Tag: Mr. America
A History Of The Mr. America Bodybuilding Competition
With Mr. America approaching, this historic event is set to continue it’s historic comeback.
We all know the names of the big bodybuilding competitions being the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, among other notable contests. But one pre-dates all of these and it began in 1939; Mr. America. This prestigious event has seen the likes of some amazing physiques and notable names over its decades’ long run, but as of late, this contest had seemingly fell by the wayside, allowing other competitions to sneak their way into the public eye and take over the title of the best and biggest bodybuilding competitions in the world. But with a revival and newfound sense of determination, Mr. America has sought to reclaim this position and continue its comeback as a top contest full of elite competitors.
Let’s take a look at the history of this storied event. Years and years of trial and error, unfortunate circumstances, rivaling competitions, and a shift in the sport of bodybuilding has sent Mr. America on a tumultuous ride but one that shows true resiliency and a real passion and respect for the sport. Despite all the short comings through the years, this contest has stood the test of time and has seen some elite and serious athletes walk across the stage in hopes of being crowned Mr. America.
The longest running and most prestigious event is back and shows no signs of leaving. And even though Mr. America is non-sanctioned, support has proved that this event will draw in crowds and continue to add to the legacy and allure of what Mr. America once was and what it will become.
The Early Years Of Mr. America
Mr. America was started in 1939 by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and ran alone until challenged by the newly found IFBB which served as an alternative to the AAU. With opposing competitions, both of these events fought for the public’s support.
What Mr. America did was champion the idea of the Greek ideal, that perfectly sculpted physique dating back centuries, but money and professionalism from the opposing IFBB would challenge Mr. America and lead to what was to come.
A Decline In Popularity
What would come to be a slow decline resulted from a shift in the ideas of bodybuilding. The idea of the true balance of mind and body shifted to massive physiques and athletes beginning to win contests like Mr. Olympia multiple times. Attention shifted and the rights to Mr. America began to be sold several times.
Eventually, the AAU would stop holding the contest and the original masterminds behind this storied event pulled out, leaving it abandoned and on its own in a world full of large and successful bodybuilding competitions. With bodybuilding becoming something of a spectacle, the idea of the sport and roots that cemented Mr. America for so long began to wane and what would emerge was the idea of profit over sheer love for the sport.
A True American Comeback
The World Bodybuilding & Fitness Association acquired the rights in 2004 but little traction was gained in its quest to revive Mr. America. In 2011, the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation sought to host these contests again, and even with strict doping guidelines and a passion for a revival, the contest struggled to get off the ground. Enter into the late 2010’s and the rights were once again acquired but it wasn’t until 2020 when East Coast Fitness Concepts took the reigns and sought to pour their heart and soul into bringing this contest back for good. A successful event last year brought hope that this year would be even better and it has sure turned out to look that way.
What To Look Forward To This Year
The Mr. America contest this year will see elite bodybuilders and those rising the ranks compete for this coveted title. Athletes are scored on the following criteria: muscular development, muscular proportion, conditioning, posing, and general appearance. These are based on a point system and the judges will rank these criteria out of a perfect score of 20 to determine the top three finishers. For added fun, those athletes competing in Women’s Physique, Men’s Bodybuilding, and Men’s Classic Physique will be required to perform an individual routine. What is set to be an exciting event this year, Mr. America and the incredibly competitors will certainly put on quite a show that all will love.
Mr. America will be held October 8-10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the final ceremony being held on October 9. With everything going on, the health and safety of everyone involved is of the top priority and event organizers have worked diligently and incredibly hard to make sure this event runs as smoothly as possible. Generation Iron will be covering this event and it will also be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at a later date. Generation Iron will provide updates on the CBS Sports Broadcast as these updates become available.
Check out Mr. America’s website here for more information on this historic and amazing event!
Wrap Up
Mr. America is a long and storied event full of rich bodybuilding history and incredible highlights. Do to unforeseen circumstances and the evolution of the sport, this historic contest had fallen away, seemingly leaving the public eye as others crept in to take the top spot. But with a comeback and revival for the ages, Mr. America has returned and competitors are excited to get back out to try and win this coveted title. For those of us looking forward to this awesome event, these athletes have worked hard to craft their physique to put on quite a show. History has sent Mr. America on a wild and interesting ride through the years but we should all be excited for the continued return of the one and only, Mr. America.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Mr. America Instagram
Iconic Event ‘Mr. America’ Names Generation Iron Network Official Media Partner
Generation Iron Network to collaborate with Mr. America and CBS Sports Network for coverage, previews, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Mr. America 2021.
Generation Iron Network has announced that it will be the official media partner for the Mr. America 2021 contest and expo taking place in Atlantic City at the Showboat Hotel on October 9-10, 2021. Under this new partnership, Generation Iron Network will become the official news hub for all previews, updates, and coverage of the Mr. America 2021 event. The full contest will also be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network at a later date.
The Mr. America competition is a legendary event and one of the oldest major bodybuilding competitions in the history of the sport. Before the Mr. Olympia or the Mr. Universe – there was the Mr. America. First held on July 4, 1939 as “America’s Best Built Man,” the event quickly changed to what is now known as the Mr. America contest the following year. The event was first sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) but has since changed many hands over its near century long run.
