Muscle Builder, Vol 12, Num 10, Page 13, May 1971
To add further garnish to the rich feast offered by the 1970 World Weightlifting Championships in Columbus, Ohio, organizer Jim Lorimer, aided by Dick Brentlinger, staged amateur and professional "Mr. World" contests before 5,000 enthusiastic spectators in the luxurious veterans Memorial Auditorium. To ensure that we could again savor this rich fare, ABC "Wide World of Sport" were there to record the event for television-the first time such an event would be seen on 50 million screens across the world.
The amateur event was held in two height classes on Saturday, September 19. In the short man class were Mohamed Nassiri (Iran), George Newton (England) Nasrollah Dehnavi (Iran) Anibal Lopez (New York) Jerome Currin (Indianapolis) Jim Handly (York) and Curt Haywood (Pataskala). Curt who trained locally in Columbus, had wisely followed his trainer's advice to reduce his bodyweight in order to acquire more definition, and was a popular winner of this class.
Competitors in the tall man class were Robert Holden (Washington) Kent Kuch (Lansing) Tommy Johnson (Columbus) Rolando Pintoy (Philippines) Carl Smith (Richmond) Gene Massey (Florida) and Ken Waller (Cincinnati). Ken, who had won the 1969 "Mr. U.S.A." title was a standout winner, and also the worthy winner of the overall title.
The line-up for the professional "Mr. World" contest was sensational. The short men were Ladislav Szalai (Czechoslovakia) Zabo Koszewski (U.S.A.) Franco Colombu (Italy) and Boyer Coe (U.S.A.) The tall men were Dave Draper (U.S.A.) Sergio Oliva (Cuba) Arnold Schwarzenegger (Austria) and Dennis Tenerino (U.S.A.) This was the first time that most of these men had competed together in the same contest. It was also my first view of some of them, and I eyed them with critical interest as they lined up under the bright television lights against a fitting background of Grecian columns. After introductions from a very capable Master of Ceremonies, the contest swung into life. The M.C. invited them to show off a couple of their favorite poses, so that the international panel of judges could form their first assessments. I was responsible for finding six of the judges from among the many experienced officials who attended the world championships-M. Nassr (Egypt) E. Dorotheo (Philippines) M. Makouk (Lebanon) J. Dionne (Canada) J. Mason (England) A. Yessaian (Iraq). Dick Brentlinger served as Chairman of the judges.
Oliva was the first to respond to the M.C.'s invitation and swung into a series of muscular poses, showing off his huge arms from various angles. The crowd roared their delight at seeing all these muscle-men performing simultaneously. A glint appeared in the eyes of Schwarzenegger who was right beside Oliva. The tall tanned Austrian began matching Oliva pose for pose, and the T.V. cameras swung from one to the other. But this exciting phase of the contest was all too quickly over, and the next round began as each man posed individually. Szalai had a very smooth routine but lacked impressive bulk. Veteran Koszewski was beginning to show his age, at 48 probably the oldest competing bodybuilder in the States, and even the famed abdominals were not as sharp as I remembered them. Still he posed with grace, and drew warm applause. Colombu bounded onto the posing pedestal, a merry smile on his handsome face, and began his fine routine, showing off to perfection, his tremendously muscular physique, whose well tied-in proportions owed a lot to his athletic and weightlifting background. For most people in this part of the States, it was their first view of him, and they gasped and then cheered. Boyer Coe was very good, but did not have the same symmetry as Colombu. Like many bodybuilders without weightlifting experience, he lacked muscle on his shoulders, and upper trapezius, but what he had, he showed off expertly and smoothly. It was obviously to be a close contest between him and Colombu. The M.C. soon settled our doubt-a delighted and popular first Franco Colombu, second Boyer Coe, third Ladislav Szalai.
Now the big boys came on. Draper looked even bigger and more impressive than in his photos, and his famous poses which have graced many magazine covers were greeted with roars of appreciation. Yet to me, there was just something lacking, a little of that sparkle and life that seemed to indicate that he was not really at ease or in his top form. Oliva next, and it was soon obvious that scores of his admirers had shown up. He committed a great blunder by daubing himself overgenerously with oil, which was literally dropping off him. Instead of highlighting his physique, it acted as a mirror, reflecting the powerful T.V. lights and flattening his muscles. He looked smooth in too many parts where the judges would also notice it, particularly his abdominals and thighs. His posing routine was too short and concentrated, mostly on his amazing arm and shoulder development. I formed the impression that he was not fully trained, probably because his three "Mr. Olympia" victories had lulled him into a false confidence. Schwarzenegger gave none of these adverse impressions. Fresh from his "Mr. Universe" victory over Reg Park in London, he was in rock-hard condition, every body-part sharply defined and tied in as though a master sculptor had worked on him to produce the final over-all symmetry. I could not find a fault anywhere, nor obviously could the audience, whose roars grew louder and louder. Tenerino Was unfortunate in following, but gave a brave display of really artistic posing that could well have won top honors in most- other physique contests.
