competitors, and he was quite big, especially before the stupidity took hold of the sport.
And if i remember right he wasn't 100% Samoan, he was half German, and because of that unique mix they (writers) would rave about his incredible genetics. He had no physical weaknesses.
As far as I remember he placed 6th in the 1991 Mr. Olympia
beast
Very symmetrical
Super impressive striations on the pecs. No wonder he's a Masters champ.
Sonny lived in my city of Melbourne and bounced in clubs before he cracked it in the US, scoring a Weider contract. I met him twice and can say the dude was very impressive and very friendly. He was convicted of cocaine smuggling where he used his Mexican connections to help a well known drug kingpin called Tony Mokbel (currently incarcerated). Whilst inside prison he found a malignant cancerous lump under his arm. My understanding is he was let out early on compassionate grounds where he died soon after.
Jeesh, another one.
RIP
bring back dallas in the intro vids. he deserves it. btw love ur channel. informative AF
There's so much death and dying permeating a lifestyle that's supposed to promote health and fitness
1:00 His claves Nick his calves were huge
Awesome...
Damn another one bite the dust.
#GetRichTo1MillionSubs
Subbed
Nick's Strength and Power Sweet!
Colloco never
this should be pinned
Nick's Strength and Power the rock is African American his dad is African American.
Sonny brother died of the same Cancer also and he wasnt a Body Builder. It seems it was a genetic thing
His conditioning and proportions were perfect , that’s why no body parts stand out . Similar to Chris Cormier.
Great physique
For those unaware of Johnson's heritage, he is half black and half Samoan (a Polynesian people). His father is an African American
I don't know anything about bodybuilding but I stumbled across your hedgehog video and now I'm stuck here
👍👍I remember him I forgot he passed away 13 1/2 years ago
He was my uncle .. He got mixed up with the wrong people .
He reminds me of roelly winklar, just a lil bit.
In the face.
his arms look like freaking Popeye in some of the most musculars
Fantastic physique
My favourite samoan is *Mark Hunt*
Vince Taylor was a thorn in his side. He would have won a couple more Masters Olympia's had it not been for VT.
I always thought the problem with Sonny was that he just looked so well proportioned with nothing crazy going on he was often placed middle of the pack. Crazy as that sounds.
Legend has it if ur early nick will reply
Also here before Vince McMahon
He looked good. I remember him from early 90's with yates and Co. Good balance to his physique. Now all body parts have to look like balloons with less conditioning.
Nick, could you please do a video on how a person actually becomes a professional bodybuilder?
When will you feature some strength and/or power athletes Nick, or is this just a bodybuilding channel?
Nick strength and power no more deaths bro or about people that pass on I no its been a fucked up week but let see some hedges yea how's the little guy doing
Nick read the interview that Nasser el sonbaty did called persona non grata I think it was called you can google it. Nasser explains how milos sarcev really used sonny Schmidt and he (Nasser) has some crazy stories about sonny Schmidt and milos sarcev.
Damn son I'm early for the first time
Hey Nick!
Hey Nick you should also start talking about bodybuilders who are nobody or the last place guys I would like to know
so this is my uncle huh. schmidt for life
Sonny Schmidt was born in New Zealand!!
Patrick Bonham 🙌🏿def was born in NZ!!!! Moved to Australia in 78/79 - cause of death - cancerous tumour
Shut the fuck up he was born in Samoa..never landed in NZ
they weren't allegations he did jail time for being involved in drug distribution. He was released from jail early due to his illness
Hi Nick, love your videos. I was wondering if you can do a video on Cristiano Ronaldo and if he would be a good competitor in the Men's Physique division. Since his physique is very impressive for a soccer player. :D
HEY NICK STRENGHT AND POWER, YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT ORVILE BURKE??? PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT THIS GUY...👍
He was friends with the guys that trained me in security in melbourne, They said sonny was a nice guy but judging where he hung out and who his friends were would say He was involved in the shady aspects of wheeling and dealing. Mind you the people calling him nice were nutcases hahaha
good vid,but hey he wasnt crazy? every bodypart was on point great overall balanced to me is crazy ;)
nick, what do you mean by 'conditioning.' thanks.....
Guys I think the DMAA in my MEsomorph got stuck at the bottom I just took one of my last scoops and my hearts is exploding srsss
He looked better in his later years to me
I remember this guy...dead on Nick, his calling card was conditioning.
Do a video about Paco Bautista.