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FLEX FEATURETRAININGbigPICTURESPHOTOS: (1965-1990) COURTESY OF WEIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTAt the first Mr. Olympia, part of the grandprize was a crown that winner Larry Scottwas understandably reluctant to wear. Couldrunner-up Harold Poole be smiling becausehe didn’t have to wear a crown? Ben and JoeWeider flank the bodybuilders.Photo: Unknown, 1965This year marks the 45th anniversary of a contest JoeWeider dreamed up one evening as he and Larry Scottwere kicking back with a couple of brews, ponderingbodybuilding’s future. From such humble beginningsan event would be born that is recognized today as thepinnacle of bodybuilding achievement.The Mr. Olympia contest (named after the brand ofbeer Weider and Scott were sipping that night) hasconsistently provided unforgettable memories. Thanksto the numerous talented photographers on hand tocover the show each fall, many of those memories havebeen captured for posterity and published in magazinessuch as FLEX and MUSCLE & FITNESS, and in recentyears, posted online.Yet, for as many memorable photos have been snappedover the decades, only a select few have stood the test oftime as indelible. Whether they capture moments ofonstage drama or backstage tension, or simply convey theinherent artistry of bodybuilding, these pictures deserve specialrecognition, as do the photographers who took them.So, join us in looking back at 45 years of Olympia historythrough the lenses of Chris Lund, Art Zeller, Kevin Horton,Jimmy Caruso, Mike Neveux and others, and feel free to usethese amazing shots as motivation to reach your own personalbodybuilding pinnacle. Before you look forward to the 2010Mr. Olympia, we take a look back at thegreatest photos of past OlympiasNEXT YEAR . . .After handily taking the1967 and ’68 Olympia titles,Sergio Oliva was seen as allbut unbeatable. Then, in1969, along came 22-year-oldArnold Schwarzenegger, andone of bodybuilding’s greatrivalries was born.You can almost readSchwarzenegger’s thoughtsin this photo as he glanceswistfully up at showpromoter Joe Weider: Sergiomay have gotten me this time,but next year, I’ll be back!Photo: Jimmy Caruso, 1969By shawn perine Senior Writer212FLEX aug. ’10MROLYMPIA.COM213
FLEX Big PicturesTHE EYESHAVE IT VICTORY! Despite losing toSchwarzenegger atthis contest, the 1972Mr. Olympia is widelyregarded as Oliva’sgreatest showing. Thisphoto of Oliva hittinghis signature“Victory” pose is asiconic as any inbodybuilding history.Photo: BennoDahmen, 1972 SERGIO THE GREATAfter two years filling the runner-up spot,Chris Dickerson finally broke through to thetop in 1982. Holding up a Churchillesque“V for victory” sign, he cupped his trophy inthe other hand (he would receive his Sandowweeks later) in a shot that would become thecover of the very first issue of FLEX magazine,in April 1983. Photo: Mike Neveux, 1982JUMP FORJOYIn both his 1976and 1981 Olympiawins, FrancoColumbu boundedinto space,propelled by legsthat routinelysquatted morethan 600 pounds.Here, he’s beingcongratulated byover-200-poundclass winner KenWaller at a timewhen the openOlympia hadweight divisions.Photo: Unknown,1976By the year 1970,Schwarzeneggerhad caught up tothe great Oliva,besting him at theMr. World contesttwo weeks beforethey would gohead-to-head atthat year’sOlympia. Still, itwas anyone’sshow, andSchwarzenegger’sconcerns overbattling The Mythwere evident in hiseyes during theposedown.Photo: Caruso,1970214FLEX aug. ’10MROLYMPIA.COM215
FLEX Big Pictures THREE KINGS216FLEX aug. ’10 In what may be themost artistic photoever taken at anOlympia, MikeNeveux captured thesilhouettes of the1977 Mr. Olympia’stop competitors. Onlythe keenest-eyedbodybuildinghistorians canidentify the sixphysiques presentedhere. Can you?Photo: Neveux, 1977PHOTOS: (TOP) ZELLER/ FITNESS PUBLICATIONS, INC./COURTESY OF WEIDER HEALTH AND FITNESSOH, BABY! The 1984 Mr. Olympia would mark two historicevents in bodybuilding: the ascension of LeeHaney to the best in the world and the returnof Sergio Oliva to an IFBB stage after 12 yearsaway. Ever-temperamental Oliva nearlystormed off of the stage upon beingannounced eighth, until former FLEX Editorin-Chief and Mr. World Rick Wayne handedhim his newborn son, Sergio Jr., whom theelder Myth proudly displayed to the FeltForum audience. Photo: Zeller, 1984SHADOWMEN In the early ’70s,prejudgings were oftenheld in back rooms,leaving the finals forthe stage. Here, SergeNubret, Columbu andSchwarzenegger(the contest’s onlycompetitors) hit themost-muscular shot.Photo: Art Zeller, 1973
