Universe Championships
Encyclopedia
The Universe Championships are an annual bodybuilding
event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association
(NABBA). It has a number of competitions: NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe, Miss Figure, and Miss Toned Figure.
First held in 1948, the contest was initially only for amateur
male bodybuilders - but a separate contest for professional
s was added in 1952. The NABBA defines amateur as someone who has "never entered and accepted prize money in an advertised professional event". Miss Physique, a women's contest was added in 1966 and Miss Figure was introduced in 1986.
A separate competition called IFBB Mr. Universe was organized by the IFBB. This changed its name to the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships
in 1976.
. The athletes are judged on their symmetry, proportions and the size and clarity of each muscle group. Most of the judging occurs during the day, this is called the pre-judging. Before the distractions of the evening show, the finals.
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association
National Amateur Bodybuilders Association
The National Amateur Bodybuilders Association is an organisation founded in 1950 to promote bodybuilding, originally just for the United Kingdom. The first contest it organised was the NABBA Mr. Universe which was held on 24 June 1950 and won by Steve Reeves...
(NABBA). It has a number of competitions: NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe, Miss Figure, and Miss Toned Figure.
First held in 1948, the contest was initially only for amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
male bodybuilders - but a separate contest for professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
s was added in 1952. The NABBA defines amateur as someone who has "never entered and accepted prize money in an advertised professional event". Miss Physique, a women's contest was added in 1966 and Miss Figure was introduced in 1986.
A separate competition called IFBB Mr. Universe was organized by the IFBB. This changed its name to the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships
World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships
The World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships is a male bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness and first held in 1959. The name was changed in 1976 to avoid confusion with the NABBA Mr...
in 1976.
Mr. Universe
Mr. Universe is a bodybuilding contestCompetition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
. The athletes are judged on their symmetry, proportions and the size and clarity of each muscle group. Most of the judging occurs during the day, this is called the pre-judging. Before the distractions of the evening show, the finals.
Winners
| Year | Mr. Universe (Amateur) | Mr. Universe (Pro) | Miss Physique | Miss Figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | John Grimek John Grimek John Carroll Grimek is recognized as one of the world's greatest bodybuilders and weight lifters of the 1930s and 1940s.Grimek was born on June 17, 1910 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, son of Slovak immigrants George and Maria Grimek.Besides his bodybuilding exploits, in which he was never defeated,... |
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| 1949 | No contest | |||
| 1950 | Steve Reeves Steve Reeves Stephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:... |
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| 1951 | Reg Park Reg Park Roy "Reg" Park from Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, was a bodybuilder, businessman and film actor.-Biography:... |
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| 1952 | Mohammed Nasr | Juan Ferrero Juan Ferrero Juan Ferrero was a famous Spanish athlete, but resident in France -where he died in a car accident- since childhood. He was a bodybuilder of international stature, and he won the Mr... |
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| 1953 | 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... |
Arnold Dyson | ||
| 1954 | Enrico Thomas | Jim Park | ||
| 1955 | Mickey Hargitay Mickey Hargitay Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay was an actor and Mr. Universe 1955. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he was married to Jayne Mansfield, and the father of actress Mariska Hargitay... |
Leo Robert Leo Robert Leo Robert is a French Canadian bodybuilder from Montreal. At one time he was billed as "America's most muscular man". He won the 1955 Mr. Universe.... |
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| 1956 | Ray Schaeffer | Jack Delinger Jack Delinger Jack Delinger is an American professional bodybuilder from Oakland, California. He won the 1949 AAU Mr. America and the 1956 Mr. Universe.-References:... |
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| 1957 | John Lees John Lees (bodybuilder) John Lees was an English bodybuilder and later a professional wrestler who won Mr. Universe in 1957. He has taken part in the following bodybuilding competitions:*1949: Mr Britain - HSL, 3rd*1950: Mr Britain - HSL, 3rd... |
