THE WINNERS OF MR. OLYMPIA

1965 - LARRY SCOTT

1966 - LARRY SCOTT

1967 - SERGIO OLIVA

1968 - SERGIO OLIVA

1969 - SERGIO OLIVA

1970 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1971 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1972 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1973 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1974 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1975 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1976 - FRANCO COLUMBU

1977 - FRANK ZANE

1978 - FRANK ZANE

1979 - FRANK ZANE

1980 - ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

1981 - FRANCO COLUMBU

1982 - CHRIS DICKERSON

1983 - SAMIR BANNOUT

1984 - LEE HANEY

1985 - LEE HANEY

1986 - LEE HANEY

1987 - LEE HANEY

1988 - LEE HANEY

1989 - LEE HANEY

1990 - LEE HANEY

1991 - LEE HANEY

1992 - DORIAN YATES

1993 - DORIAN YATES

1994 - DORIAN YATES

1995 - DORIAN YATES

1996 - DORIAN YATES

1997 - DORIAN YATES

1998 - RON COLEMAN

1999 - RON COLEMAN

2000 - RON COLEMAN

2001 - RON COLEMAN

2002 - RON COLEMAN

2003 - RON COLEMAN

2004 - RON COLEMAN

2005 - RON COLEMAN

MR. OLYMPIA FACTS

The Mr. Olympia has been staged 21 times in the month of September, 13 times in the month of October, and three times in November.

In the United States, east of the Mississippi River, the Mr. Olympia has been staged 10 times in New York, New York. Six times in Columbus, Ohio, three times in Atlanta, Georgia; twice in Chicago, Illinois, and once in Orlando, Florida.

In the United States, west of the Mississippi River, the Mr. Olympia has only been staged five times, twice in Los Angeles, and three times in Las Vegas.

Overseas, the Mr. Olympia has been staged in Paris, France; Essen, Germany; Pretoria, South Africa; Syndey, Australia; London, England; Munich, Germany; Brussels, Belguim; Goteborg, Sweden; Rimini, Italy; and Helsinki, Finland.

The first nine Mr. Olympia from 1965 to 1973 averaged only 3-4 competitors per contest. Number of contestants in the Mr. Olympia were 1965 (3), 1966 (4), 1967 (4), 1968 (1), 1969 (3), 1970 (3), 1971 (1), 1972 (5), 1973 (3).

In 1974 to 1979, the Mr. Olympia has two classes, over 200, and under 200. The average number of contestants during these years climed to 9-10 per contest.

During 1980 - 1983, the Mr. Olympia averaged 16 competitors per contest.

During the Lee Haney Years, 1984 - 1991, the Mr. Olympia averaged 20-21 competitors per contest.

During the Dorian Yates Years, 1992 - 1997, the Mr. Olympia averaged 18 competitors per contest.

During the Ronnie Coleman Years, 1998-2001 so far, the Mr. Olympia averaged 17 competitors per contest.

Of the 10 men who have planted their personal flag atop Mount Olympia, all but two have been repeat winners. The one time champs are Chris Dickerson, and Samir Bannout.

Only Larry Scott won the Olympia on his first attempt. The others took two or more tries...

The youngest Mr. Olympia competitor was Harold Poole in 1965. He was 21 years old.

The oldest Mr. Olympia competitor was Albert Beckles in 1991. He was 53 years old.

The youngest Mr. Olympia winner was Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1970. He was 23 years old.

The oldest Mr. Olympia winner was Chris Dickerson in 1982. He was 43 years old.

The average age of the Mr. Olympia winners is 33 years old.

Most Mr. Olympia competitions include Albert Beckles with 13, Shawn Ray with 13, and Samir Bannout with 11.

- History of MR. OLYMPIA -

In 1981, Arnold switched back to being a promoter with Jim Lorimer and the contest was again held in Columbus. Not to be outdone by his famous friend, Franco Columbu staged a comeback himself and won the 1981 title in a tight contest of 16 contestants.

In 1982, London, England, hosted the show for the first time. Chris Dickerson won the title after finishing second the two previous year. After winning, Dickerson announced his retirement while onstage.

The contest returned to Germany in 1983, but this time to Munich, where it was won by the Lion of Lebanon, Samir Bannout. He fought off tough challenges from Mohammed Makkaway from Egypt and newcomer Lee Haney from the USA. Samir had what it took to be a dominant champion, but no one foresaw the determination of Haney.

In 1984, the even moved back to New York City's Felt Forum, where it has the highest attendance for the finals (5,000), the highest attendance for prejudging (4,000) and the largest amount of total prize money ($100,000) for any Olympia up to that time. It also featured the largest Mr. Olympia winner, Lee Haney. Haney won weighing 247 pounds at a height of 5'11". He was big, he was massive and he was cut. Also, he was unbeatable.