FLEX Big PicturesTHE KING AND US UPSET By the time of his sixth Mr. Olympia win in1975, Schwarzenegger was established asall but unbeatable. Here, he’s flanked byNubret, Ben Weider and Lou Ferrigno asPumping Iron director George Butler filmsthe ceremony for his now-legendarydocumentary. Photo: Caruso, 1975BEST FOR LASTSHOWDOWN For his final, record-breaking eighth Olympia win (beating Schwarzenegger’sseven), Haney came in at an impressive 252 pounds, and he needed every bit of thatdense mass to overcome Dorian Yates — the first opponent to match Haney in bothstature and sheer size. It was the end of one reign and the beginning of another —Yates returned the following year and put his own iron grip on the Sandow (takingsix) until his retirement following the 1997 Olympia. Photo: Chris Lund, 1991A telling moment inOlympia history is capturedhere as Dickerson isannounced runner-up atthe 1981 Mr. Olympia,leaving Columbu the lastman standing. DannyPadilla (fifth) and RoyCallender (fourth) are bothleaving the stage in protestas gracious Tom Platz(third) congratulatesDickerson. Columbu’s friendJusup Wilkosz (sixth) sticksaround for the finalannouncement. Theoutcome of the ‘81 O isarguably the most disputedin bodybuilding history.Photo: Unknown, 1981Amid high tension, Mike Mentzer and Schwarzenegger nearlycame to blows during the athletes’ meeting preceding the 1980Olympia. The trigger? Schwarzenegger needled Mentzer about hismidsection after Mentzer challenged Schwarzenegger’s assertionthat the contest should have classes. Photo: Neveux, 1980 IF LOOKSCOULD KILLOffstage, Lee Haney and Rich Gaspariwere the best of friends, but in theheat of battle, they were warriors.Here, Haney is announced the winnerof the Sandow for the fourthconsecutive year, and it was thesecond of three years in a row thatGaspari would play bridesmaid toHaney. Fourth-place finisher MikeChristian seems to be feeling a bitmore magnanimous than Gaspari.Photo: Greg Aiken, 1987218FLEX aug. ’10MROLYMPIA.COM219
FLEX Big PicturesPROUD PAPA This poignant shot captured Joe Weider in the theaterwings at the 1996 Mr. Olympia. In addition to beingthe founder of the Olympia, Weider is roundly considered thefather of modern bodybuilding. In this photo, his paternalcountenance is on full display as he stands, a silent sentinel,watching over his beloved “children.” Photo: Teagan Clive, 1996 SAY WHAT?Photographer Chris Lund was inperfect position to catch a tellingmoment, this time at the 1999Olympia, where a shocked RonnieColeman defeated a dismayed andperplexed Flex Wheeler. In case youcan’t tell, that’s Coleman on the floorand Wheeler with his back to thecamera. Photo: Lund, 1999220FLEX aug. ’10
FLEX Big Pictures KING colemanIn what would be his lastOlympia win, Coleman tookadvantage of the short-livedtrend of using props in posingroutines. As he vied for hisrecord-tying (with Haney)eighth Sandow, Coleman lit upthe stage in a red velvet capeand suitably ornamental crown.Photo: Kevin Horton, 2005222FLEX aug. ’10
FLEX Big Pictures LEGENDS, ALLFormer FLEX Editor-inChief Peter McGough hadthe idea to unite all nineOlympia winners onstagewith Joe Weider and, aswas hoped, it was a greatmoment waiting to bephotographed.Photo: Lund, 1995NO UPSET I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE A NEW HOPEBy 2006, bodybuildinghad long grownaccustomed toColeman being namedMr. Olympia each fall.So, when emcee BobCicherillo announcedCutler winner of the2006 O, Orleans Arenaerupted in acacophony of shockand glee. Not the leastgleeful was sixth-placefinisher GustavoBadell, who sawColeman’s dethroningas a chance for all probodybuilders to fulfilltheir dream of one dayascending to theOlympia throne.Photo: Lund, 2006224FLEX aug. ’10 Even Coleman himself believed he was aboutto be dethroned by Jay Cutler, as evidencedby his “second” finger sign. When Iron Jaywas announced runner-up, pandemoniumensued. It would be Coleman’s mostcontroversial win of his eight title runs, anda bitter disappointment for Cutler.Photo: Lund, 2001Far from the dominant force he was during his unstoppableeight-year Olympia-winning run, Ronnie Coleman returnedto the sport’s grandest stage for a final farewell in 2007.After placing fourth and announcing his retirement to astanding ovation, the man many consider the greatestbodybuilder in history was left alone with his thoughts.Sitting backstage long after competitors and fans had leftOrleans Arena, Coleman lingered as the maintenance crewcleaned up around him. “I don’t want to leave,” a tearyeyed Coleman told FLEX Senior Writer Greg Merritt. “I justwant to soak it up and sit backstage at the Olympia this onelast time.” Photo: Allan Donnelly, 2007a title reclaimedIn the show’s 44-year history, no one hadever regained the Sandow after losing it theprevious year — until now. Amid rumors thathe was washed up, Cutler — with his all-timebest combination of size and condition,particularly in his legs — crushed thecompetition in the deepest Mr. O lineup inrecent years, claiming title number threeand putting himself in the history books.Photo: Horton, 2009 FLEX
cover of the very first issue of FLEX magazine, in April 1983. Photo: Mike Neveux, 1982 JUMP FOR JOY In both his 1976 and 1981 Olympia wins, Franco Columbu bounded into space, propelled by legs that routinely squatted more than 600 pounds. Here, he’s being congratulated by over-
