Famous bodybuilders
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Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses on physical appearance instead of strength. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder.
In professional bodybuilding, competitors appear in lineups and perform specified poses (and later individual posing routines) for a panel of judges who rank them based on symmetry, muscularity, size, conditioning, posing, and stage presentation. Bodybuilders prepare for competitions through the elimination of nonessential body fat, enhanced at the last stage by a combination of extracellular dehydration and carbo-loading, to achieve maximum muscular definition and vascularity; they also tan and shave to accentuate the contrast of their skin under the spotlights.
A bodybuilder performs the incline dumbbell press.Bodybuilding takes a great amount of effort and time to reach the desired results. A bodybuilder might first be able to gain 8-20 pounds (4-9 kg) of muscle per year, if lifting for seven hours on a weekly basis. However, gains begin to slow down after the first two years to about 5-15 pounds (2-7 kg). After five years, gains can decrease to just 3-10 pounds (1-5 kg).
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger is considered among the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding, and his legacy is commemorated in the Arnold Classic annual bodybuilding competition. He has remained a prominent face in bodybuilding long after his retirement, in part because of his ownership of gyms and fitness magazines. He has presided over numerous contests and awards shows.
One of the first competitions he won was the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. He won Mr. Europe the following year, at age 19. He would go on to compete in many bodybuilding contests, and win most of them. His bodybuilding victories included five Mr. Universe wins (4 - NABBA [England], 1 - IFBB [USA]), and seven Mr. Olympia wins, a record which would stand until Lee Haney won his eighth consecutive Mr. Olympia title in 1991.
Schwarzenegger continues to work out. When asked about his personal training during the 2011 Arnold Classic he said that he was still working out a half an hour with weights every day.[45]
Powerlifting/weightlifting
During Schwarzenegger's early years in bodybuilding, he also competed in several Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting contests. Schwarzenegger's first professional competition was in 1963 and he won two weightlifting contests in 1964 and 1965, as well as two powerlifting contests in 1966 and 1968.
In 1967, Schwarzenegger won the Munich stone-lifting contest, in which a stone weighing 508 German pounds (254 kg / 560 lb) is lifted between the legs while standing on two footrests.
Personal records
- Clean and press - 264 lb (120 kg)
- Snatch - 243 lb (110 kg)
- Clean and jerk - 298 lb (135 kg)
- Squat - 545 lb (247 kg)
- Bench press - 520 lb (240 kg)
- Deadlift - 683 lb (310 kg)
Mr. Olympia
Schwarzenegger's goal was to become the greatest bodybuilder in the world, which meant becoming Mr. Olympia. His first attempt was in 1969, when he lost to three-time champion Sergio Oliva. However, Schwarzenegger came back in 1970 and won the competition, making him the youngest ever Mr. Olympia at the age of 23, a record he still holds to this day.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in bodybuilding competitions
Statistics
- Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
- Contest weight: 235 lb (107 kg)-the lightest in 1980 Mr. Olympia: around 225 lb (102 kg), the heaviest in 1974 Mr. Olympia: around 250 lb (110 kg)
- Off-season weight: 260 lb (118 kg)
- Chest: 57 in (1,400 mm)
- Waist: 33 in (840 mm)
- Arms: 22 in (560 mm)
- Thighs: 29.5 in (750 mm)
- Calves: 20 in (510 mm)
Franco Columbu
Columbu participated in the inaugural edition of the World's Strongest Man in 1977. He placed fifth, behind four men who outweighed him by around 100 pounds (45 kg). During the event, he dislocated his left knee while carrying a refrigerator on his back.[6] The injury kept him out of competition for a few years, and he received a reported $1 million (equivalent to $4.5 million in 2021) in compensation. Columbu returned to win the 1981 Mr. Olympia then retired from competition.
Known for his strength, Columbu's clean and jerk record was 400 pounds (181 kg), his bench press record was 525 pounds (238 kg), his squat record was 655 pounds (297 kg), and his deadlift record was 750 pounds (340 kg). He was named in The Guinness Book of Records in 1978 for bursting a hot water bottle by blowing into it, which he achieved in 55 seconds.
Bodybuilding titles
- 1970 IFBB Mr. World (Short)
- 1970 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall)
- 1971 IFBB Mr. World (Short & Overall)
- 1974 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)
- 1975 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)
- 1976 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight & Overall)
- 1981 Mr. Olympia
Frank Zane
Zane is a three-time Mr. Olympia (1977 to 1979). His reign represented a shift in emphasis from mass to aesthetics. Zane's physique featured the second-thinnest waistline of all the Mr. Olympias (after Sergio Oliva), with his wide shoulders making for a distinctive V-taper. He stood at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and had a competition weight of less than 190 pounds when he won all three of his Mr. Olympias. He was given the nickname "The Chemist" due to his Bachelor of Science degree and, as he puts it: "Back in the day I took a lot of supplements and tons of amino acids. Still do. But back then it was pretty unusual. That's how I got the nickname The Chemist."