The judges, intent on doing their job as correctly and conscientiously as possible, called these four back to pose together again, and how the crowd loved it, as they matched pose for pose. This was a real contest. At last the judges were satisfied, and the M.C. called for silence to announce the results-3rd Dave Draper, 2nd Sergio Oliva, and the dusky Cuban's confident smile was replaced by a look of shocked disbelief. "Mr. World 1970" Arnold Schwarzenegger! Only a few diehard Oliva followers protested, but the thousands who crammed the auditorium roared their agreement and approval. I heard afterwards that all seven judges were unanimous in giving Arnold first place. Smiling in triumph, Arnold received his huge silver trophy, and an electric watch, and his smile grew even wider when Jim Lorimer gave him the unexpected, but wholly delightful news that he would receive a purse of $500.00. A television interview followed, and I hope that all you readers will have the opportunity to see that, and what was undoubtedly one of the greatest physique shows ever on your screens at home. It is gratifying to learn that the huge success of this contest may persuade Jim Lorimer and Dick Brentlinger to make it an annual event.
- B-I-G, the world describes Arnold Schwarzenegger and the way he does things. Here he is pictured seconds after his victory over Sergio Oliva in Columbus, Ohio, being interviewed on stage by ABC television.
- Zabo Kosewski is caught in one of his famous poses. At forty-eight, Zabo continues to shake up competitors less than half his age.
- The amazing Boyer Coe thrilled the packed house but was nosed into second place by Franco Columbu.
- Two poses which brought the house down at the Professional Mr. World contest, two poses that are strictly Sergio Oliva's!
- Having taken a controversial third place to Reg Park and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Dennis Tenerino, defeated by Rick Wayne in the Pro Mr. America contest, he chose to battle against Oliva Draper and Schwarzenegger and had to be satisfied with fourth place.
- No doubt Franco Columbu will consider 1970 a very good year. He beat Coe to win his height class in the Mr. World event.
- Here's a man who is destined to go places. Ken Waller took the Amateur Mr. World title.
- In the short class of the Pro. Mr. World contest, Ladislave Szalia was most impressive. He placed third.
- Curt Haywood was the popular winner of the short class Amateur Mr. World.
- Sergio Oliva (above) long-reigning king of bodybuilding was relieved of his crown by Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Pro Mr. World contest, in Ohio. Arnold was to display his superiority over the fabled Oliva two weeks later in the IFBB Mr. Olympia event.
As you read the exciting results of the various contests reported in this special issue, you cannot help but marvel at the fantastic strides that have been made in our field during the last ten years. You look at the amazing photographs of super-stars like Sergio Oliva, Franco Colombu, Rick Wayne, Frank lane and others, and you wonder just how it all came about. You recall the not too long past and you think of the top names of that era. And you accept the fact that the old stars, even at their best, would not have rated a third place in even the smaller events of this time. Then you find yourself asking the question again: "How did it all come about? How did it happen? Who made it happen?"
The answer, my friend, just has to be Weider. Joe Weider and his Weider System have taken bodybuilding from the horse-and-buggy stage and made it the incredible sport it is today. He has revolutionized bodybuilding, made it a science.
The principles which we now take for granted, the training techniques followed by today's youngsters even from the first time they set hands on a barbell, were developed by Joe Weider in the late forties and early fifties. And he is constantly discovering newer training techniques. The Split System, Super Sets, The Double Split, Forced Reps, Power Routines, The Cheat Principle, Flushing, and numerous other training techniques, those Weider methods which today are used in every gym in the world were once laughed at by men such as Harry Paschal I, once editor of the York magazines. He said the Weider system would produce muscle monsters. He hoped to ridicule the work of Joe Weider. If only he were here today to see the results of Joe's work! The system that he hoped to destroy, which he tried to ridicule in a comic strip, has given birth to a new generation of Weider stars. Now even Joe's sternest critics accept the fact that he and he. alone has taken bodybuilding from a hit or miss affair and made it into a science.
So, as you look at the fantastic physiques displayed in this issue, let your mind go back to where it all began. And give thanks to Joe Weider, the man responsible for the present fantastic generation of fabulous stars!
- A typical Schwarzenegger pose but oh what a difference. Note the improvement in Arnold's calves and deltoids in particular. That's not Vesuvius in the background; just one of the recent fires of Southern California! (photo Zeller)
If you find these articles interesting and useful, please
MuscleMemory