Universe Championships

The Universe Championships are annual worldwide bodybuilding events 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. Notable previous winners include bodybuilder, actor, and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, and bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves (1926–2000).[1]

The Universe Championships includes the following classes:

Men Women
Amateur Mr. UniverseMs. Universe (Toned Figure)
JuniorMs. Universe (Athletic Figure)
Novice Ms. Universe (Trained Figure)
Masters Over 45Professional Ms. Universe (Trained)
Masters Over 55Ms. Bikini
Sports Shorts
Classic Bodybuilding
Professional Mr. Universe

History

John Grimek, the first Mr. Universe, posing for the magazine organizing the event

In 1948 David Johnston, then editor of Strength and Health 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 Strength and Health 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.

In 1957, the Guadeloupan-French bodybuilder Arthur Robin became the first Black man to win the Mr Universe title.[2]

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 and Ms. Athletic Figure is now offered.

In 1985, 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

YearMr Universe (Pro)Mr Universe (Amateur)Ms Universe (Physique)Ms Universe (Figure)
1948John Grimek
1950Steve Reeves
1951Reg Park
1952Juan FerreroMohamed Nasr
1953Arnold DysonBill Pearl
1954Jim ParkEnrico Thomas
1955Leo RobertMickey Hargitay
1956Jack DelingerRay Schaeffer
1957Arthur RobinJohn Lees
1958Reg ParkEarl Clark
1959Bruce RandallLen Sell
1960Paul WynterHenry Downs
1961Bill PearlRay Routledge
1962Len SellJoe Abbenda
1963Joe AbbendaTom Sansome
1964Earl MaynardJohn Hewlett
1965Reg ParkElmo Santiago
1966Paul WynterChester Yorton
1967Bill PearlArnold Schwarzenegger
1968Arnold SchwarzeneggerDennis TinerinoSilvia Hibbert
1969Arnold SchwarzeneggerBoyer CoeJean Galston
1970Arnold SchwarzeneggerFrank ZaneChristine Zane
1971Bill PearlKen WallerLinda Thomas
1972Frank ZaneElias PetsasChristine Charles
1973Boyer CoeChris DickersonJean Galston
1974Chris DickersonRoy DuvalLinda Cheesman
1975Boyer CoeIan LawrenceLinda Cheesman
1976Serge NubretShigeru SugitaCindy Breakspear
1977Tony EmmotBertil FoxBridget Gibbons
1978Carlos RodriguezDave JohnsSandra Kong
1979Bertil FoxAhmet EnünlüKaren Griffiths
1980Tony PearsonBill RichardsonErika Mes
1981Robby RobinsonJohn BrownJocelyn Pigeonneau
1982Edward KawakJohn BrownJocelyn Pigeonneau
1983Edward KawakJeff KingMary Scott
1984Edward KawakBrian BuchananMary Scott
1985Edward KawakTim BelknapJocelyn Pigeonneau
1986Lance DreherCharles ClairmonteMonika SteinerHeidi Thomas
1987Olev AnnusBasil FrancisConnie McCloskySonia Walker
1988Charles ClairmonteVictor TerraLisa CampbellSarah Staunton
1989Charles ClairmonteMatt DufresneTatjana SchollTracey Citrone
1990Charles ClairmontePeter ReidMonika DebatinBrowny OBrien
1991Victor TerraReiner GorbrachtUte GeiselHelen Maderson
1992Peter ReidMustafa MohammadBernadette PriceAnita Lawrence
1993Edward KawakDennis FrancisDeborah ComptonAli Slater
1994John TerilliNick van Beeck[3]Kathy Butler-CorishSusana Perez
1995Brian BuchananGrant Clemesha[4]Kathy Butler-CorishSusana Perez
1996Shaun DavisFederico FocheriniBillie KainePina Theodoridis
1997Eddy EllwoodGrant ThomasPatricia VeldmannClaudia Mühlhaus
1998Eddy EllwoodGary ListerJulia AbelPina Theodoridis
1999Eddy EllwoodFranco MalèTaylor YoungGiovanna Rosa
2000Eddy EllwoodSergei OgorodnikovOlga TikhonovaGiovanna Rosa
2001Eddy EllwoodSteffen MüllerAnja TimmerGiovanna Rosa
2002Gary ListerCostantino GaleazzoClaudia BianchiGiovanna Rosa
2003Gary ListerHassan Al SakaOlga TikhonovaCherie Loomes
2004Hassan Al SakaSteve SintonSandra WaterschootLorena Bucci
2005Sergei OgorodnikovCharles MarioDesiree DumpelAndrea Carvalho
2006Steve SintonTomáš BurešOlga TikhonovaSilvia Finocchi Ferreira
2007Orazio SalvatoriOrazio SalvatoriAlina PopaAndrea Carvalho
2008Alessandro SaviLionel BeyekeVivian HijikemaMaria Stukova
2009Mahadev DekaMartin KasalLarissa CunhaDora Rodrigues
2010Charles MarioMiha ZupanValentyna YefyemchukFlora Conte
2011Sangram ChougulePaulo Lima SantosMaria Kuzmina
2012Sangram ChouguleAndy PolhillMaria Kuzmina
2013Lee PriestFlora Conte
2014Dave TittertonBarny Du PlessisDora Rodrigues
2015Tony MountPaul StewartDaria Diossi
2016Tony MountFabian MayrEmma Gormley
2017Shaun Joseph-TavernierLee Seung ChulDaria Diossi
2018Lee Seung ChulLoughlin GannonYasir Arafat Dignta

References

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