He famously trained with light weights which saw him to many victories, but Joe Weider urged him to train with heavier weights. Zane then found the size necessary for success at the Olympia. After his three consecutive Mr. Olympia titles came the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Shortly before the competition he suffered a poolside accident in his home and he lost 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of muscle mass. This saw the end to his reign, as Arnold Schwarzenegger controversially[citation needed] placed at the top of the podium in his comeback, with Zane in third.
Zane is one of only three men to have beaten Schwarzenegger (with Chester Yorton and Sergio Oliva) in a bodybuilding contest and one of the very few Mr. Olympia winners under 200 pounds (91 kg). Overall, he competed for over 20 years (retiring after the 1983 Mr. Olympia) and won Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Mr. World, and Mr. Olympia during his career.
Bodybuilding titles
- 1961 - Mr. Pennsylvania (17th place)
- 1962 - Mr. Keystone (Winner)
- 1963 - Mr. Keystone (2nd)
- 1965 - Mr. Sunshine State (Winner)
- 1965 - IFBB Mr. Universe (1st, Medium Height category)
- 1966 - IFBB Mr. America (1st, Medium)
- 1967 - IFBB Mr. America (1st, Medium)
- 1967 - IFBB Mr. Universe (3rd, Tall)
- 1968 - IFBB Mr. America (Winner)
- 1968 - IFBB Mr. Universe (Winner)
- 1970 - NABBA Mr. Universe (Winner)
- 1971 - NABBA Pro Mr. Universe (1st, Short)
- 1972 - NABBA Pro Mr. Universe (Winner)
- 1972 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs, 4th)
- 1973 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs, did not place)
- 1974 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs, 2nd)
- 1975 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs, 4th)
- 1976 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs, 2nd)
- 1977 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs & Overall Winner)
- 1978 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs & Overall Winner)
- 1979 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (Under 200 lbs & Overall Winner)
- 1980 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (3rd, after suffering a near-fatal injury at his home, requiring lengthy hospitalization)
- 1981 - IFBB Mr. Olympia - did not compete (boycotted the Mr Olympia contest after the controversial 1980 contest[citation needed])
- 1982 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (2nd)
- 1983 - IFBB Mr. Olympia (4th), after suffering another accident on his bicycle, requiring extensive shoulder surgery shortly after the contest)
Competitive stats
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
- Contest weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Chris Dickerson
Dickerson first entered bodybuilding competition in 1965 by taking third place at that year's Mr. Long Beach competition. He turned pro in 1973 and won a total of 15 professional bodybuilding titles across four organizations during his career.[7]
He trained for many of his most important competitions in the 1980s with former Mr. Universe Bill Pearl.
Bodybuilding titles
- 1966 Mr North America - AAU, 2nd
- 1966 Mr New York State - AAU, Overall Winner
- 1966 Mr Eastern America - AAU, Overall Winner
- 1966 Mr Atlantic Coast - AAU, Overall Winner
- 1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
- 1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Winner
- 1967 Mr California - AAU, Winner
- 1967 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 4th
- 1967 Mr America - AAU, 6th
- 1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 5th
- 1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, 4th
- 1968 Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
- 1968 Mr USA - AAU, Winner
- 1968 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 3rd
- 1968 Mr America - AAU, 3rd
- 1968 Junior Mr America - AAU, 3rd
- 1969 Mr America - AAU, 2nd
- 1969 Junior Mr America - AAU, 2nd
- 1970 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
- 1970 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
- 1970 Mr America - AAU, Winner
- 1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
- 1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Winner
- 1971 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
- 1973 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
- 1973 Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner
- 1973 Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
- 1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 1st
- 1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
- 1975 World Championships - WBBG, 2nd
- 1975 Universe - Pro - PBBA, 2nd
- 1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 2nd
- 1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, 3rd
- 1976 Olympus - WBBG, 4th
- 1979 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, Lightweight, 4th
- 1979 Grand Prix Vancouver - IFBB, 2nd
- 1979 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner
- 1979 Canada Diamond Pro Cup - IFBB, 2nd
- 1980 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, 2nd
- 1980 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
- 1980 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner
- 1980 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner
- 1980 Grand Prix Miami - IFBB, Winner
- 1980 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, 2nd
- 1980 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner
- 1980 Florida Pro Invitational - IFBB, Winner
- 1980 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner
- 1981 Professional World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
- 1981 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
- 1981 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner
- 1981 Grand Prix World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
- 1981 Grand Prix Washington - IFBB, Winner
- 1981 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner
- 1981 Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 2nd
- 1981 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, Winner
- 1981 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner
- 1982 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, Winner
- 1984 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 11th
- 1990 Arnold Classic - IFBB, 8th
- 1994 Masters Olympia - IFBB, Overall, 4th
Mike Mentzer
Mentzer started bodybuilding when he was 12 years old at a body weight of 95 lb (43 kg) after seeing the men on the covers of several muscle magazines. His father had bought him a set of weights and an instruction booklet. The booklet suggested that he train no more than three days a week, so Mike did just that. By age 15, his body weight had reached 165 lb (75 kg), at which Mike could bench press 370 lb (170 kg). Mike's goal at the time was to look like his bodybuilding hero, Bill Pearl. After graduating high school, Mentzer served four years in the United States Air Force. It was during this time he started working out over three hours a day, six days a week.