Arthur Robin Arthur Robin Arthur Robin was a Guadeloupan-French professional bodybuilder. He won the 1957 Mr. Universe.... |
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| 1958 | Earl Clark Earl Clark Earl Rashad Clark is an American professional basketball player. Clark played collegiate basketball for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft.... |
Reg Park Reg Park Roy "Reg" Park from Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, was a bodybuilder, businessman and film actor.-Biography:... |
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| 1959 | Len Sell Len Sell Len Sell is an American professional bodybuilder, prominent in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He won the 1962 Mr. Universe.-References:... |
Bruce Randall Bruce Randall Bruce Randall was an American professional bodybuilder, prominent in the late 1950s. He won the 1959 Mr. Universe, after famously slimming down from 425 pounds to 223 pounds after extensive training and dieting.... |
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| 1960 | Henry Downs Henry Downs Henry Sidney Downs was an amateur bodybuilder in the 1950s and 1960s. He won the Mr. Universe title in 1960.-External links:* from Getty Images, circa 1955.... |
Paul Wynter Paul Wynter Paul Wynter was a competitive bodybuilder and sometimes film actor. He is best known for his two wins in the Mr. Universe competition. A native of the West Indies, he was reported to be 68 years old in 2003.-Bodybuilding and Mr. Universe:... |
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| 1961 | Ray Routledge | 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... |
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| 1962 | Joe Abbenda Joe Abbenda Joe Abbenda is an American professional bodybuilder of Italian descent, prominent in the early to mid 1960s. He competed in the tall man competitions, and as an amateur won the Teen Mr. America... |
Len Sell Len Sell Len Sell is an American professional bodybuilder, prominent in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He won the 1962 Mr. Universe.-References:... |
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| 1963 | Tom Sansome | Joe Abbenda Joe Abbenda Joe Abbenda is an American professional bodybuilder of Italian descent, prominent in the early to mid 1960s. He competed in the tall man competitions, and as an amateur won the Teen Mr. America... |
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| 1964 | John Hewlett John Hewlett John Hewlett was a prominent biblical scholar in nineteenth-century Britain.Hewlett was born in Chetnole, Dorset to Timothy Hewlett. After becoming a minister, he was admitted as a sizar to Magdalene College, Cambridge. After graduating, he established a school in Shackelford, Surrey... |
Earl Maynard Earl Maynard Earl Maynard is a bodybuilder and professional wrestler as well as a film actor, producer and director from Barbados.-Bodybuilding:Maynard won the 1964 Universe - Pro - NABBA bodybuilding competition - part of the Universe Championships, the 1965 Universe - IFBB - now the World Amateur Bodybuilding... |
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| 1965 | Elmo Santiago | Reg Park Reg Park Roy "Reg" Park from Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, was a bodybuilder, businessman and film actor.-Biography:... |
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| 1966 | Chester Yorton Chester Yorton Chester Yorton is a bodybuilder. He defeated Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 1966 NABBA Mr. Universe held in London. He is one of three men in the world to have beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger in competition.... |
Paul Wynter Paul Wynter Paul Wynter was a competitive bodybuilder and sometimes film actor. He is best known for his two wins in the Mr. Universe competition. A native of the West Indies, he was reported to be 68 years old in 2003.-Bodybuilding and Mr. Universe:... |
Elizabeth Lamb | |
| 1967 | 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.... |
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... |
Kathleen Winstanley | |
| 1968 | Dennis Tinerino | 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.... |
Silvia Hibbert | |
| 1969 | Boyer Coe Boyer Coe Boyer Coe is an American former professional bodybuilder.Coe is the only contestant to achieve a perfect score in the World Bodybuilding Championships... |
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.... |
Jean Galston | |
| 1970 | Frank Zane Frank Zane Frank Zane is an American former professional bodybuilder and teacher.- Education :Zane received a B.Sc in Education from Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1964. For 13 years, he taught mathematics and chemistry while living in Florida and California. Later he earned a B.A... |
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.... |
