Universe Championships

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The Universe Championships are annual worldwide bodybuilding events organised by the British 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]

Contents

The Universe Championships includes the following classes:

MenWomen
Amateur Mr. UniverseMiss Universe (Trained Figure)
JuniorMs. Universe (Athletic Figure)
NoviceMiss Universe (Toned Figure)
Masters Over 45Professional Miss Universe (Trained)
Masters Over 55Miss Universe (Bikini)
Sports Shorts
Classic Bodybuilding
Professional Mr. Universe

History

John Grimek, the first Mr. Universe, posing for the magazine organizing the event John Grimek - Strength and Health Sep 1945.jpg
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 was discontinued from 2010 at the Universe Championships, however Miss Trained, Athletic, and Toned Figures are 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, its name was changed to the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships in 1976.

Mr. Universe should not be confused with Mr. Olympia, which began in 1965.

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 evening show, the finals.

Winners

YearMr. Universe (Professionals) [3] Mr. Universe (Amateur) [3] Miss Physique [3] Miss Trained Figure [3] Miss Toned Figure [3] Miss Athletic Figure [3]
1948 Flag of the United States.svg John Grimek
1950 Flag of India.svg Monotosh Roy Flag of the United States.svg Steve Reeves
1951 Flag of India.svg Manohar Aich Flag of England.svg Reg Park
1952 Juan Ferrero Flag of Egypt (1922-1958).svg Mohamed Nasr
1953Arnold Dyson Flag of the United States.svg Bill Pearl
1954Jim Park Flag of the United States.svg Enrico Thomas
1955 Leo Robert Flag of the United States.svg Mickey Hargitay
1956 Jack Delinger Flag of the United States.svg Ray Schaeffer
1957 Arthur Robin Flag of England.svg John Lees
1958 Reg Park Flag of the United States.svg Earl Clark
1959 Bruce Randall Flag of England.svg Len Sell
1960 Chuck Sipes Flag of England.svg Henry downs
1961 Bill Pearl Flag of the United States.svg Ray Routledge
1962 Len Sell Flag of the United States.svg Joe Abbenda
1963Abd El Hamid El Gindi [4] Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sansome
1964Abd El Hamid El Gindi [4] Flag of England.svg John Hewlett
1965 Reg Park Flag of the United States.svg Elmo Santiago
1966 Paul Wynter Flag of the United States.svg Chester Yorton Elizabeth Lamb
1967 Bill Pearl Flag of Austria.svg Arnold Schwarzenegger Kathleen Winstanley
1968 Flag of Austria.svg Arnold Schwarzenegger Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Tinerino Silvia Hibbert
1969 Flag of Austria.svg Arnold Schwarzenegger Flag of the United States.svg Boyer Coe Jean Galston
1970 Flag of Austria.svg Arnold Schwarzenegger Flag of the United States.svg Frank Zane Christine Zane
1971 Bill Pearl Flag of the United States.svg Ken Waller Linda Thomas
1972 Frank Zane Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Elias Petsas Christine Charles
1973 Boyer Coe Flag of the United States.svg Chris Dickerson Jean Galston
1974 Chris Dickerson Flag of England.svg Roy Duval Linda Cheesman
1975 Steve Michalik Flag of Scotland.svg Ian Lawrence Linda Cheesman
1976 Serge Nubret Flag of Japan.svg Shigeru Sugita Cindy Breakspear
1977 Tony Emmot Flag of England.svg Bertil Fox Bridget Gibbons
1978 Mike Mentzer Flag of the United States.svg Dave Johns Sandra Kong
1979 Bertil Fox Flag of Turkey.svg Ahmet Enünlü Karen Griffiths
1980 Tony Pearson Flag of England.svg Bill Richardson Erika Mes
1981 Robby Robinson Flag of the United States.svg John Brown Jocelyn Pigeonneau
1982 Edward Kawak Flag of the United States.svg John Brown Jocelyn Pigeonneau
1983 Edward Kawak Flag of the United States.svg Jeff King Mary Scott
1984 Edward Kawak Flag of England.svg Brian BuchananMary Scott
1985 Edward Kawak Flag of the United States.svg Tim Belknap Jocelyn Pigeonneau
1986 Lance Dreher Flag of England.svg Charles Clairmonte Monika Steiner Heidi Thomas
1987 Olev Annus Flag of England.svg Basil Francis Connie McClosky Sonia Walker
1988 Charles Clairmonte Flag of the United States.svg Victor Terra Lisa Campbell Sarah Staunton
1989 Charles Clairmonte Flag of the United States.svg Matt Dufresne Tatjana Scholl Tracey Citrone
1990 Charles Clairmonte Flag of England.svg Peter Reid Monika Debatin Browny OBrien
1991 Victor Terra Flag of Germany.svg Reiner Gorbracht Ute Geisel Helen Maderson
1992 Peter Reid Flag of Austria.svg Mustafa Mohammad Bernadette Price Anita Lawrence
