[h=1]Olympia Files - Quirky Olympia Factoids[/h]
The recent emergence of 20 somethings like Nathan DeAsha, Justin Compton, Dallas McCarver and Cody Montgomery has really livened up the pro ranks were most competitors were growing old gracefully or disgracefully -- depending on whether you talk to their wife or girlfriend… or both? It’s been a trend that pro bodybuilders are overall earning their pro cards (despite there being a lot more cards to be had) at a more mature age that was the case in past decades. At the 2015 Mr. Olympia out of 23 competitors only two guys, Dallas McCarver (25) and Abdelaziz Jellali (26) were under 30. And there’s been Olympias, like 2010, where out of 22 competitors none were under 30. The reality of bodybuilders peaking later in life seems to be backed up by the table below listing at what age each of the 13 Mr. Olympias won their titles.
First
Larry Scott 1965 26
Sergio Oliva 1967 26
Arnold Schwarzenegger 1970 23 *
Franco Columbu 1976 35
Frank Zane 1977 35
Chris Dickerson 1982 43
Samir Bannout 1983 27
Lee Haney 1984 24
Dorian Yates 1992 30
Ronnie Coleman 1998 34
Jay Cutler 2006 33
Dexter Jackson 2008 38
Phil Heath 2011 31
* At 23 years and two months Schwarzenegger is the youngest man to have won the Mr. Olympia. Lee Haney was one week shy of his 25th birthday when he won the crown.
Thus of the first eight Mr. Olympias, five were in their twenties when gaining the title, while all of the last five Mr. Os were in their thirties when being awarded their first Sandow. And we haven’t had a 20 something holding the title since 29-year-old Lee Haney in 1989.
THIRD TIME NOT A CHARM
Just a quirky fact that in its 51-year lifespan no one has won the Olympia at their third attempt. Here’s a breakdown of how the 13 Olympia champs fared in their particular journey to bodybuilding immortality. Just for the record this will be the third Olympia for William Bonac and Lionel Beyeke.
Year Won
Larry Scott 1965 First
Sergio Oliva 1967 Second
Arnold Schwarzenegger 1970 Second
Franco Columbu 1976 Fifth
Frank Zane 1977 Fifth
Chris Dickerson 1982 Fourth
Samir Bannout 1983 Fourth
Lee Haney 1984 Second
Dorian Yates 1992 Second
Ronnie Coleman 1998 Sixth
Jay Cutler 2006 Seventh
Dexter Jackson 2008 Ninth
Phil Heath 2011 Fourth
The recent emergence of 20 somethings like Nathan DeAsha, Justin Compton, Dallas McCarver and Cody Montgomery has really livened up the pro ranks were most competitors were growing old gracefully or disgracefully -- depending on whether you talk to their wife or girlfriend… or both? It’s been a trend that pro bodybuilders are overall earning their pro cards (despite there being a lot more cards to be had) at a more mature age that was the case in past decades. At the 2015 Mr. Olympia out of 23 competitors only two guys, Dallas McCarver (25) and Abdelaziz Jellali (26) were under 30. And there’s been Olympias, like 2010, where out of 22 competitors none were under 30. The reality of bodybuilders peaking later in life seems to be backed up by the table below listing at what age each of the 13 Mr. Olympias won their titles.
Larry Scott 1965 26
Sergio Oliva 1967 26
Arnold Schwarzenegger 1970 23 *
Franco Columbu 1976 35
Frank Zane 1977 35
Chris Dickerson 1982 43
Samir Bannout 1983 27
Lee Haney 1984 24
Dorian Yates 1992 30
Ronnie Coleman 1998 34
Jay Cutler 2006 33
Dexter Jackson 2008 38
Phil Heath 2011 31
* At 23 years and two months Schwarzenegger is the youngest man to have won the Mr. Olympia. Lee Haney was one week shy of his 25th birthday when he won the crown.
Just a quirky fact that in its 51-year lifespan no one has won the Olympia at their third attempt. Here’s a breakdown of how the 13 Olympia champs fared in their particular journey to bodybuilding immortality. Just for the record this will be the third Olympia for William Bonac and Lionel Beyeke.
Larry Scott 1965 First
Sergio Oliva 1967 Second
Arnold Schwarzenegger 1970 Second
Franco Columbu 1976 Fifth
Frank Zane 1977 Fifth
Chris Dickerson 1982 Fourth
Samir Bannout 1983 Fourth
Lee Haney 1984 Second
Dorian Yates 1992 Second
Ronnie Coleman 1998 Sixth
Jay Cutler 2006 Seventh
Dexter Jackson 2008 Ninth
Phil Heath 2011 Fourth
