60 Historic Olympia Information to Pump Up Bodybuilding Data

1. Regardless of the addition of quite a few divisions and weight lessons for the reason that Olympia’s inception in 1965, solely the winner of the open bodybuilding competitors can declare the title of “Mr. Olympia.”

2. The primary Joe Weider’s Mr. Olympia competitors was held on September 18, 1965, on the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, NY.

3. Larry Scott was topped the primary Mr. Olympia. Actually “topped” – the unique first-place trophy was a jeweled crown. Scott gained once more in 1966.

4. The primary abroad Mr. Olympia was held in Paris, France, in 1971. Winner: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

5. The 1975 Mr. Olympia, filmed in South Africa, turned the 1977 docudrama “Pumping Iron,” showcasing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s quest for his sixth title towards rivals like Lou Ferrigno.

6. In 1977, Joe Weider selected the Sandow statue because the Mr. Olympia trophy to honor Eugen Sandow, the “father of bodybuilding.”

7. As of 2023, athletes from 47 nations have competed within the 59 Mr. Olympia contests, with the US, UK, and Germany having probably the most representatives.

8. The primary Mr. Olympia payout was $1,000 (equal to only below $10,000 in 2024).

9. The common age of Mr. Olympia winners is 32.6, however a development towards older champions is clear: since 2000, the common winner’s age is 36.

10. Larry Scott is certainly one of solely two Mr. Olympias—Sergio Oliva being the opposite—who didn’t obtain a Sandow.

11. In 1980, Mr. Olympia noticed Arnold Schwarzenegger make a shock comeback, sparking one of the important controversies within the sport. 

12. The next 12 months, Franco Columbu additionally made a shock look on the O, leading to a controversial win.

13. Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman famously squatted and deadlifted 800 kilos every (on completely different days), cementing his standing because the strongest Mr. Olympia.

14. Franco Columbu stays an in depth contender with lifts of a 655-pound squat, 525-pound bench press, and 750-pound deadlift at a body weight of 185-200 kilos.

15. The primary Mr. O in 1965 featured three males: two prior Mr. Universe winners, Larry Scott and Earl Maynard, alongside 21-year-old Harold Poole, the reigning Mr. America.

16. Two Mr. Olympia contests noticed uncontested victories: Sergio Oliva in 1968 and Arnold in 1971, a uncommon incidence within the sport’s historical past.

17. Jay Cutler is the one bodybuilder to reclaim the Mr. Olympia title after shedding it, reaching this in 2009 after being dethroned by Dexter Jackson in 2008.

18. Dexter Jackson has probably the most Olympia appearances, competing 20 instances earlier than retiring in 2020.

19. Franco Columbu, winner of the 1976 and 1981 Mr. Olympia, additionally competed within the first-ever World’s Strongest Man competitors in 1977. He suffered a horrific knee harm whereas carrying a fridge on his again.

20. The Olympia options 11 divisions: Mr. Olympia, 212, Traditional Physique, Males’s Physique, Ms. Olympia, Girls’s Physique, Determine, Health, Bikini, Wellness, and Wheelchair.

21. Two males are tied with probably the most Mr. O victories: Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman each gained eight consecutive Olympia titles.

22. The winningest Olympia athlete is Iris Kyle, who has gained 10 Ms. Olympia titles (2004, 2006-2014).

23. Dorian Yates gained his sixth Mr. Olympia regardless of tearing his triceps muscle three weeks earlier than the competitors, delaying surgical procedure till afterward. His victory below these situations was thought of controversial.

24. The Ms. Olympia was discontinued after 2014, following the elimination of Ms. Worldwide from the Arnold Traditional; it returned in 2020 when Jake Wooden purchased the complete Olympia franchise.

25. The Ms. Olympia was added to the Mr. Olympia in 1980, aiming to reinforce girls’s bodybuilding publicity.

26. The latest Olympia division is Wellness, debuting in 2021. Francielle Mattos is the only real winner thus far.

27. Solely 12 girls have gained the distinguished Ms. Olympia title.

28. Cory Everson holds the report for probably the most consecutive Ms. Olympia wins (1984-1989).

29. Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls (1996), Iris Kyle (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009-2011, 2013), and Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia (2005) have achieved the uncommon feat of successful each the Ms. Worldwide and Ms. Olympia in the identical 12 months..

30. The Ms. Olympia’s standalone debut was in Atlantic Metropolis on August 30, 1980. Winner Rachel McLish, a bodybuilding icon, popularized “flex attraction.”