1993 Edward Kawak Flag of England.svg Dennis Francis Deborah Compton Ali Slater
1994 John Terilli Flag of South Africa.svg Nick van Beeck [5] Kathy Butler-Corish Susana Perez
1995 Brian Buchanan Flag of Australia (converted).svg Grant Clemesha [5] Kathy Butler-Corish Susana Perez
1996 Shaun Davis Flag of the United States.svg Chris Hoshi Billie Kaine Pina Theodoridis
1997 Eddy Ellwood Flag of England.svg Grant Thomas Patricia Veldmann Jasraj Bhadana Gujjar
1998 Eddy Ellwood Flag of England.svg Gary Lister Julia Abel Pina Theodoridis
1999 Eddy Ellwood Flag of Italy.svg Franco Malè Taylor Young Giovanna Rosa
2000 Eddy Ellwood Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Ogorodnikov Olga Tikhonova Giovanna Rosa
2001 Eddy Ellwood Flag of Germany.svg Steffen Müller Anja Timmer Giovanna Rosa
2002 Gary Lister Flag of Italy.svg Costantino Galeazzo Claudia Bianchi Giovanna Rosa
2003 Gary Lister Flag of Syria.svg Hassan Al Saka Olga Tikhonova Cherie Loomes
2004Hassan Al Saka Flag of Scotland.svg Steve Sinton Sandra Waterschoot Lorena Bucci
2005 Sergei Ogorodnikov Flag of Brazil.svg Charles Mario Desiree Dumpel Andrea Carvalho
2006 Steve Sinton Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Tomáš Bureš Olga Tikhonova Silvia Finocchi Ferreira
2007 Orazio Salvatori Flag of Italy.svg Orazio Salvatori Alina Popa Andrea Carvalho
2008 Alessandro Savi Flag of France.svg Lionel Beyeke Vivian Hijikema Maria Stukova
2009Alexey Netesanov [6] Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Martin KasalLarissa CunhaDora Rodrigues
2010Charles Mario Flag of Slovenia.svg Miha ZupanValentyna YefyemchukFlora Conte
2011 Flag of India.svg Sangram Chougule Flag of Brazil.svg Paulo Lima SantosMaria Kuzmina Flag of Brazil.svg Maria Tereza Mendonca Pintya
2012 Flag of India.svg Sangram Chougule Flag of Scotland.svg Andy PolhillMaria Kuzmina Flag of England.svg Nicola Bentham
2013 Flag of Serbia.svg Lepomir Bakić Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lee Priest Flora Conte Flag of England.svg Nicola Bentham
2014Dave Titterton Flag of England.svg Barny Du PlessisDora Rodrigues Flag of England.svg Charlotte MacGill
2015Tony Mount Ulster Banner.svg Paul StewartDaria Diossi Flag of England.svg Alex Larkin
2016Tony Mount [7] Flag of Austria.svg Fabian Mayr [8] Emma Gormley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Amy Wilson
2017Shaun Joseph-Tavernier [9] Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Seung Chul [3] Gemma Lancaster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Natasha NovakLee Tae Hee [3]
2018 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Seung Chul [3] Flag of Ireland.svg Loughlin Gannon [3] Jekaterina Übelacker Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Natalia JaremkoChristine Scerri [3]
2019 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Maley [10] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Brooker [3] Ilaria Armeni Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriela Dezan Flag of Ireland.svg Ana Carla Ceron
2020These editions of the competition were not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Petr Kovář [3] Flag of Austria.svg Daniel Glamm [3] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emma Thackray Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lisa Capper Ulster Banner.svg Tracy Hutchinson
2023 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Petr Kovář Flag of Austria.svg Klaus Drescher Flag of France.svg Elodie Moore Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kelsey Yung Flag of France.svg Aurélie Moreau

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References

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  2. WFF / NABBA Latvia. NABBA Universe Champions. Retrieved 26 December 2019
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "HALL OF FAME". NABBA. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Mr. Universe Competition by FIHC".
  5. 1 2 Complete list of all NABBA Universe Winners GMV.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juIglI0LJbA Alexey Netesanov (RUS), NABBA Universe 2009 - Pro Winner
  7. Lye gym boss's Mr Universe show brings muscle to Birmingham Ludlow Advertiser. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  8. 2916 Mr Universe - NABBA MuscleMemory.com. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  9. Shaun Joseph Tavernier IFBB Pro: Bio DNA-Lean.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
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