Mr. Olympia

For the professional wrestler, see Jerry Stubbs.
Mr. Olympia
The 2008 Mr. Olympia stage.
StatusActive
GenreInternational Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation professional bodybuilding
FrequencyAnnually
VenueOrange County Convention Center - West Concourse
9800 International Dr, Orlando, Florida, United States of America 32819-8706[1]
Coordinates28°25′30″N 81°28′10″W / 28.4249°N 81.4694°W / 28.4249; -81.4694[1]
Years active59
InauguratedSeptember 18, 1965 (1965-09-18)
FounderJoe Weider
Most recent2024 Mr. Olympia
Previous event2023 Mr. Olympia
Next event2025 Mr. Olympia
Attendance30,000 people (2013)[2]
Organized byJoe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend
Websitemrolympia.com

Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest in the open division at Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend—an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually and is sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League.[3] Joe Weider created the contest to enable the amateur Mr. Universe winners to continue competing and to earn money. The first Mr. Olympia was held on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, with Larry Scott winning his first of two straight titles.[4] The equivalent female title is Ms. Olympia.

The record number of wins is eight each by Lee Haney (1984–1991) and Ronnie Coleman (1998–2005).[5] Samson Dauda currently holds the title.

In addition to the Mr. Olympia title in the Open division, other male divisions include the 212 division since 2012, the Men's Physique division since 2013, and the Classic Physique division since 2016.

The film Pumping Iron (1977) featured the buildup to the 1975 Mr. Olympia in Pretoria, South Africa, and helped launch the acting careers of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu.[6]

As well as the Ms. Olympia title, female titles include Fitness Olympia and Figure Olympia for fitness and figure competitors. All four contests occur during the same weekend. From 1994 to 2003, and again in 2012, a Masters Olympia was also crowned.[7] Globally,[8] a version with amateur competitors is also presented, the Mr. Olympia Amateur.[9]

  1. ^ a b 2023 Mr. Olympia confirms return to Orlando, Florida in November
  2. ^ Olympia is back
  3. ^ "IFBB.com - History of Mr. Olympia". Archived from the original on 2012-11-22. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBDec2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Haney and Coleman: A Pair of Eights". Muscle and Fitness. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBApril102020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "IFBB 2012 Masters Olympia". Muscle and Fitness. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference AO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mensxp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).