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 1963, Joe Weider surveyed the available bodybuilding titles, and felt that none of them quite matched the vision he harbored of where the sport was headed. The Master Blaster insstrinctively realized that the current generation of bodybuilders was taking the sport to uncharted heights, and that they required a contest worthy of their talents. Joe came up with the iltimate contest, the ultimate prize for the ultimate physique, the Mr. Olympia, which materialized in 1965. Needless to say, the posing platform was forever transformed.

It all started on September 18, 1965. The crowd at the Brooklyn Academy of Music waited at the edge of their seats, screaming in anticipation. They clapped their hands, stomped their feet and yelled as loud as their lungs would allow for the blond superstar from California with arms too big to believe. The man they were waiting for was the legendary Larry Scott, and the reason why they were waiting was because this was the night of Joe Weider's greatest creation. This was the night of the first ever Mr. Olympia contest.

Larry Scott was the bodybuilding superstar of his day, but by 1963 there were no more world to conquer. Scott had already won the Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe titles; there was little left for him to prove. Besides proving anything, Scott already had a houseful of trophies and plaques and felt it was time to move on from bodybuilding and make some money.

Joe Weider recognized the need to keep Larry Scott in bodybuilding and the necessity to force the sport to grow. He created the Mr. Olympia contest to keep all the great Mr. Universe champions active in the sport and to give them the opportunity to earn money from competing. Joe could see that for the sport to succeed in the future, the champions would have to be able to make a living from competing in the sport just like other professional athletes.

Larry Scott indeed won the first Mr. Olympia contest that hot September night in 1965 and repeated as Mr. Olympia again in 1966. He then announced his retirement and the 1967 crown was up for grabs.

In 1967, Sergio Oliva (commonly known as "The Myth") won the third Mr. Olympia contest in overpowering fashion. People wondered how much better Sergio could get. But better he was! In fact, he was so much better that he won the 1968 Mr. Olympia unopposed. You know true greatness when no one dares to challenge.

Nevertheless, the greatest challenge to Sergio was waiting in the wings and 1969 commenced the greatest rivalry in the history of bodybuilding. Oliva was challenged by a young Austrian named Arnold Schwarzenegger. In a close battle, Sergio came out on top in 1969. He was now Mr. Olympia three years in a row, but Arnold promised that Sergio would never defeat him again.

Both men trained hard for the following year and in September of 1970, Arnold edged out Sergio to become the third man to hold the Mr. Olympia title. He'd said he would hold the title until he retired and that he would never be beaten again.

Arnold took the title unopposed in 1971. For the first time, the show was held outside of New York. The Mr. Olympia contest was held in Paris the same day the NABBA Universe was being held in London. Arnold, with his loyalty 100% behind the IFBB, competed in the Mr. Olympia while other great champions of that year chose to avoid Arnold and compete in the NABBA competition.

In 1972, the Olympia moved to Essen, Germany, were it hosted another epic battle between Sergio and Arnold. Even today, more than 20 years later, people still argue over who should have won. The decision was made by seven judges and, by a four to three vote, Arnold held on to his Mr. Olympia title.

In 1973, the contest moved back to New York, and the Big Apple saw Arnold take the title for the fourth consecutive year with a victory over Franco Columbu and Serge Nubret. Most people felt it was an easy win for Arnold, but a huge challenge awaited him for the following year - the emergence of Lou Ferrigno on the pro scene.

Standing 6"5" and weighing 270 pounds, Lou was the largest competitor that Arnold had ever faced. The show was held in New York at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden. Arnold again showed his dominance and won the title for a fifth time, but rumors started to circulate that he was thinking of retiring.

The Mr. Olympia moved to South Africa in 1975, forever preserved on film in Pumping Iron. Most people close to Arnold feel the only reason he competed in 1975 was because the contest was being filmed and it could possibly aid in kicking off his film career. Arnold won the contest easily and immediately announced his retirement.

In 1976, the contest moved to Columbus, Ohio, with Arnold serving as promoter along with Jim Lorimer. Franco Columbu finally won the Mr. Olympia title after trying for more than five years. It was not an easy victor, for he won by only an eyelash over Frank Zane. After the contest, Columbu announced his retirement while Zane immediately started training for the next year.

The next year, 1977, turned out to be the year of Zane. Frank has promoted himself that way for the 12 months leading up to the contest. He came to Columbus ripped and ready. he felt that no one could match his muscle density and he was right.

Almost like an instant replay , the 1978 show was again held in Columbus and Frank Zane walked away with the title. Frank proved that the Mr. Olympia winner did not necessarily have to be big, as what wins is quality.

In 1979, Zane made it three in a row. Could he go on forever? Would he challenge Arnold's record of six Olympias in a row? Zane seemed unbeatable, but 1980 would prove to be the most controversial Olympia in history.

In 1980, the contest was held in Australia. The field of competitors was the largest to date (16), but it was the comeback of one that made the story. Many in the sport had seen Arnold training for weeks before the 1980 Mr. Olympia, but most felt in was for a movie. When Arnold boarded the plane for Australia with the other competitors, they thought he was going to do the TV commentary. Even at the contestants meeting, they though he was there because he was an IFBB promoter and official. It dawned on them that he was there to compete when his name was called and he selected a competitor number. Arnold won the Mr. Olympia title for a seventh time in 1980, but to this day, many people still wonder why he came back. Some observers at the time said the judging, as well as the location, was 'down under'. 

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