31. Lou Ferrigno, on the 1992 Mr. Olympia, weighed a large 318 kilos, holding the report for the most important bodybuilder till Mamdouh “Massive Ramy” Elssbiay surpassed him in 2020.

32. 5’5”: The peak of Franco Columbu, the shortest Mr. Olympia.

33. 6’2”: The peak of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the tallest Mr. Olympia.

34. Seven of the 18 Mr. Olympia winners have been born outdoors of the US, together with: Sergio Oliva (Cuba), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Austria), Franco Columbu (Italy), Samir Bannout (Lebanon), Dorian Yates (UK), Mamdouh “Massive Ramy” Elssbiay (Egypt), and Hadi Choopan (Iran).

35. As of 2023, Seven males have gained the Mr. Olympia simply as soon as: Chris Dickerson (1982), Samir Bannout (1983), Shawn Rhoden (2018), Brandon Curry (2019), Hadi Choopan (2022), and Derek Lunsford (2023).

36. The oldest Mr. O competitor was Albert Beckles at 53 in 1991.

37. Reigning Traditional Physique O champ Chris Bumstead has 24.1M Instagram followers and three.86M YouTube subscribers, probably the most of any present champion

38. The 1990 Mr. Olympia was the primary and solely drug-tested occasion. Lee Haney gained his seventh consecutive title, and nobody was disqualified.

39. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the youngest Mr. O winner at 23 in 1970.

40. Derek Lunsford is the one champion to win a title in two Olympia divisions: 212 Olympia (2021) and Mr. Olympia (2023).

41. Shawn Rhoden is the oldest winner at 43 in 2021.

42. Rivals Kai Greene and Phil Heath practically fought onstage throughout pre-judging in 2014, creating probably the most heated Olympia second.

43. The identify Mr. Olympia was impressed by an Olympia beer bottle noticed by Betty Weider, and it resonated with Joe Weider’s imaginative and prescient for a prestigious bodybuilding title.

44. The primary Mr. Olympia to go away was Sergio Oliva in 2012 at 71. (Mr. Olympias Larry Scott, Franco Columbu, Chris Dickerson, and Shawn Rhoden have additionally died.)

45. Solely three males have gained the Traditional Physique Olympia since 2016: Danny Hester (2016), Breon Ansley (2017-2018), and Chris Bumstead (2019-2023).

46. Successful each the Arnold Traditional and Mr. Olympia in the identical 12 months has solely been achieved by three rivals: Ronnie Coleman (2001), Dexter Jackson (2008), and Brandon Curry (2019).

47. The youngest Mr. Olympia competitor was Harold Poole at 21 in 1965. Subsequent was Wealthy Gaspari at 22.

48. Solely two males have gained the Wheelchair Olympia because it launched in 2018—Harold “King Kong” Kelley (2018-2022) and Karol Milewski (2023).

49. The inaugural Individuals’s Champion award in 2018, decided by fan votes, was bestowed upon Roelly Winklaar.

50. Sergio Oliva, a three-time Mr. O, achieved groundbreaking firsts in bodybuilding: defeating Arnold on the 1969 Mr. Olympia and changing into the primary Black Olympia champ.

51. Chris Dickerson is the primary brazenly homosexual man to win the Mr. Olympia (1982).

52. The Girls’s Physique Olympia division was launched in 2013, bridging the hole between Determine and Girls’s Bodybuilding. Dana Linn Bailey emerged victorious.

53. The 212 Olympia division (launched because the 202lb division in 2008 and raised to 212 in 2012) was dominated by Flex Lewis, who claimed seven straight titles earlier than retiring in 2022.

54. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads Mr. Olympia winners on Instagram with a large 26.2M followers. The subsequent prime contenders are Ronnie Coleman (10.4M), Hadi Choopan (7.8M), and Jay Cutler (5.4M).

55. The entire prize cash for the Mr. Olympia competitors has elevated considerably over time. In 2023, the whole prize purse for all divisions exceeded $1.6 million, with $400,000 going to the Males’s Open winner.

56. Frank Zane obtained the primary Sandow for his 1977 win.

57. Kevin Levrone has probably the most podium finishes on the Mr. Olympia with out successful. He’s positioned second 4 instances and third 3 times.

58. Phil Heath gained seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 2011 to 2017.

59. The Traditional Physique division debuted on the 2016 O, with a weight cap for particular heights.

60. Las Vegas, NV, can have hosted the Mr. Olympia 23 instances (1999-2019, 2022, 2024) after it returns to Resort World in 2024. It was held in Orlando, FL, for 3 years (2020-2021, 2023) as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.