Out of all the competitions in the world, bodybuilding stays apart as a unique one. Athletes train for years to perfect their bodies and develop muscular mass. Likewise, athletes who train for competitions are understood as bodybuilders. In professional competitions like the Mr. Olympia event, bodybuilders stand on the stage, posing for various parts of their bodies. Judges rank them based on their symmetry, muscularity, size, conditioning, posing, and stage presentation. There are various competitions in bodybuilding but the Mr. Olympia contest stands apart from the rest.

History of bodybuilding

Old Greeks became the inspiration for people to start bodybuilding. After that, modern competitions came up from various theatrical acts and other circus acts. They held the first contest in 1903 in New York. The winner of the competition was Al Treloar and dubbed "The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World." Significantly, organizers saw potential in that and the start of the Mr. America contest showcased some of the best talents. The rise of various bodybuilders across the globe saw the Mr. Universe event come into place and it became the main event for over 25 years. But, the late 1970s saw Joe Weider come up with a grand plan and create the Mr. Olympia contest.

Mr. Olympia contest

The contest that captured the minds of fans was the Mr. Olympia contest under the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness. Weider helps these bodybuilders to earn money by competing in events. They held the first competition on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City. Larry Scott won the first two titles. Moreover, the bodybuilders with the highest number of titles are Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman. In the meantime, to make their entry into the market, the famous documentary, Pumping Iron, saw the buildup to the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest. It helped athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu.

Famous bodybuilders

There are several bodybuilders to grace the grand stage. But some bodybuilders achieved greatness with their astonishing bodies.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger: 

The Austrian bodybuilder is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. The Austrian Oak is a seven-time bodybuilding champion and became an influential personality in the business. He then transitioned himself to various acting roles, became an investor, and was elected as the Governor of California. Some of his movies like Terminator 2, Commando, Twins, and Conan the Barbarian are some of his classics.

• Ronnie Coleman:

Dubbed to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Ronnie Coleman put his life and soul into the sport. He is an eight-time Mr. Olympia winner and became the most dominant bodybuilder in the business. Netflix released a documentary featuring his life in the bodybuilding industry. His size and conditioning stood apart from everyone else. A true champion who wore his heart on his sleeve.

• Lee Haney:

Like Coleman, Lee Haney became an eight-time Mr. Olympia champion. He dedicated his body to the sport and was one of the most exciting bodybuilders on stage. Haney had a humongous waist size of 32.5 inches. Therefore, Haney deserves a special mention for his performances.