One Step Away: The History of Mr. Olympia’s Runners-Up – PART 1
The Mr. Olympia is bodybuilding’s most popular event, with the winner receiving all the praise and focus from all the media, but what about the runners-up?
The Mr. Olympia will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024. A truly incredible accomplishment for an event, that was created by Joe and Ben Weider while having dinner, way back in 1964.
During the 59 events that have taken place since 1965, only 18 men have won this prestigious title. Of the 18 champions, five have unfortunately passed on. Larry Scott, Sergio Oliva, Franco Columbu, Chris Dickerson, and Shawn Rhoden have all passed away.
We all know who the winners are, and the bodybuilding world continues to celebrate and discuss their victories.
All the winners have gone on to have very successful careers after they retired from the sport. The majority of winners have gone on to become movie stars, politicians, successful business owners, and prominent figures within the bodybuilding industry.
What about the runners-up? Bodybuilding historians and dedicated fans know who they are, but the younger generation has absolutely no idea who pushed the 18 Mr. Olympia champions to the limit.
The Runners-Up
The 18 men who won the Mr. Olympia title, are phenomenal athletes, there have been some controversial decisions in the past, and even some believe the 2023 decision could have gone either way.
From 1965 to 2017, the Mr. Olympia was dominated by 12 athletes, with 10 of them defending their title for several years. Between 2018 and 2023, there have been five different winners.
Just as there were multiple winners, there were also athletes placing second consecutively for several years, never managing to win the title.
Every bodybuilder climbed the amateur ranks winning a number of prestigious titles, such as Mr. America, Mr. Universe titles within IFBB and NABBA, plus World and European Championships.
Let’s take a look at the runners-up during the 59-year history of the Mr. Olympia.
Part 1 of the “One Step Away” series covers the Mr. Olympia events from 1965 to 1984.
Harold Poole
Harold Poole, unfortunately, had to compete against Larry Scott, the best bodybuilder in the world at the time. In 1965 and 1966, Harold had to settle for second place on both occasions.
Even though Harold finished in second, he had the honor of placing higher than future Mr. Olympia Sergio Oliva, who placed fourth in 1966.
Chuck Sipes
Chuck Sipes placed second to Sergio Oliva in 1967, moving up a place from the 1966 Mr. Olympia, pushing former runner-up, Harold Poole, to third place.
This would be the only time that Chuck competed at the Mr. Olympia. chuck would go on to win the 1968 Mr. World Overall title in 1968.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
In 1968, Sergio Oliva was not contested and won his second consecutive Mr. Olympia title.
It was looking as if nobody would challenge Sergio in 1969, but a young bodybuilder was climbing the ladder of success, and his name was Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Arnold was Sergio’s only competition, and he had to settle for second place. From that day onwards, Arnold made a promise to himself, that he would never settle for anything other than a victory.
Arnold would go on to make bodybuilding history at the time, by winning six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles. Arnold would come out of retirement to win the 1980 Mr. Olympia, a controversial decision, that is still debated today.
The rest is history for Arnold, he would go on to be one of the biggest Hollywood stars, and the Governor of California.
Arnold also created the Arnold Classic in 1989, an event that grew to become one of the biggest events on the bodybuilding competition calendar.
Sergio Oliva
Sergio Oliva returned in 1970 to defend his Mr. Olympia title, and try to make it four in a row. Unfortunately for Sergio, he found a hungry Arnold Schwarzenegger, who transformed his body to get the task done.
Arnold arrived more refined, and concentrated not only on size, but also condition, something that Sergio lacked.
Sergio placed second in 1970 and 1972. Arnold was not contested in 1971, and was automatically declared champion.
Sergio would return to the Mr. Olympia stage in 1984 and 1985, but he had to settle for eighth place on both occasions.
Franco Columbu
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best friend, Franco Columbu, finished second to Arnold in 1973, 74, and 75.
It must be noted, that Franco won the lightweight Mr. Olympia title in 1974 and 1975, but would lose the overall Mr. Olympia title to Arnold.
At that time, Franco was declared to be one of the strongest men in the world, and he was also known for his incredible chest and back development.
Franco would go on to win the 1976 Mr. Olympia, after Schwarzenegger retired after his sixth win in 1975. Franco would come out of retirement to win the controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia.
After he retired from bodybuilding competition, Franco produced and acted in several films, and also became a successful chiropractor.
Ken Waller
Ken Waller, the famous bodybuilder that played the bad guy, on “Pumping Iron”, was one step away from winning the 1976 Mr. Olympia.
Franco was the favorite to win the 1976 Mr. Olympia. Franco did not have to worry about his good friend Schwarzenegger since he retired the year before.
The format of the event was still split in two. Franco defeated Frank Zane to win the lightweight event, while Ken Waller edged past Mike Katz to win the heavyweight title.
Being the bigger bodybuilder, Ken Waller had a great chance to win the 1976 Mr. Olympia, but the judges favored Franco Columbu for the overall Mr. Olympia victory.
Ken Waller continued to compete at the highest level until he retired after the 1981 Mr. Olympia.
Waller was popular with the members and fans at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California. Waller also had some small acting parts in film and television after his retirement, but he will always be remembered for his part in “Pumping Iron”.
Robby Robinson
Ed Corney was announced in second place in the overall event at the 1977 Mr. Olympia, but shortly afterward, it was announced that Robby Robinson placed second. Ed Corney immediately handed Robby the second-place cheque.Robby Robinson is one of the most recognized bodybuilders in the history of the sport. At the age of 77, he still trains daily and is in fantastic condition.
At the 1977 and 1978 Mr. Olympia, Robby placed second behind the great Frank Zane in the overall events.
