Arnold: The Mr. Olympia Wins

If you go by total Mr. Olympia wins, both Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman are the “best” Olympia champions of all time. But in terms of sheer popularity and the magnitude of his impact on the sport and how many millions he inspired to take up pumping iron to build their own bodies, Arnold is the undisputed champion. This month, as we near the 53^rd installment of Joe Weider’s Mr. Olympia contest, let’s look back at the seven victories claimed by the Austrian Oak.

1970

After having been bested by Sergio Oliva in The Myth’s third consecutive win, Arnold returned as a new decade dawned and began his own dynasty. At just 23 years old, Arnold was the youngest man to ever win the Mr. Olympia, a record that still stands and is highly unlikely to be beaten. Only Lee Haney was close, winning his first Sandow at the age of 24 in 1984. Only one other man entered, Californian Reg Lewis.

Results:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. Sergio Oliva

3. Reg Lewis

1971

There were only two times in the history of the Mr. Olympia contest when no man even bothered to attempt to beat the reigning champion. It happened with Sergio Oliva in 1968, and it happened again in 1971 with Arnold. This was also the first time the event was held outside of New York since its inception in 1965. While Arnold was winning his second title by default, the rest of the top bodybuilders were in London vying for the NABBA Universe, including winner Bill Pearl, Oliva, Arnold’s idol, Reg Park, and Frank Zane.

Results:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

1972

Sergio came back out for blood this year in Essen, Germany, bringing what most agree was his biggest and most ripped package ever. He gave Arnold a brutal battle, but in the end Arnold held on to his title in a 4-3 vote. Sergio remained bitter about what he felt was an unjust decision until the day he died in 2012. Among the dubious reasons allegedly given by judges as to why he lost were that his dark skin color blended in with the black backdrop. This is also the Olympia when Arnold tricked Sergio into appearing to quit during the final posedown by whispering to him that he was exhausted, and that they should just walk offstage.

Results:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. Sergio Oliva

3. Serge Nubret

4. Frank Zane

5. Franco Columbu

1973

The Olympia moved back to New York once again, and this time Arnold’s greatest challenge came from his best friend and training partner, Franco Columbu, who at 5’4” was nearly a foot shorter and 60 pounds lighter. Following this year, the event instituted two weight classes for over and under 200 pounds, with an overall posedown. That system only lasted from 1974 until 1979, or six years.

Results:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. Franco Columbu

3. Serge Nubret

1974

For the first time in his career, Arnold had to face off against a much larger man in the form of Lou Ferrigno, who was 6’5” and 270 pounds to Arnold’s 6’2” and 240. Many felt this was the year Arnold looked his best.

Results:

Heavyweight

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. Lou Ferrigno

3. Serge Nubret

Lightweight

1. Franco Columbu

2. Frank Zane

Overall: Arnold

1975

This was Arnold’s sixth win, immortalized in the movie “Pumping Iron,” and took place in Pretoria, South Africa. What most people don’t know is that just three months before the contest, Arnold had wrapped shooting on the drama “Stay Hungry” starring Jeff Bridges and Sally Field. Director Bob Rafelson had demanded Arnold take his bodyweight down to 210 pounds for his role. When filmmakers George Butler and Robert Fiore came to him with “Pumping Iron,” Arnold knew it would be a struggle to regain his muscle in time to defend his title again, which he hadn’t planned on doing, but believed the movie would be a turning point for both himself and the sport, and he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Results:

Heavyweight

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. Serge Nubret

3. Lou Ferrigno

Lightweight

1. Franco Columbu

2. Ed Corney

3. Albert Beckles

4. Frank Zane

5. Giuseppe Deiana

Overall: Arnold Schwarzenegger

1980

Though Arnold did make his dramatic and unexpected comeback in Sydney to win an unprecedented seventh title, most feel this win tarnished his competitive record rather than bolstered it. Arnold was down roughly 20 pounds from his best, and it showed the most in his diminished legs. This was the biggest Mr. Olympia lineup ever seen thus far, and the quality was deep. Most felt Arnold was fighting for fourth or fifth place at best, and was nowhere near in contention for the win. Yet in the end, 35 years later, it’s down in the history books as a win, and perhaps that’s all that matters.

Results:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2. Chris Dickerson

3. Frank Zane

4. Boyer Coe

5. Mike Mentzer

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