History of the IFBB Professional League

In 1946, Joe Weider

Joe Weider

Josef E. "Joe" Weider is co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders along with brother Ben Weider and creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia, and the now-defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests...

 and Ben Weider

Ben Weider

Benjamin "Ben" Weider, was the co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness along with brother Joe Weider...

 created the International Federation of BodyBuilders, the IFBB. In 1965, Joe Weider created the first IFBB professional competition – the Mr. Olympia

Mr. Olympia

Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...

. In 1975, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....

 was named chairman of the first Professional Committee. In 1977, the movie “Pumping Iron

Pumping Iron

Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...

”, starring Arnold and Lou Ferrigno

Lou Ferrigno

Louis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno is an American actor, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron...

, was released. In 1978, Bill Pearl

Bill Pearl

William Arnold "Bill" Pearl is an American former bodybuilder during the 1950s and '60s. He won many titles and awards, including winning the Mr. Universe contest five times, and was named "World’s Best-Built Man of the Century." He became an expert trainer and author on bodybuilding.- Biography...

 became the first Professional Judging Director. The first Night of Champions

Night of Champions

Night of Champions is a bodybuilding contest held every year in New York City, USA. It began in 1978 and is considered one of the top professional bodybuilding events, with the top five finalists qualifying for the Mr. Olympia contest....

 was held in New York City.

The 1980s

In 1980, Joe Weider created the Mr. Olympia

Mr. Olympia

Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...

 and the Grand Prix series of competitions were organized throughout the USA and eventually, Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Oscar State (O.B.E.) created the first Professional Rules and Code of Ethics. In 1982, IFBB professional bodybuilding was officially managed by a “Professional Liaison Officer”. In 1986, this title was changed to “Director, Professional Committee”. In 1987, IFBB professional bodybuilding was restructured and became the “IFBB Professional Division”, which was headed by an IFBB Vice President. In 1989, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer teamed up to create the Arnold Classic

Arnold Classic

The Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States.-History:...

.

The 1990s

In 1990, John Balik created the Iron Man Pro Invitational.
In 1995, Joe Weider created the Fitness Olympia

Fitness Olympia

The Fitness Olympia is a contest in women's fitness competition, and is sanctioned by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness. The contest was first held in 1995. Susie Curry and Adela Garcia have won the most titles, with six.-Winners:...

 and, in 2003, the Figure Olympia

Figure Olympia

The Figure Olympia is an annual women's figure competition sanctioned by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness. The contest was first held in 2003. Davana Medina has won the most titles, with three.-Winners:-Notes:...

.
In 2005, the IFBB Professional Division officially became the “IFBB Professional League”.

Progress

In 1965, Joe and Ben Weider created IFBB professional Bodybuilding (and later, professional Fitness and Figure) as a way for elite amateur athletes to further their competitive career and to earn money. In 1966, Larry Scott received $1,000 for his Mr. Olympia win. In 2006, there were over 40 IFBB professional competitions and the total prize money topped 1.6 million dollars.

See also

• IFBB (amateur athletes)
  International Federation of BodyBuilders
  The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
  
  
• A brief history of the IFBB