The Genesis of IFBB and Mr. Olympia: A Crucial Step in the Evolution of Modern Bodybuilding

IFBB Mr. Olympia is one of the most prestigious bodybuilding events in the history of sports that dominated the arena for more than five decades. The genesis of the sport’s governing body, the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation, in 1946 came as a new dawn for the bodybuilding sport. Today, the institution organizes 8000 competitions worldwide annually in the fitness arena, the most elite being Mr. Olympia. 

While competing on the Mr. Olympia stage is every bodybuilder’s dream, it took many years for the event to reach its current popularity, and it owes this to the elite bodybuilders who have graced its stage. Arnold Schwarzenegger to Ronnie Coleman, Mr. Olympia is associated with legendary names that have carved a niche for bodybuilding among sports fans. However, if not for two Canadian brothers who took up the task of providing a platform for such bodybuilders, the sport wouldn’t have enjoyed its current cult status. 

Joe and Ben Weider’s IFBB

Born in 1920, when the world was handling the effects of the Great Depression, Joe Weider had to start work at the young age of 12 to provide for his family. He used to work as a wagon puller transporting groceries and fruit to the market. However, his short stature and frail physique made him a target for bullies. 

But instead of succumbing to the bullying, Weider decided to build strength to fight back. He approached a wrestling team but was rejected by the coach. So, he bought a used Strength magazine and started lifting weights. By 15, Joe Weider was no more troubled by his bullies, given his muscle and strength gains. At 17, he competed in his first amateur contest, which earned him a national ranking. 

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By 20, Weider was ready to enlighten weightlifters with his bodybuilding wisdom and published his first magazine, Your Physique. Over 18 months, he amassed over $10,000 in profit from the sales. Then he entered a mail-order business offering weight sets, equipment, vitamins, and minerals. But it was time to revolutionize the bodybuilding sphere. So, in 1946, the Weider brothers rented Montreal’s Monument National Theater and hosted the first Mr. Canada contest. That night, they founded The International Federation of Bodybuilders.

The IFBB focuses on bodybuilding and fitness, providing a platform for athletes to showcase their hard work at the gym. In 1965, IFBB started the Mr. Olympia event, a bodybuilding contest with cash prizes, and in 1998, it joined hands with the International Olympic Committee for a partnership to make its presence felt among global sports. 

Mr. Olympia: The Superbowl of Bodybuilding

In 1965, the Weider brothers kickstarted the Mr. Olympia contest to allow bodybuilders to compete for a cash prize, unlike other events like NABBA’s Mr. Universe and Mr. America. Thus, IFBB paved the way for professional bodybuilding by offering $1000 for Mr. Olympia winners in the initial years. The first ever Mr. Olympia took place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in September 1965. Weider sent invitations to young athletes across various countries to grace the Mr. Olympia stage. He invited Arnold Schwarzenegger, who would become the face of his Mr. Olympia in the 1970s.

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The Weider brothers promoted the event tirelessly through their magazines, igniting the fire for lifting among youngsters. Soon, the sport was becoming widespread, which would reach unparalleled heights with the Pumping Iron documentary in 1977. As Arnie’s bodybuilding posters appeared in gyms, the participation rate for Mr. Olympia increased with time. By the 1990s, the cash prize was raised to $100,000, and women started entering Ms. Olympia championships. Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Lenda Murray, and Chris Bumstead only cemented the prestige of Mr. Olympia.

If not for IFBB and Mr. Olympia, bodybuilding would not have had the status it now enjoys. And it was the Weider brothers who played an influential role in carving out the destiny of the sport ensuring that the stage found its champions over the decades.