Mr. Olympia 1974: The Final Showdown of Arnold & Lou

One of the most inspiring and iconic bodybuilding competitions ever produced has been running since 1965. If you’re just tuning in, we’ve been recapping each year from the beginning of the Mr. Olympia competition. 

To get caught up, check out each year and then come back to see what happened in 1974!

Previous Mr. Olympia Articles.

The 10th Mr. Olympia contest was somewhat of a milestone in the history of bodybuilding’s biggest competition because of the emerging media attention it began to attract. 

In 1974: 

• President Nixon was forced to resign in the wake of the Watergate scandal
• Hank Aaron beat the beloved Babe Ruth’s home run record
• Frustrated motorists waited hours in line to fill up their cars with gasoline
• A crazy new phenomenon called “streaking” was in 

The idea of muscles on a man’s body seemed as ridiculous a notion as not being allowed to smoke in a restaurant.

The Public is Introduced to a New “Sport”

Despite the rampant prejudices imparted toward the strange and misunderstood community of bodybuilders by the general public, Sports Illustrated Magazine was intrigued.

This weird subculture had them sending out one of their ace writers to cover the subject for a substantial ten-page article in their October 14th, 1974 issue.  

The misaligned “sport” of Bodybuilding would be treated with both curiosity and respect by assigned reporter Richard W. Johnston as he investigated the growing popularity of this cult-like activity.

The timing of the number one sports magazine couldn’t have been better. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the reigning Mr. Olympia, was about to defend his title for the fifth and final time that very weekend. The event would be held in New York City at the prestigious Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden. 

At the peak of his career and with his eye set on soon conquering the world, Schwarzenegger impressed the reporter from Sports Illustrated so much that he received the distinction of being labeled 

“the most extraordinary athlete anywhere today as well as the most perfectly developed male in history.”

The Precursor to the Main Event

Johnston attended the 1974 Mr. International contest, held at the Embassy Auditorium in Los Angeles that summer, to get a feel for what bodybuilding was all about. The event, promoted by both Schwarzenegger and his best friend Franco Columbu, allowed the veteran reporter to experience a bodybuilding competition in person. 

It also gave him the rare opportunity to see the King of the sport do his thing on the posing platform.  After witnessing Arnold’s performance on stage, he eloquently described it as 

“an athletic and artistic display that communicates as much emotion as a Bobby Thompson home run or a Joe Namath bomb thrown 60 arching yards 10 seconds before the final gun.”

Arnold vs Lou: Who Would Reign Supreme in 1974?

Writer Charles Gaines and photographer George Butler also attended the 1974 Mr. Olympia. Their soon to be published book, Pumping Iron, released one month after that year’s Mr. Olympia contest would bring the sport of bodybuilding out from the dark and musty shadows.

Now, it would be thrust into the limelight where both the media and public would soon look upon this strange subculture with a mixed reaction of curiosity and awe.

The not-quite sold-out crowd of the 4,500 seat Felt Forum would witness bodybuilding history as a perfectly sculpted Schwarzenegger would defeat his new challenger, 22-year-old Louis Ferrigno, by easily cruising to his fifth Mr. Olympia victory. 

Can Lou Really Beat Arnold?

Ferrigno, already a two-time Mr. Universe winner, was hailed as the sport’s next “big thing” in recent issues of Joe Weider’s Muscle Builder/Power magazine.

At 6’5” and weighing 260 pounds, they expected Big Louie to give Schwarzenegger the challenge previously presented by former champ Sergio Oliva.

Unfortunately, Lou had over-dieted for the 1974 Mr. Olympia and did not present the dominating mass shown by the confident Schwarzenegger. 

Only six days earlier, a ripped and massive Ferrigno had easily dominated the competition to win his second consecutive Mr. Universe title in Verona, Italy.

After this easy win, talk in the bodybuilding community centered on the young Ferrigno’s chances of beating the one and only Austrian Oak in New York for the Mr. Olympia title.