In 1985, the show was held in Belgium for the first time. Haney was dominant again, fishing off the challenges of Albert Beckles and Rich Gaspari. It was now two and counting for Lee. Many people feel that the Lee Haney onstage in 1986 rendition in Columbus may have been the greatest Mr. Olympia ever. Lee took his third straight crown and began setting his sights on Arnold's record.

In 1987, the Mr. Olympia contest moved to Sweden, but the first place result was the same. Haney was head and shoulders above all the others. He had now won four in a row and Arnold's record was definitely within his reach.

In 1988, Los Angeles was the host city of the Olympia. The Universal Amphitheater was jammed by 6,000 people who came to see if Lee Haney could continue in his quest of becoming the greatest Mr. Olympia ever. With prize money at its highest level, $150,000, Haney again won easily, making it five straight times. For the third year in a row, Rich Gaspari placed second.

The next year brought the Mr. Olympia to Rimini, Italy, on the beautiful Adriatic coast. This would prove to be Haney's toughest defense as he has to fight of the challenges of Lee Labrada and Vince Taylor. For the first time, people doubted Haney's dominance and many people said that he was lucky to win, But win he did, and in doing so he tied Arnold's record of six consecutive Mr. Olympia victories.

In 1990, 4,400 people packed Chicago's Arie Crown Theater. Prize money hit $200,000 for the first time as Haney tried to make in seven in a row. If 1989 was tough for Haney, 1990 was the year he almost lost. After two rounds, he was behind by two points, but he rallied in the posing round and posedown to best Lee Labrada and Shawn Ray. Haney now had seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.

Orlando, Florida, was the site of the 1991 Mr. Olympia. Haney was going for eight in a row, but for the first time he was up against a man who was the same height (5'11") and weight (245 pounds) in Dorian Yates, the Beast from Britain. Four points separated them after two rounds, but Haney pulled away in rounds three and four to seize his eighth championship in a row.

In 1992, the Mr. Olympia contest moved to Helsinki, Finland. A new Mr. Olympia would be crowned that year because Lee Haney had decided to retire after a record setting eight consecutive victories. The contest was close after the first round between U.S. National champion of 1991, Kevin Levrone, and the 1991 Mr. Olympia runner up, Dorian Yates. But after the first round, Yates started pulling away and won in convincing fashion.

A new Mr. Olympia was crowned, but did a new era begin?

Nothing could stop the amazing Yates in 1993 as he rocketed the scales at a record 257 pounds in Atlanta. Even runner-up Flex Wheeler called him "untouchable". Yates certainly seemed set for a long reign in the manner of other great Mr. Olympias.

However, the Brit endured a horrendous year in 1994. In early March, he severely damaged his left rotator cuff, and then later on the month, he tore his left quad. He battled his way through, but with the Olympia less then nine weeks away, he tore his left biceps. Displaying true blood and guys, even that injury could not end Yate's Olympia dream. He duly arrived in Atlanta to take his third Sandow statuette, but questions were raised as to what was previously thought to be his invincibility.

If doubts were raised about Yate's reign he didn't hear, or head, them. He returned to Atlanta in 1995 to score a straight firsts victory in what many rate his best ever form. Kevin Levrone hulked into second place a new threat emerged in his spot in the 270 pound shape of Nasser El Sonbaty. Not that Yates was the only Mr. O onstage that night, as in a unique ceremony, for the first time ever, all nine men who have so far won the Olympia crown assembled onstage to pay homage to the contest's creator, Joe Weider.

In 1996, after a three year tenure, the Olympia left Atlanta and moved to Chicago. In the Windy City, Yates, more streamlined that we've ever seen him, cruised to victory, closely followed by Shawn Ray and Kevin Levrone. It was the Brit's fifth victory, and, as in 1994, doubts about his invincibility began to surface.

In 1997, the Mr. Olympia road show arrived in Long Beach to celebrate the 33rd rendition of bodybuilding's ultimate contest. Total prize money was $285,000, first place was worth $110,000, and the bodybuilders are recognized as professional athletes in the truest sense of the world. Dorian Yates was now going for six Olympia titles in a row. Could he make it six in a row? Would he make a run at Haney's record of eight in a row? It was a hard fought contest. Nasser El Sonbaty came in at his best condition to date and opushed Dorian hard, but in the end, once again, in a very close race, Dorian succeeded for the sixth time as Mr. Olympia. Some felt that Nasser was better, and had been cheated out of a victory! With Dorian announcing moments after winning the contest that he would be back to get a seventh title in 1998, it set up an interesting confrontation. What most people did not know is that Dorian had suffered a torn triceps a few months before the show, and had said nothing about it and competed.

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