After the AAU ceased holding contests in 1999, the Mr. America contest fell from the mainstream bodybuilding consciousness. The contest disappeared for many years only to change hands multiple times and return sporadically and inconsistently.
As of 2020, the Mr. America contest resumed as a non-sanctioned event promoted by Marc Tauriello of East Coast Fitness Concepts. Tauriello’s goal is to return the Mr. America to its former glory as the biggest bodybuilding event of the year.
“With the return of the Iconic Mr America in 2020 there has never been a more exciting time in drug free bodybuilding,” stated Marc Tauriello. He continued:
“Having Generation Iron as our official media partner for this iconic event in 2021 as well as being televised truly represents the significance of the Mr America, if it wasn’t for the Mr America, bodybuilding as a hole wouldn’t be what it is today.”
The Mr. America 2021 will be held in Atlantic City at the Showboat Hotel on October 9-10. It is a non-sanctioned event, meaning that a bodybuilder from any league or federation may compete – allowing for a truly open playing field of the best competitors in the world. The contest will also be drug tested under strict WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) guidelines. The Mr. America contest and expo will hold competitions for bodybuilding, powerlifting, Clash of the Tridents, Olympic Weightlifting, and MAS Wrestling.
CBS Sports Network will also be providing fully televised coverage of the Mr. America competition. The television coverage will not be live but broadcast at a later date. Generation Iron Network will provide full updates and announcements of the schedule, how to watch, and when to tune in.
Generation Iron Network first launched in 2013 alongside the release of the feature film – Generation Iron. It has since grown and expanded to be the leading media outlet for all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports. Providing not only news coverage, Generation Iron publishes informative training/nutrition guides, original programming, reviews on top brands, distributes chart topping sports documentaries worldwide and covers exclusive video interviews with top fitness athletes.
Generation Iron will build strategic media campaigns focused on bringing the most engaging and up to date information and coverage of the 2021 Mr. America. The company will utilize its expansive media presence and its global digital subscriber base to re-introduce Mr. America events and athletes to viewers worldwide. The full contest will be a fully drug tested event and will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network at a later date.
“We are thrilled to team up with Marc Tauriello and the Mr. America team,” stated Executive Producer Edwin Mejia Jr. “Generation Iron is proud to cover the longest running bodybuilding contest in the country. and offer a whole new immersive experience for viewers worldwide.”
For the entire month of September leading up to the event, Generation Iron will provide a unique inside look into the Mr. America competition, its athletes, and the history of this prestigious event. Expect featured interviews with athletes set to compete, vital live event updates including:
Athlete previews,
Live updates
Event coverage of the Mr. America 2021
Discussion of past and present Mr America Greats
Event previews
Athlete arrivals
Interviews with Mr America competitors and Mr America Legends in attendance
Daily recaps of results and standings
Post-event interviews
Without the Mr. America, bodybuilding and fitness as we know it wouldn’t exist today. It set the standard for prestige bodybuilding contests, influenced the Mr. Universe and later the Mr. Olympia, and helped raise the bar for professionalism and exceptionalism in the sport of bodybuilding.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for incoming news, previews, and athlete profiles during our lead up coverage to the Mr. America 2021.
History of Mr. America Champions
Year
Overall Winner (AAU)
1939
Bert Goodrich (First Mr. America, but not AAU sanctioned)
Roland Essmaker
1940
John Grimek
1941
John Grimek
1942
Frank Leight
1943
Jules Bacon
1944
Steve Stanko
1945
Clarence Ross
1946
Alan Stephan
1947
Steve Reeves
1948
George Eiferman
1949
Jack Delinger
1950
John Farbotnik
1951
Roy Hilligenn
1952
Jim Park
1953
Bill Pearl
1954
Dick DuBois
1955
Steve Klisanin
1956
Ray Schaefer
1957
Ron Lacy
1958
Tom Sansone
1959
Harry Johnson
1960
Lloyd Lerille
1961
Raymond Routledge
1962
Joe Abbenda
1963
Vern Weaver
1964
Val Vasilieff
1965
Jerry Daniels
1966
Bob Gajda
1967
Dennis Tinerino
1968
Jim Haislop
1969
Boyer Coe
1970
Chris Dickerson
1971
Casey Viator
1972
Steve Michalik
1973
Jim Morris
1974
Ron Thompson
1975
Dale Adrian
1976
Kalman Szkalak
1977
Dave Johns
1978
Tony Pearson
1979
Ray Mentzer
1980
Gary Leonard
1981
Tim Belknap
1982
Rufus Howard
1983
Jeff King
1984
Joe Meeko
1985
Michael Antorino
1986
Glenn Knerr
1987
Richard Barretta
1988
William Norberg
1989
Matt DuFresne
1990
Peter Miller
1991
Joe DeAngelis
1992
Mike Scarcella
1993
Billy Nothaft
1994
Andrew Sivert
1995
Terence Hairston
1996
Doug Rieser
1997
Bill Davey
1998
Harvey H. Campbell
1999
Tracey Dorsey
2011
Rawle Greene
2012
Daniel White
2013
John Heart
2014
(No show held)
2015
Cleveland Thomas
2016
Shevon Cunningham
2017–
2019
(No contests)
2020
Jay Brew
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