However, one look at Arnold’s incredible 237 pounds of superbly constructed perfection backstage and the inexperienced Ferrigno knew immediately it was over. In the end, Lou and Arnold posed down in front of the screaming audience of rabid bodybuilding fans. 

It was obvious to even a novice observer that Arnold had more muscle mass and diamond-hard quality to his physique than his younger opponent did. This was despite standing three inches and weighing 23 pounds less than the hulking Ferrigno.

Arnold’s Edge Over Lou is Apparent

Besides his dominating physique, Schwarzenegger also had a rare talent that separated him from all the other bodybuilders on the planet – charisma. Arnold projected star quality to the audience and judges as brightly as a spotlight directed toward them.

You would have to be sleeping or an absolute moron not to recognize the overwhelming dominance emanating out of Schwarzenegger every moment he was on stage. 

As the competitors walked onto the smoothly carpeted stage at the Felt Forum, Schwarzenegger connected with the screaming fans and admiring judges to put as much distance between him and his competition as a Hank Aaron home run. 

A Rule Change Gives Franco an Edge of His Own

For the first time ever at the Mr. Olympia contest, the event was divided into two separate weight categories. Many feel they did this to appease Arnold’s best friend and top Mr. Olympia contender Franco Columbu. 

Franco was a world champion in his own right: 

• Mr. Universe
• Mr. World
• Mr. International
• Mr. Europe

However, the chances of him defeating his much taller and bigger training partner were slim to none. In 1973, Franco looked his absolute best but stood no chance of beating Arnold. This year, he would at least be able to claim the crown of “Under 200 Pound Class Mr. Olympia”. 

Franco had his hands full in winning this newly created division, however. Frank Zane, one of the most aesthetic and classical physiques in bodybuilding history, was in fantastic shape for the 1974 Mr. Olympia. As Zane and Franco posed for the judges side by side at the prejudging, the conundrum was obvious. 

Here were two polar opposite physiques, one thick, squat and massive and the other lean, lithe and symmetrical. The judges’ decision was obviously based on their personal preferences. 

In the end, Franco beat Frank Zane for the first time in his career by a very close margin.  

As expected, the Over 200 Pound class and the overall Mr. Olympia title was awarded to the inevitable champion Schwarzenegger. Unsurprisingly, he acted as though there could be no other outcome. 

The Austrian Oak Poses on Stage for the Last Time

After years of domination in the bodybuilding world, Arnold had defeated all the top champions of the sport several times over.

With five Mr. Universe titles and five Mr. Olympia victories, this was to be his final time onstage, and he wanted to end his illustrious career with a bang by competing in his best condition ever. 

As he stood on stage posing with his trophy alongside Joe Weider and Lou Ferrigno, Arnold was at his absolute peak. His physique was massive, ripped, aesthetic, and perfect. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was not only Mr. Olympia, but he was also (as Sports Illustrated Magazine accurately noted) “the most perfectly developed human being on the planet.”

The Winner’s Exit

As Arnold and Franco exited the backstage doors of the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden when the contest was concluded, they were immediately met by a massive crowd of rabid bodybuilding fans. They chanted Schwarzenegger’s name as the two champions walked down the streets of New York. 

Onlookers must have asked themselves what was going on and why so much commotion surrounding these two men dressed in tracksuits carrying their gym bags. The fitness revolution was about to occur, but only this small cult following of bodybuilding fans could see it coming. 

It wouldn’t be long before men all over the world would regard their reflection in the mirror with a more discerning eye toward pecs and abs that didn’t seem possible way back in 1974.

What is it about this iconic year in bodybuilding history that stands out to you? Is it the fact that Franco beat Frank by a fraction of a point? Or maybe that, despite his size and “sure thing” Lou never stood a chance against the Austrian Oak? We’d love to hear what you think about the year that changed bodybuilding forever in the comments below.