Mr. Olympia 1973: The Year that Sparked Pumping Iron

The Mr. Olympia competition has been running annually since 1965. We’ve been recapping this iconic competition series starting from the first year. 

If you haven’t had a chance to check out each year, make sure you do. Check them out here!

Now, let’s revisit the Mr. Olympia contest from 1973 and what made it a night to remember.

The Setting of Pumping Iron

The 1973 Mr. Olympia was a historic event. This was the main competition that was featured in the book Pumping Iron, released by Simon & Schuster in 1974. 

The book was written with elegant prose by writer Charles Gaines featuring authentic and beautiful pictures by photographer George Butler. 

The book would eventually go on to become a massive bestseller to the surprise of everyone.

Gaines and Butler were eager to introduce the unique and undiscovered world of bodybuilding to the general public with their new book. They traveled to: 

• Baghdad, Iraq in 1972 to document the IFBB Mr. Universe contest 
• Venice Beach, California to cover all the action at Gold’s Gym in 1973 
• New York to talk to Steve Michalik and Lou Ferrigno 

Finally, they covered the annual IFBB Mr. Olympia in New York for the conclusion of the book. 

As the competition began, the Mr. American contest was up first.

The Mr. America Competition

The 1973 Mr. Olympia was held on September 8th, 1973 along with the IFBB Mr. America and Mr. World events. 

The evening began with the best amateur bodybuilders in the country competing in the IFBB Mr. America. Nearly 30 of the best bodybuilders in the IFBB lined up for top honors. 

The Short Class Results

Favorite New York competitor Leon Brown won the short class of the Mr. America. Leon displayed a thick and ripped physique allowing George Butler’s camera to capture an amazing series of back poses. 

They were featured in a dramatic two page spread in the book Pumping Iron. Leon was an easy winner in this class and would be a tough contender for the overall title of Mr. America.

The Medium Class Results

Up next was the medium height class. Bob Birdsong traveled from his home in California to display his magnificent physique to the judges and the audience. 

Bob was also an easy winner in this height class, representing Gold’s Gym proudly. Franklyn Greene was in second place followed by another Gold’s Gym regular Kent Kuehn in third place. 

The Tall Class Results

The audience was blown away by the massive bodybuilders in the tall class. Big Lou Ferrigno, 6’5” and 260 pounds, dominated the class with his incredible size and height. Louie, making his IFBB debut at the tender age of 21 years old, shocked the audience with his incredible size.

Fans soon started speculating on a Ferrigno-Schwarzenegger showdown. Bill Howard, who at 6’1” is used to standing out over his rivals, was pushed to second place by Big Louie. That put Bob Klez in third place for this class division. ’

The overall for the 1973 IFBB Mr. America featured three awesome bodybuilders: 

• Leon Brown
• Bob Birdsong
• Lou Ferrigno 

Despite the shapely and diamond-hard physiques of Brown and Birdsong, they didn’t stand a chance next to the massive Ferrigno. Lou really made an impact with his IFBB debut, winning the overall of the Mr. America. 

The Mr. World Competition

Next up was the IFBB Mr. World contest. This year’s event featured an international line-up of some of the best amateur bodybuilders in the world. 

Some of the best IFBB superstars the world over competed, including: 

• Corney 
• Waller
• Tinerino
• Grant

 The audience was hyped to see who would come out on top in this prestigious event. 

The Short Class Results

Veteran bodybuilder Johnny Maldonado won the short class. Maldonado was a thick, massive bodybuilder. He was able to pack a lot of muscle on top of his short, compact frame which certainly impressed the judges. 

Fred Berange came in second place. He was followed by William Mitchell in third place to round out the short class. 

The Medium Class Results

In the medium height class, the late Ed Corney the master poser took first place. Corney was in superb shape one year before when he won the overall at the 1972 IFBB Mr. Universe in Iraq over Mike Katz. 

Although Ed was in great shape for the Mr. World, he was not quite in the same razor-sharp condition that he displayed for the Universe. Steve Burnett was in second place with Paul Rehaus in third. 

The Tall Class Results

The tall class featured some top great IFBB bodybuilders. Veteran competitor Ken Waller took a close first place over the great Dennis Tinerino. 

Waller’s great symmetry and leg development put him over the top. Tinerino displayed his contest-winning physique to his best advantage and was disappointed to end up in second place. Popular Bill Grant rounded out the top three in the tall class.

For the overall of the IFBB Mr. World, Ken Waller dominated over Ed Corney and John Maldonado to take home the big trophy and the title of Mr. World. 

Next up, the audience was pumped for the biggest contest in the world, the IFBB Mr. Olympia. 

The Mr. Olympia Competition

Now in its ninth year, the Olympia was still struggling to grow in the number of competitors. 

Only overall winners of either the Mr. World or the Mr. Universe were eligible to compete in the Mr. Olympia so it truly was an elite group. 

The first competitor onstage was the great Serge Nubret from France. Serge displayed a thick but extremely aesthetic physique. His tiny waist combined with his massive pecs, shoulders, and arms transformed his front poses into artistic masterpieces. 

However, Nubret’s weak back and legs would eventually prove his undoing. 

Franco Columbu bounded onstage to the roar of the packed New York audience. Franco had made his mark in bodybuilding over the last five years since moving to America from Italy, courtesy of Joe Weider. 

Columbu was now a Mr. Europe, Mr. International, Mr. World and Mr. Universe winner. His final conquest was to win the Mr. Olympia contest. 

Franco displayed an extremely thick and muscular physique. Standing only 5’4”, Franco’s rear lat spread made him as wide as he was tall. Franco posed like he trained, fast and precise. 

A former boxing champion from Italy, Columbu posed with the same intensity and speed that he used to knock out opponents – bap, bap, bap. The New York audience gave Franco a huge round of applause as he finished his routine. 

Now, it was time for the King.

The King Reveals his Hard Work to Keep his Title

Arnold Schwarzenegger slowly walked onstage to the roar of the bodybuilding crazed crowd. This was the guy they had waited hours to see. 

Arnold was the undisputed champion of the sport. One year earlier, he had barely eked out a win over a superb Sergio Oliva. A year of intense training at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California had transformed his physique so much.

No one came close to his perfection. 

Arnold stood onstage facing the audience and he casually flexed his incredible calves for the benefit of the audience. Arnold had injured his knee just one year ago. He wanted to prove to the judges and the crowd that he had fully recovered and was better than ever. 

Opening up his body to an incredible front double biceps pose, the audience erupted into chaos.

For the next few minutes, Arnold hit one trademark pose after another with perfect precision and grace. He was the ultimate bodybuilder in his environment, here onstage in New York at the Mr. Olympia contest. 

After his close and controversial call over Sergio in 1972, Arnold was in the best condition of his life for the 1973 Mr. Olympia. 

His physique was so refined and sculpted, it bordered on perfection. Arnold was big, thick, ripped and totally aesthetic. He was the epitome of what the Mr. Olympia represented in 1973 – the Most Perfectly Developed Male Physique.  

The King Remains

Arnold accepted his trophy onstage from his long-time girlfriend Barbara Outland. Franco took second place followed by Serge Nubret in third. 

This was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fourth consecutive Mr. Olympia and he was now indisputably the King of Bodybuilding. 

What was even more special about this victory? It was captured by the team of Gaines and Butler and forever immortalized in the book Pumping Iron.  

Have you read Pumping Iron? What was your favorite moment from the 1973 Mr. Olympia and from the book? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.