NABBA Mr. Universe

The NABBA Mr. Universe is the most important and traditional Mr. Universe competition in bodybuilding. It has been held by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association since 1950 and was considered the unofficial world championship for years. Numerous stars of earlier days such as John Grimek , Steve Reeves , Reg Park or Arnold Schwarzenegger founded their international career by winning the most prestigious title in bodybuilding at the time. From the late 1960s, the NABBA Mr. Universe with the strengthening of the competition association IFBB and the associated establishment of new competitions such as the IFFB-Mr. Olympia and the IFFB-Mr. Universe steadily gaining prestige. Since 1984, NABBA has been holding its own regular world championships in addition to the Mr. Universe.

The NABBA Mr. Universe experienced major expansions during the time of its existence. In 1966 the women's competition celebrated its premiere, in 1991 a senior competition was held for the first time, and in 2000 the junior competitions are also part of the regular competition program.

List of title holders

Male classes

In the amateur sport of bodybuilding at the time, the so-called professional category was reserved for advanced athletes. This included all the winners of the Mr. Universe, as according to NABBA rules they were not allowed to participate in the amateur category again. In contrast to the first "real" professional competitions by competitor IFBB, there was NABBA-Mr. Universe-Pro no prize money.

year	venue	Amateurs
		Mr. Universe (overall winner)	Tall (over 1.82 m)	Medium (up to 1.82 m)	Medium (up to 1.74 m)	Small (up to 1.67 m)
1948	London	John Grimek	Steve Reeves	Charles Jarrett	John Grimek	Mahmoud Namdjou
1949	No competition
1950	London	Steve Reeves	Steve Reeves	John Lees	Juan Ferrero	Don Dorans	Professionals
		Mr. Universe (overall winner)	Tall (over 1.74 m)		Medium (up to 1.74 m)	Small (up to 1.67 m)	Mr. Universe-Pro (overall winner)	Tall (over 1.74 m)	Medium (up to 1.74 m)	Small (up to 1.67 m)
1951	London	Reg Park	Reg Park		Juan Ferrero	Monotosh Roy
1952	London	Mohamed Nasr	Mohamed Nasr		Mervyn Cotter	Mark Lewis	Juan Ferrero	Corrie Pretorius	Juan Ferrero	Manohar Aich
		Mr. Universe (overall winner)	Tall (over 1.74 m)		Medium (up to 1.74 m)	Small (up to 1.67 m)	Mr. Universe-Pro (overall winner)	Tall (over 1.73 m)	Small (up to 1.73 m)
1953	London	Bill Pearl	Bill Pearl		Eric Eastham	Jim Glowicki	Arnold Dyson	Arnold Dyson	John Isaacs
1954	London	Enrico Thomas	Jannie Graaf		Enrico Thomas	John Leonard	Jim Park	Jim Park	James Saunders
1955	London	Mickey Hargitay	Mickey Hargitay		John Penman	Paul An	Leo Robert	Clarence Ross	Leo Robert
1956	London	Ray Schaeffer	Ray Schaeffer		Paul Wynter	Gerald Roach	Jack Delinger	Bill Pearl	Jack Delinger
1957	London	John Lees	John Lees		Ron Lacy	Paul An	Arthur Robin	Reg Lewis	Arthur Robin
1958	London	Earl Clark	Earl Maynard		Paul Wynter	Earl Clark	Reg Park	Reg Park	John Isaacs
1959	London	Len Sell	Earl Maynard		John Hewlett	Len Sell	Bruce Randall	Bruce Randall	Paul Wynter
1960	London	Henry Downs	Henry Downs		John Hewlett	Red lerille	Paul Wynter	Jannie Graaf	Paul Wynter
1961	London	Ray Routledge	Ray Routledge		John Hewlett	Pierre Vandensteen	Bill Pearl	Bill Pearl	Len Sell
1962	London	Joe Abbenda	Joe Abbenda		John Hewlett	Clancy Ang	Len Sell	Ray Routledge	Len Sell
1963	London	Tom Sansome	Tom Sansome		Rogelio Montenegro	Pierre Vandensteen	Joe Abbenda	Joe Abbenda	Yves Permal
1964	London	John Hewlett	Vern Weaver		John Hewlett	Eddie Silva	Earl Maynard	Earl Maynard	Leopold Merc
1965	London	Elmo Santiago	Paul Nash		Fani Dutoit	Elmo Santiago	Reg Park	Reg Park	Paul Wynter
