Universe Championships
The Universe Championships are an annual bodybuilding event organised by the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (NABBA). Originally promoted as the Mr Universe contest, the event was expanded to include women's classes in 1968.
The Universe Championships includes the following classes:
- Amateur Mr. Universe
- Professional Mr. Universe
- Ms Universe (Figure)
- Ms Universe (Toned Figure)
- Mr. Universe (Masters Over 40)
- Mr. Universe (Masters Over 50)
- Junior Mr. Universe
History
In 1948 David Johnston, then editor of Health & Strength magazine, and his team organised the Mr. Universe contest in London to coincide with the Olympic Games. The event drew great attention from bodybuilders and the general public who packed the Scala Theatre to see the spectacle. John Grimek earned the inaugural title with Steve Reeves placing second. Reeves eventually found his way to the microphone to declare, "I think that John Grimek is the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived!"
While there was no contest held in 1949, behind the scenes, members of the Health & Strength League were arranging the formation of the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association or NABBA. NABBA announced that it would be hosting the Mr Universe contest again in 1950. Steve Reeves returned to England to be crowned champion that year. Despite being the first NABBA Mr Universe, Steve Reeves was not chosen as the silhouette for the NABBA logo. That distinction would go to John Grimek and his likeness is still used to this day as the emblem of the association.
When Oscar Heidenstam became the NABBA Secretary in 1955, after a highly successful competitive career, he quickly became the main driving force of not only NABBA but also the Mr Universe contest. Around the same time, a network of area shows in the UK was established to increase membership.
The early success of the Mr Universe was underpinned by the support of many of the big names taking part such as John Grimek, Steve Reeves, Reg Park and Bill Pearl. Into the 1960s and 1970s the Mr Universe also became the launching pad for many of the famous bodybuilders of the day such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Serge Nubret and many others.
These were the most influential champions, who not only took part, but encouraged others in America and Europe to support the Universe. Their inspiration still encourages many young bodybuilders today.
While the contest was initially only for amateur male bodybuilders, a professional class was added in 1952. The NABBA UK Constitution traditionally defines an amateur as someone who has "never entered and accepted prize money in an advertised professional event." Today NABBA International, the worldwide governing body, offers Pro Cards to the four male height class winners at the Universe Championships and the NABBA World Championships. Between 2011 and 2013 there was no professional Mr. Universe class held as interest had diminished. In 2013 however, following a seven-year absence from competition, Lee Priest returned and won the overall title as an amateur. Following his victory, the NABBA International Council determined that in 2014 the NABBA Professional Division would be reestablished with the inaugural professional contest being the 2014 NABBA World Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 2014, Dave Titterton won the Professional Mr Universe title in Southport, England.
Women's bodybuilding classes were included from 1968 as Ms Physique and then divided in 1986 into Ms Physique and Ms Figure. The Ms Physique class has since been discontinued at the Universe Championships however a Ms Toned Figure is now offered.
In 1988, a Junior Mr Universe class was included for men under 21 years. The class was discontinued between 1990 and 1999 but returned in 2000.
In 1991, a Masters Over 40 class was introduced. The inaugural winner was Graeme Lancefield from Australia, narrowly beating NABBA legend John Citrone for the title. A Masters Over 50 class was introduced in 2002 with Mr Universe veteran Ian Lawrence from Scotland capturing the new award.
The NABBA Universe Championships is conducted under the auspices of NABBA UK and its chairman Jim Charles.
A separate competition called IFBB Mr. Universe was organized by the IFBB however his changed its name to the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships in 1976.
Judging
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) | Ms Universe (Physique) | Ms Universe (Figure) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | John Grimek | |||
1950 | Steve Reeves | |||
1951 | Reg Park | |||
1952 | Mohamed Nasr | Juan Ferrero | ||
1953 | Bill Pearl | Arnold Dyson | ||
1954 | Enrico Thomas | Jim Park | ||
1955 | Mickey Hargitay | Leo Robert | ||
1956 | Ray Schaeffer | Jack Delinger | ||
1957 | John Lees | Arthur Robin | ||
1958 | Earl Clark | Reg Park | ||
1959 | Len Sell | Bruce Randall | ||
1960 | Henry Downs | Paul Wynter | ||
1961 | Ray Routledge | Bill Pearl | ||
1962 | Joe Abbenda | Len Sell | ||
1963 | Tom Sansome | Joe Abbenda | ||
1964 | John Hewlett | Earl Maynard | ||
1965 | Elmo Santiago | Reg Park | ||
1966 | Chester Yorton | Paul Wynter | ||
1967 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Bill Pearl | ||
1968 | Dennis Tinerino | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Silvia Hibbert | |
1969 | Boyer Coe | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Jean Galston | |
1970 | Frank Zane | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Christine Zane | |
1971 | Ken Waller | Bill Pearl | Linda Thomas | |
1972 | Elias Petsas | Frank Zane | Christine Charles | |
1973 | Lou Ferrigno | Boyer Coe | Jean Galston | |
1974 | Roy Duval | Chris Dickerson | Linda Cheesman | |
1975 | Ian Lawrence | Boyer Coe | Linda Cheesman | |
1976 | Shigeru Sugita | Serge Nubret | Cindy Breakspear | |
1977 | Bertil Fox | Tony Emmot | Bridget Gibbons | |
1978 | Dave Johns | Bertil Fox | Sandra Kong | |
1979 | Ahmet Enünlü | Bertil Fox | Karen Griffiths | |
1980 | Bill Richardson | Tony Pearson | Erika Mes | |
1981 | John Brown | Robby Robinson | Jocelyn Pigeonneau | |
1982 | John Brown | Edward Kawak | Jocelyn Pigeonneau | |
1983 | Jeff King | Edward Kawak | Mary Scott | |
1984 | Brian Buchanan | Edward Kawak | Mary Scott | |
1985 | Tim Belknap | Edward Kawak | Jocelyn Pigeonneau | |
1986 | Charles Clairmonte | Lance Dreher | Monika Steiner | Heidi Thomas |
1987 | Basil Francis | Olev 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 | Peter Reid | Bernadette Price | Anita Lawrence |
1993 | Dennis Francis | Edward Kawak | Deborah Compton | Ali Slater |
1994 | Nick van Beeck[1] | John Terilli | Kathy Butler-Corish | Susana Perez |
1995 | Grant Clemesha[2] | Brian Buchanan | Kathy Butler-Corish | Susana Perez |
1996 | Federico Focherini | Shaun Davis | Billie Kaine | Pina Theodoridis |
1997 | Grant Thomas | Eddy Ellwood | Patricia Veldmann | Claudia Mühlhaus |
1998 | Gary Lister | Eddy Ellwood | Julia Abel | Pina Theodoridis |
1999 | Franco Malè | Eddy Ellwood | Taylor Young | Giovanna Rosa |
2000 | Sergei Ogorodnikov | Eddy Ellwood | Olga Tikhonova | Giovanna Rosa |
2001 | Steffen Müller | Eddy Ellwood | Anja Timmer | Giovanna Rosa |
2002 | Costantino Galeazzo | 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 | Sergei 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 | Maria Kuzmina | ||
2012 | Andy Polhill | Maria Kuzmina | ||
2013 | Lee Priest | Flora Conte | ||
2014 | Barny Du Plessis | Dave Titterton | Dora Rodrigues | |
2015 | Paul Stewart | Tony Mount | Daria Diossi |
References
External links
- Full Winners List
- Complete Results - Amateur Men
- Complete Results - Amateur Women
- Complete Results - Pro Men