Mentzer started competing in local physique contests when he was 18 years old and attended his first contest in 1969. In 1971, Mentzer entered and won the Mr. Lancaster contest. In 1971 he suffered his worst defeat, placing 10th at the AAU Mr. America, which was won by Casey Viator. Mentzer considered his presence at this contest important later on, as he met Viator, who gave Mentzer the contact information for his trainer Arthur Jones. Due to a severe shoulder injury, he was forced to quit training from 1971 to 1974. In early 1975, however, he resumed training and returned to competition in 1975 at the Mr. America contest, placing third behind Robby Robinson and Roger Callard. Mentzer went on to win that competition the next year, in 1976. He won the 1977 North America championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and competed a week later at the 1977 Mr. Universe in Nîmes, France, placing second to Kal Szkalak. In 1978, Mentzer won the Mr. Universe in Acapulco, Mexico with the first and only perfect 300 score. He became a professional bodybuilder after that 1978 Universe win.
Contest history
- 1971 Mr. Lancaster - 1st
- 1971 AAU Mr. America - 10th
- 1971 AAU Teen Mr America - 2nd
- 1975 IFBB Mr. America - 3rd (Medium)
- 1975 ABBA Mr. USA - 2nd (Medium)
- 1976 IFBB Mr. America - 1st (Overall)
- 1976 IFBB Mr. America - 1st (Medium)
- 1976 IFBB Mr. Universe - 2nd (MW)
- 1977 IFBB North American Championships - 1st (Overall)
- 1977 IFBB North American Championships - 1st (MW)
- 1977 IFBB Mr. Universe - 2nd (HW)
- 1978 IFBB USA vs the World - 1st (HW)
- 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships - 1st (HW)
- 1978 IFBB Mr. Universe - 1st
- 1979 IFBB Canada Pro Cup - 2nd
- 1979 IFBB Florida Pro Invitational - 1st
- 1979 IFBB Night of Champions - 3rd
- 1979 IFBB Mr. Olympia - 1st (HW)
- 1979 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - 2nd
- 1979 IFBB Southern Pro Cup - 1st
- 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia - 5th
Lee Haney
Bodybuilding titles
Lee Haney with Paolo Tassetto in 1988
1979 Teen Mr. America
1979 Teen Mr. America Tall, 1st
1982 Junior Nationals Heavyweight & Overall, 1st
1982 Nationals Heavyweight & Overall, 1st
1982 World Amateur Championships Heavyweight, 1st
1983 Grand Prix England, 2nd
1983 Grand Prix Las Vegas, 1st
1983 Grand Prix Sweden, 2nd
1983 Grand Prix Switzerland, 3rd
1983 Night of Champions, 1st
1983 Mr. Olympia, 3rd
1983 World Pro Championships, 3rd
1984 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1985 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1986 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1987 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1987 Grand Prix Germany (II), 1st
1988 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1989 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1990 Mr. Olympia, 1st
1991 Mr. Olympia, 1st
Stats[edit]
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Off Season Weight: 275-285 pounds (125-129 kg)
- Competition Weight: the lightest 230 pounds (104 kg) 1984 Mr. Olympia and the heaviest 260 pounds (118 kg) 1989 Mr. Olympia[9]
- Chest size: 56 in (142 cm)
- Neck size: 20 in (51 cm)
- Arm Size: 21 in (53 cm)
- Waist: 32.5 in (83 cm)
- Thigh Size: 30 in (76.2 cm)
- Calf Size: 20 in (50.8 cm)