Christine Zane | |
| 1971 | Ken Waller Ken Waller Ken Waller is an American former bodybuilder featured in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Waller also won the 1975 International Federation of Bodybuilders Mr. Universe contest in Pretoria, South Africa... |
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... |
Linda Thomas | |
| 1972 | Elias Petsas | Frank Zane Frank Zane Frank Zane is an American former professional bodybuilder and teacher.- Education :Zane received a B.Sc in Education from Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1964. For 13 years, he taught mathematics and chemistry while living in Florida and California. Later he earned a B.A... |
Christine Charles | |
| 1973 | Chris Dickerson | Boyer Coe Boyer Coe Boyer Coe is an American former professional bodybuilder.Coe is the only contestant to achieve a perfect score in the World Bodybuilding Championships... |
Jean Galston | |
| 1974 | Roy Duval | Chris Dickerson | Linda Cheesman | |
| 1975 | Ian Lawrence Ian Lawrence (bodybuilder) Ian Lawrence is a Scottish bodybuilding champion who won the 1975 Mr. Universe competition.Lawrence was born on September 21, 1948. He initially began weight training while playing rugby for the Kelso Firsts, when he was a young man.... |
Boyer Coe Boyer Coe Boyer Coe is an American former professional bodybuilder.Coe is the only contestant to achieve a perfect score in the World Bodybuilding Championships... |
Linda Cheesman | |
| 1976 | Shigeru Sugita Shigeru Sugita Shigeru Sugita is a Japanese bodybuilding champion who, in 1976, became the first ever Japanese bodybuilder to win the Mr. Universe competition.-Biographical:... |
Serge Nubret Serge Nubret Serge Nubret was a French professional bodybuilder, bodybuilding federation leader, movie actor and author. Serge was awarded many bodybuilding titles, including Mr. Europe , Mr. Universe and WBBG Pro. Mr. World... |
Cindy Breakspear | |
| 1977 | Bertil Fox Bertil Fox Bertil Fox on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts is a British former IFBB professional bodybuilder. Fox immigrated to London, England, with his family when he was only one year old. He then moved to Northampton. He did not return to St. Kitts for more than 40 years. He once said, "I'm 100%... |
Tony Emmot Tony Emmott Tony Emmott is a UK bodybuilding champion, who won the 1977 Mr. Universe competition.-Biographical:Emmott was a postal deliverer, by occupation, prior to becoming a successful bodybuilder.... |
Bridget Gibbons | |
| 1978 | Dave Johns | Bertil Fox Bertil Fox Bertil Fox on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts is a British former IFBB professional bodybuilder. Fox immigrated to London, England, with his family when he was only one year old. He then moved to Northampton. He did not return to St. Kitts for more than 40 years. He once said, "I'm 100%... |
Sandra Kong | |
| 1979 | Ahmet Enünlü Ahmet Enünlü Ahmet Enünlü is a world champion Turkish bodybuilder. He was the fore-runner and the most successful performer of this sport in Turkey . He became the WABBA overall world champion in 1977 and 1978. In 1979, he won the overall amateur Mr... |
Bertil Fox Bertil Fox Bertil Fox on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts is a British former IFBB professional bodybuilder. Fox immigrated to London, England, with his family when he was only one year old. He then moved to Northampton. He did not return to St. Kitts for more than 40 years. He once said, "I'm 100%... |
Karen Griffiths | |
| 1980 | Bill Richardson Bill Richardson (bodybuilder) - Personal :Bill Richardson is a UK bodybuilding champion. He has entered a number of bodybuilding competitions in his career, winning several of them, including the Mr... |
Tony Pearson Tony Pearson (bodybuilder) Tony Pearson grew up in St. Louis, Missouri is an American bodybuilding champion. In 1976 at the age of nineteen he moved to California to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. He headed straight to the "Mecca of Body Building" Venice Beach where he was discovered by Arnold... |
Erika Mes | |
| 1981 | John Brown | Robby Robinson Robby Robinson Robby Robinson is an American former bodybuilder who won the IFBB Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe titles. He was the Masters Olympia overall champion the first year that the event was held in 1994 and then went on to win the 50+ division at that same contest in both 1997 and 2000... |
Jocelyn Pigeonneau | |
| 1982 | John Brown | Edward Kawak Edward Kawak Edward Kawak was a professional bodybuilder.Kawak moved to France and began his career in bodybuilding. After winning 5 NABBA Universe titles, Kawak moved over to the IFBB... |
Jocelyn Pigeonneau | |
| 1983 | Jeff King | Edward Kawak Edward Kawak Edward Kawak was a professional bodybuilder.Kawak moved to France and began his career in bodybuilding. After winning 5 NABBA Universe titles, Kawak moved over to the IFBB... |
Mary Scott | |
