We are just a few short months away until the 2020 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest. For bodybuilding hopefuls, the Mr. Olympia contest is the grand stage where all of the best have stood and posed. From Frank Zane to Lou Ferrigno to the legend himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the end goal for any serious bodybuilder is the Mr. Olympia contest.

As the coverage ramps into overdrive on the top contenders, let’s take a look at 5 facts that you probably didn’t know about the Mr. Olympia.

5. The Young & the Old

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the first Mr. Olympia contestant to set a consecutive record of 6 wins and closing out at 7 total wins in his bodybuilding career but did you know he’s also the youngest winner?

Arnold was just 23 years old when he took the top spot at the 1970 Mr. Olympia competition. Chris Dickerson was the oldest winner when he won in 1982 at the age of 43.

4. What’s that Trophy Called?

You’ve seen the trophy of the overly muscular man flexing but do you know what it’s called?

Winners of the Mr. Olympia contest receive the “Sandow.” This trophy is named after Eugen Sandow, a traveling muscleman performer who is credited with being the godfather of modern bodybuilding.

Although the Sandow is commonplace in the Mr. Olympia contest now, it wasn’t always so. 1977 marks the year that the first Sandow trophy was presented in the Mr. O contest.

3. He Just Won’t Quit

Some guys just can’t give up what they love doing. It’s expected for competitors to return to the Mr. Olympia contest, especially if they didn’t leave with Sandow. Do you know which bodybuilder has taken the stage the most?

Dexter Jackson, now 48 years old, has competed at the Mr. Olympia contest 17 times as of last year. He took home the Sandow in 2020 and, guess where he’ll be this year? You guessed it. 2020 will mark the 18^th time that Dexter has competed at Mr. O.

2. David vs. Goliath

Mass monsters now rule the stage at the Mr. Olympia contest but in 1977, Frank Zane proved that size didn’t matter.

Competing against bodybuilders who were much larger than himself, Frank took home three Sandow trophies thanks to his incredible obsession with symmetry and aesthetics. Zane focused on muscle definition along with perfect symmetry to obtain a body that led him to three consecutive victories.

1. There’s More than Just One Category

You didn’t think that the Mr. Olympia contest was over and done with after the mass monsters hit the stage, did you?

Mr. Olympia has expanded its category base to include the following:

Fitness Olympia:

• Women only
• Bikini round
• Routine round

Figure Olympia

• Subcategory of Fitness Olympia
• Women only
• Two bikini rounds

Bikini Olympia

• Less strict bikini competition (curves are welcome)

The 212 Showdown

• Men only
• Must weigh 212 lbs (96.5 kg) or less

Physique Competition: Men / Women

• Focus on aestheticism

Mr. Olympia

• Mass monster’s stage
• Pose series

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References

1. "Mr. Olympia." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 June 2020. Web. 11 June 2020.