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 -

1998 now arrived, and Dorian had decided, after he had surgery to repaid the torn tricep, that, due to lingering injuries, not to compete in this year's Mr. Olympia in New York and to retire. With the great Yates done, that meant a new Mr. Olympia would be crowned in New York on October 10, 1998. This would be one exciting show, with a guaranteed new winner! The Mr. Olympia contest, which only Joe Weider had the imagination to create, is now firmly established as bodybuilding's show of shows. From intense competition, Ronnie Coleman came from out of nowhere for a dramatic win. With Flex Wheeler and Ronnie Coleman competing for the top prize, a new king was elected. Ronnie Coleman, with his massive back and freaky posture, became the latest Mr. Olympia. His fellow competitors sportingly congratulated the cop from Texas on his narrow victory, but privately the knew they had blown an opportunity to go down in history. Afterward, debate raged whether Coleman's victory was a one time affair, or the beginning of a new Mr. O dynasty. Not since Samir Bannout in 1983 had there been a one year Mr. Olympia. Haney has won eight in a row, Yates six. Would Coleman flash and fizzle or solidify his grip on power?

The answer came in Las Vegas, at the ornate Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas strip on October 23, 1999. The venue itself was completely sold out! There, 17 warriors took the stage, with Coleman and Flex Wheeler locked in a close battle. Wheeler had done his homework, but the reigning Mr. Olympia would leave no doubters this night. Chris Cormier placed 3rd, with his best physique ever at this show, and when Ronnie was called the winner, Flex turned his back on the judges, and lifted his finger saying he was #1. But Ronnie proved to the world that he is the Mr. Olympia king! Ronnie Coleman was even bigger than he had been the previous year, and his sparling condition held throughout. He won his second consecutive title.

On October 21, 2000, Coleman took another step toward placing his name among the greatest of them all by winning his 3rd consecutive Mr. Olympia. Challenges came from Flex Wheeler and Kevin Levrone, but incredibly, Ronnie was even bigger then he was in the past Mr. Olympia. Ronnie was untouchable.

On October 27, 2001, Jay Cutler came from out of nowhere to capture the first two rounds of the Mr. Olympia, and gave Ronnie Coleman one of his biggest scares of his life, and one of the most exciting Olympia's ever! During the evening show, Ronnie Coleman won both rounds, and beat Jay Cutler by an extremely close score, by six points. With some fans swearing that Jay should of won the show, and a press conference two days before that was one of the most exciting in year, it was an incredible year.

Next year, 2001, at the Mandalay Bay, Coleman will once again try to perpetuate the trend of the dominate champ in Mr. Olympia lore. His name has already been added to the roster of multiple winners, but there will be plenty of top beef fixing to put a stop to Ronnie's reign, including Jay Cutler, Chris Cormier, Kevin Levrone, and Dennis James. And that's what makes this contest so special: the hunger of the athletes, the unpredictability of the action, the unsentimentally of fate. It has been this way for 37 years, and it will be this way for 37 more.

With Jay deciding not to compete at the Olympia in 2002, again Ronnie was the heavy favorite. This time, the surprise of the show was Gunter Schlierkamp, who one year earlier finished 15th at the O. The Mandalay crowd backed Gunter so strongly that when he was announced in 5th place, the boo birds sung once again, as they had a year earlier. Levrone was in perhaps his best condition ever, but had to settle for runner-up, as Ronnie made it five. But as great as his run had been, many saw Coleman's days of invincibility turning into vulnerability right in front of them.

The 2003 Olympia was to be the champ's toughest challenge, as Cutler, coming off consecutive Arnold Classic victories, would return for battle. It was also believed that Gunter would give a Ronnie a run too, since he had beaten him just weeks after the '02 Olympia at the GNC Show Strength in New Orleans. Any doubts quickly dissipated, however, when Ronnie showed up at a stage-rattling 287 pounds. Bigger than ever, he hadn't lost any symmetry or detail, and easily beat Jay in his easiest title defense to date. With six straight Olympia wins, he made his intentions clear after that show: He would go after Haney's record, with his goal set on nine Sandow trophies.

Ronnie seeks number seven this October 30 at Mandalay Bay. Though obviously favored again, Cutler, Levrone, Dexter Jackson and others have vowed to knock him off. Will they have what it takes? We'll know this Halloween weekend in Sin City.

(source Ifbb.com and Getbig.com)