Robby was declared the winner of the heavyweight title, but Frank Zane’s incredible condition and symmetry would give him the edge over all the competitors.
At the 1977 Mr. Olympia, Ed Corney was declared the runner-up by Reg Park, but immediately afterwards, Reg corrected his mistake, and Ed Corney being the gentleman he is, handed the second place cheque to Robby Robinson.
From 1974 to 2001, Robby competed at the highest level, winning the majority of prestigious titles, including the Masters Olympia in 1994.
Mike Mentzer
(L to R) Robby Robinson, Frank Zane, and Mike Mentzer.Mike Mentzer had a bodybuilding career that only lasted 10 years. In those 10 years, he went on to win the 1976 Mr. America Overall title, the North American Championships in 1977, and the 1979 Florida Pro Invitational. As an amateur, Mentzer also won numerous world titles.
At the 1979 Mr. Olympia, Mike Mentzer would go on to win the heavyweight title, but in the overall battle, he would lose to Frank Zane, who would win his third consecutive Mr. Olympia title.
Mike Mentzer’s bodybuilding career came to a crashing end after the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Mike was one of the favorites to win the title, after Frank Zane suffered a serious injury after a freak accident, but thankfully he still competed.
Mike’s dreams turned into a nightmare after it was revealed, Arnold Schwarzenegger would return to the stage, and try to win his seventh Mr. Olympia title.
Arnold went on to win the 1980 Mr. Olympia, and Mike Mentzer would have to settle for fifth place. The outcome affected Mike so badly that he walked away from the sport.
Unfortunately, Mike passed away on 9 June 2001.
Mike will always be remembered thanks to his HIT Training System.
Mentzer’s philosophy was the concept of high-intensity training (HIT). Rather than performing numerous sets and repetitions, Mentzer advocated for shorter, more intense workouts that pushed the muscles to their limits.
Chris Dickerson
The 1980 Mr. Olympia is one of the most controversial events in the history of bodybuilding.
The big story at that time was Arnold Schwarzenegger coming out of retirement, and competing at the 1980 event.
Many of the athletes were not happy with Arnold’s entry, as they believed his star power, would help him win his seventh Mr. Olympia title.
Arnold never competed against more than three to five competitors at the Mr. Olympia, but in 1980 he had to deal with 16 hungry athletes.
Controversy surrounded the event from beginning to end, but when the smoke cleared, Arnold was declared the winner, and Chris Dickerson finished in second.
After the controversy of the 1980 Mr. Olympia, several bodybuilders boycotted the 1981 Mr. Olympia.
The 1981 Mr. Olympia saw the return of Franco Columbu, inspired by the latest victory by his best friend Arnold Schwarzenegger the previous year, Franco believed he could win himself.
When Franco Columbu was declared the winner, the bodybuilders had to leave the stage, due to the fans throwing projectiles towards them in protest.
The 1981 Mr. Olympia was the darkest moment in the entire history of the event. While Franco was happy with his victory, the majority of competitors and fans believed the title could have easily gone to Chris Dickerson, Tom Platz, Danny Padilla, or even Roy Callendar.
Franco was definitely not Mr. Olympia material, with weak legs and gyno being evident.
Chris Dickerson had to settle for second, but the following year, he would finally win the 1982 Mr. Olympia.
Chris had a very successful bodybuilding career, as an amateur and professional, going on to win the Mr. Olympia in 1982.
Dickerson competed at the highest level for over 30 years, standing next to some of the best bodybuilders in the history of the sport.
After retirement, Chris continued to train and coach athletes. Chris also went on to do some modeling.
Frank Zane
By 1982, Frank Zane needed no introduction, he dominated the sport between 1977 and 1979, and was one of the most popular bodybuilders in the world, presenting a pleasing aesthetic physique.
After his life-threatening injury leading up to the 1980 Mr. Olympia, Frank never managed to win another Olympia title.
Frank protested the outcome of the 1980 Mr. Olympia, and skipped the 1981 Mr. Olympia, to return in 1982.
Frank would place second to Chris Dickerson, who finished second in two of the most controversial Mr. Olympia events in the history of the sport.
Frank would make his final Mr. Olympia appearance in 1983, to finally finish in fourth.
Frank would go on to write numerous books, and coach several athletes when he retired from the sport of bodybuilding.
Mohamed Makkawy
The “Magic Egyptian” Mohamed Makkawy, brought the condition to another level. The “Giant Killer” of that time, could push any mass monster to the edge with his incredible physique.
Makkawy was also one of the best posers to ever grace the bodybuilding stage.
Mohamed was a force to be reckoned with during his very successful amateur career, from 1969 to 1977.
Mohamed would compete as a professional bodybuilder, from 1978 to 1999. At the peak of his career, Makkawy would finish second at the 1983 and 1984 Mr. Olympia.
In 1983, Samir Bannout would win the Mr. Olympia, with Mohamed having to settle for second. Another highlight of the 1983 Mr. Olympia, was Makkawy placing ahead of Lee Haney, who had to settle for third place.
In 1984, the dominance of Lee Haney would start, and he would go on to win eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, dominating the sport until 1991.
At the 1984 Mr. Olympia, Lee Haney would improve his physique, blowing away the rest of the lineup. Defending champion Samir Bannout would fall to sixth place, not arriving in the same condition that won him the title the previous year.
Mohamed still managed to finish in second place, behind the great Lee Haney, and ahead of 18 competitors that were almost twice his size.
After his retirement, Mohamed would become a very successful coach and author, focussing on bodybuilding and fitness.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the “One Step Away” series.
If you are interested in bodybuilding history, subscribe to John Hansen’s YouTube channel. John has some great interviews with the legends of the sport, from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.