| 1984 | Brian Buchanan | Edward Kawak Edward Kawak Edward Kawak was a professional bodybuilder.Kawak moved to France and began his career in bodybuilding. After winning 5 NABBA Universe titles, Kawak moved over to the IFBB... |
Mary Scott | |
| 1985 | Tim Belknap | Edward Kawak Edward Kawak Edward Kawak was a professional bodybuilder.Kawak moved to France and began his career in bodybuilding. After winning 5 NABBA Universe titles, Kawak moved over to the IFBB... |
Jocelyn Pigeonneau | |
| 1986 | Charles Clairmonte | Lance Dreher Lance Dreher Lance Dreher is a two time Mr. Universe and former Mr. America. Dreher was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 27, 1955. Dreher has placed in the top 3 of 10 professional body building championships. One of Lance's greatest body building features is his 21-inch biceps. After his last competition... |
Monika Steiner Monika Steiner Monika Steiner is a Bay Area based professional artist, originally from Switzerland. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally in galleries, museums, public exhibitions as well as belonging to major collections such as the Trump and Marriott Hotels.-Life and education:Monika Steiner... |
Heidi Thomas |
| 1987 | Basil Francis | Olaf Annus | Connie McClosky | Sonia Walker |
| 1988 | Victor Terra | Charles Clairmonte | Lisa Campbell | Sarah Staunton |
| 1989 | Matt Dufresne | Charles Clairmonte | Tatjana Scholl | Tracey Citrone |
| 1990 | Peter Reid | Charles Clairmonte | Monika Debatin | Browny OBrien |
| 1991 | Reiner Gorbracht | Victor Terra | Ute Geisel | Helen Maderson |
| 1992 | Mustafa Mohammad Mustafa Mohammad Mustafa Mohammad is a retired IFBB professional bodybuilder, known for his exceptional thigh development.- Competitive stats :*Age 40*Height 5'8"*Contest Weight 270 lbs *Arm size 21.65"... |
Peter Reid | Bernadette Price | Anita Lawrence |
| 1993 | Dennis Francis Dennis Francis Dennis Morales Francis is a comic book creator, artist, and writer. He created the Jax and the Hellhound and Major Lancer and the Starlight Squadron comic series that were published by Blackthorne Publishing Inc... |
Edward Kawak Edward Kawak Edward Kawak was a professional bodybuilder.Kawak moved to France and began his career in bodybuilding. After winning 5 NABBA Universe titles, Kawak moved over to the IFBB... |
Deborah Compton | Ali Slater |
| 1994 | Nick van Beeck | John Terilli John Terilli John Terilli is a former Australian professional bodybuilder.John was born in Italy and he moved with his family to Sydney, Australia, when he was 8 years old. For most of his pre-teen life John was an over-weight child. In an effort to change himself he developed Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia... |
Kathy Butler-Corish | Susana Perez |
| 1995 | Grant Clemesha | Brian Buchanan | Kathy Butler-Corish | Susana Perez |
| 1996 | Frederico Focherini | Shaun Davis | Billie Kaine | Pina Theodoridis |
| 1997 | Grant Thomas | Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood is a British professional bodybuilder and Strongman competitor. Ellwood is best known for being a 5 time NABBA Mr Universe... |
Patricia Veldmann | Claudia Mühlhaus |
| 1998 | Gary Lister | Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood is a British professional bodybuilder and Strongman competitor. Ellwood is best known for being a 5 time NABBA Mr Universe... |
Julia Abel | Pina Theodoridis |
| 1999 | Franco Male | Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood is a British professional bodybuilder and Strongman competitor. Ellwood is best known for being a 5 time NABBA Mr Universe... |
Taylor Young | Giovanna Rosa |
| 2000 | Sergei Ogorodnikov Sergei Ogorodnikov Sergei Ogorodnikov is a Russian professional ice hockey center. He currently plays for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the Kontinental Hockey League.... |
Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood is a British professional bodybuilder and Strongman competitor. Ellwood is best known for being a 5 time NABBA Mr Universe... |
Olga Tikhonova | Giovanna Rosa |
| 2001 | Steffen Müller | Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood Eddy Ellwood is a British professional bodybuilder and Strongman competitor. Ellwood is best known for being a 5 time NABBA Mr Universe... |
Anja Timmer | Giovanna Rosa |
| 2002 | Costantino Caleazzo | Gary Lister | Claudia Bianchi | Giovanna Rosa |
| 2003 | Hassan Al Saka | Gary Lister | Olga Tikhonova | Cherie Loomes |
| 2004 | Steve Sinton | Hassan Al Saka | Sandra Waterschoot | Lorena Bucci |
| 2005 | Charles Mario | Sergey Ogorodnikov | Desiree Dumpel | Andrea Carvalho |
| 2006 | Tomáš Bureš | Steve Sinton | Olga Tikhonova | Silvia Finocchi Ferreira |
| 2007 | Orazio Salvatori | Orazio Salvatori | Alina Popa | Andrea Carvalho |
| 2008 | Lionel Beyeke | Alessandro Savi | Vivian Hijikema | Maria Stukova |
| 2009 | Martin Kasal | Alexey Netesanov | Larissa Cunha | Dora Rodrigues |
| 2010 | Miha Zupan | Charles Mario | Valentyna Yefyemchuk | Flora Conte |
| 2011 | Paulo Lima Santos | No Contest | Angel Rosales | Sergio Montalvan |