History of the Mr.Olympia - Part 1
The ultimate bodybuilding competition Mr. Olympia was founded by Joe Weider. Joe Weider and his brother Ben Weider established the foundation of bodybuilding and fitness culture. The brother’s contribution to bodybuilding includes but not limited to
- The establishment of the IFBB/International Federation of Body Building (Almost 170 affiliated countries in present day. Also, the concept of Fitness was added on, which is now International Federation of Body Building & Fitness)
- Promotion of bodybuilding and fitness culture, weightlifting and gym equipment by media
- Combine both mental and physical health along with exercise and nutrition
Joe Weider hosted his first bodybuilding competition which was named Mr. Canada in 1946 with his brother Ben Weider. This experience holding a body building competition later on contributes to Joe Weider in hosting the very first Mr. Olympia in 1965.
As the bodybuilding and fitness industry grew, the Mr. Olympia still stands as the most representative bodybuilding and fitness competition in the world. It may have started out as Men’s bodybuilding only, however now it currently holds various division including the wheelchair Mr. Olympia. [1]
The Mr. Olympia is the winner of the professional men’s bodybuilding during Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend which is annually held by the IFBB(International Federation of Body Building & Fitness). It may have included only men’s bodybuilding at first, now there are various divisions as below
Mr. Olympia
212 Olympia
Classic Physique Olympia
MS. Olympia
Fitness Olympia
Figure Olympia
Bikini Olympia
Women’s Physique Olympia
Wellness Olympia
Wheelchair Olympia
The Sandow Trophy
Although the Weider brothers may have created the Mr. Olympia and promote bodybuilding and fitness to the public. They weren’t the first ever to create bodybuilding competition. Eugen Sandow (Actual name is Fredrich Wilhem Müller) is believed to have host the first ever bodybuilding competition in 1901. Eugen Sandow contributed to increase of interests in physical culture and weight lifting culture.
In 1901, Eugen Sandow hosted his physique presentation contest which is considered the first bodybuilding competition. Even the author of Sherlock Holmes Arthur Conan Doyle stood as a judge for this contest.
He later on promoted physical culture all around the world which he also influenced Theodore Roosevelt, who was the 26th president of the United States of America. Later on, King George V even commissions Eugen Sandow a professor of scientific and physical culture.[2]
Under commemoration of Eugen Sandow’s contribution to physical culture, the Mr. Olympia trophy is called the ‘Sandow Trophy’. Often simplified as the ‘Sandow’, winners of the Mr. Olympia are often referred as the winner of the Sandow.
1960’s Mr. Olympia
Joe Weider hosted the first ever Mr. Olympia on 18, September 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City and the Mr. Olympia has been hosted ever since.
Larry Scott won the first ever Mr. Olympia in 1965 and 1966. Larry Scott already held the titles of Mr. America, Mr. World and the Mr. Universe. Joe Weider knew that if he was to promote and keep the bodybuilding industry to grow that he needed people like Larry Scott. Joe knew that to keep the athletes to continuously compete, they needed the money and opportunities created by the competitions they compete in.
Larry Scott won the first ever Mr. Olympia in 1965 and 1966. Later on, Harold Poole holds the Mr. Olympia title at the age of 21. Harold Poole still remains as the youngest Mr. Olympia ever at the age of 21. After Larry Scott and Harold Poole’s triumph of the Mr. Olympia, the most iconic bodybuilders started to triumph for the Olympia.
Sergio Oliva who was nicknamed ‘The Myth’ upgraded the whole bodybuilding industry by his iconic V-Taper. His physique stands as one of the most classic physiques and a standard for the Classic Physique division. Also, he was the only person to give the upcoming bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger defeat in the Mr. Olympia competition.
1970’s Mr. Olympia
During the 1970’s the Mr. Olympia was hosted in various locations and various countries including Germany, France and South Africa. It was also the start of the most fearsome rivalry in bodybuilding between Sergio Oliva and Arnold Schwarzenegger. As much fierce as the rivalry between Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman, the rivalry for Sergio Oliva and Arnold Schwarzenegger excited the crowd and the fans of Bodybuilding.
Arnold finally defeats Sergio Oliva in the year of 1970 and consecutively wins the Mr. Olympia title for 6 in a row. Joe Weider recognizes the numerous potentials that Arnold Schwarzenegger had. He brought Arnold to compete in the IFBB held competitions where Arnold used to compete for NABBA (National Amateur Body Building Association) in Europe. Joe Weider also helped Arnold Schwarzenegger enter the filming industry and his early acting carers.
Especially the documentary drama ‘Pumping Iron’ filmed the process of the 1975 Mr. Olympia featuring many bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Serge Nubret and Franco Columbo which promoted body building and fitness to the public as well. (Pumping Iron even filmed retirement of Arnold as well)
Franco Columbo would win the Sandow trophy and the Mr. Olympia title after Arnold’s retirement. Franco Columbo was only 5’4’’ which is about 1.63 meters which showed that height doesn’t matter for the Mr. Olympia title.
After Franco Columbo’s Mr. Olympia title, Frank Zane wins the Mr. Olympia for 3 consecutive rows. Frank wasn’t as muscular as the previous Mr. Olympia winners, however his greatest strength was definition, aesthetics and symmetry which opened a new era in the judging criteria of the Mr. Olympia. Frank Zane was also famous for his 'vaccum pose' Bodybuilding was not only about muscle mass but definition, symmetry, and balance became important as well.[3]
Pumping Iron
Direct link to the Website: https://mrolympia.com/
Direct link to the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/olympiatv
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mrolympiallc/
[1] Weikfitness. “The History of the Mr. Olympia Contest.” Bodybuilding.com, 5 Nov. 2018, https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/weik21.htm.
[2] “Eugen Sandow.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eugen-Sandow.
[3] “History of Mr. Olympia - Details & Results.” Fitness Volt, 4 Dec. 2022, https://fitnessvolt.com/history-mr-olympia/.
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