1966	London	Chester Yorton	Chester Yorton		William Bezalel	John Lemon	Paul Wynter	George Paine	Paul Wynter
1967	London	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Arnold Schwarzenegger		Albert Beckles	John Lemon	Bill Pearl	Bill Pearl	Charles Sintat
1968	London	Dennis Tinerino	Dennis Tinerino		Roy Perrott	Wilfred Sylvester	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Arnold Schwarzenegger	John Lemon
1969	London	Boyer Coe	Jim Haislop		Boyer Coe	Franco Columbu	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Arnold Schwarzenegger	John Lemon
1970	London	Frank Zane	Frank Richard		Frank Zane	Chris Dickerson	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Boyer Coe
1971	London	Ken Waller	Ken Waller		Albert Beckles	Chris Dickerson	Bill Pearl	Bill Pearl	Frank Zane
1972	London	Elias Petsas	Paul Grant		Lars Lunde	Elias Petsas	Frank Zane	Dennis Tinerino	Frank Zane
1973	London	Chris Dickerson	Paul Grant		Roy Duval	Chris Dickerson	Boyer Coe	Dennis Tinerino	Boyer Coe
1974	London	Roy Duval	Chen Wint		Roy Duval	Ian Lawrence	Chris Dickerson	Helmut Riedmeier	Chris Dickerson
1975	London	Ian Lawrence	Steve Michalik		Kozo Sudo	Ian Lawrence	Boyer Coe	Chester Yorton	Boyer Coe
1976	London	Shigeru Sugita	Ben Herder		Kozo Sudo	Shigeru Sugita	Serge Nubret	Serge Nubret	Tony Emmott
1977	London	Bertil Fox	Jim Morris		Bertil Fox	Terry Phillips	Tony Emmott	Abolition of size classes
1978	London	Dave Johns	Bill Richardson		Dave Johns	Salvador Ruiz	Bertil Fox
1979	London	Ahmet Enunlu	Bill Richardson		Ahmet Enunlu	Steve Shabani	Bertil Fox
1980	London	Bill Richardson	Bill Richardson		Eddie Miller	Graham Brogden	Tony Pearson
1981	London	John Brown	John Brown		Filippo Massaroni	Terry Phillips	Robby Robinson
1982	London	John Brown	John Brown		John Terilli	Terry Phillips	Edward Kawak
1983	London	Jeff King	Jeff King		Vince Brown	Terry Phillips	Edward Kawak
1984	London	Brian Buchanan	Brian Buchanan		Mike Quinn	Tim Belknap	Edward Kawak
1985	London	Tim Belknap	Ronald Matz		Eugene Laviscount	Tim Belknap	Edward Kawak
1986	London	Charles Clairmonte	Charles Clairmonte		Eugene Laviscount	Sammy Ioannidis	Lance Dreher
1987	London	Basil Frances	Basil Frances		Steven Strunk	Jerry Scalesse	Olaf Annus
1988	London	Victor Terra	Linkie Wilson		Casey Kucharyk	Victor Terra	Charles Clairmonte
1989	London	Matt Dufresne	Gary Lewer		Casey Kucharyk	Matt Dufresne	Charles Clairmonte
1990	Harrogate	Peter Reid	Shaun Davis		Peter Reid	Robert Wall	Charles Clairmonte
		Mr. Universe (overall winner)	Tall (over 1.82 m)	Medium (up to 1.82 m)	Medium (up to 1.74 m)	Small (up to 1.67 m)	Mr. Universe-Pro (overall winner)
1991	London	Reiner Gorbracht	Joe DeAngelis	Tony Francis	Terry Fisher	Reiner Gorbracht	Victor Terra
1992	London	Mustafa Mohammad	Mick Souza	Mustafa Mohammad	Stefano Ciaraldi	Edmundo Lancia	Peter Reid
1993	Birmingham	Dennis Francis	Kevin O'Grady	Dennis Francis	Antonio Valente	Colin Wright	Edward Kawak
1994	Birmingham	Nick van Beeck	Lutz Wilke	Ted Lopes	Nick van Beeck	Reimund Tosolini	John Terilli
1995	Birmingham	Grant Clemesha	Grant Clemesha	Dennis James	Shane Stratton	Michael King	Brian Buchanan
1996	Birmingham	Frederico Focherini	Frederico Focherini	Serge Dessel	Billy Jones	Jason Corrick	Shaun Davis
1997	Birmingham	Grant Thomas	Gary Lister	Dirk Karrengarn	Grant Thomas	Frank Vassil	Eddi Ellwood
1998	Birmingham	Gary Lister	Gary Lister	Simon Cohen	Steve Creighton	Andrew Raynes	Eddi Ellwood
1999	Southport	Franco Male	Giovani Thompson	Simon Cohen	Franco Male	Andrew Raynes	Eddi Ellwood
2000	Southport	Sergei Ogorodnikov	Sergei Ogorodnikov	Jose Manuel Acosta	Henk Jan Heinen	Alison Maria	Eddi Ellwood
2001	Newcastle	Steffen Müller	Ricky Ramazzina	Steffen Müller	Edson Prado	Kamal Abdul Salam El Gargni	Eddi Ellwood
2002	Newcastle	Costantino Caleazzo	Costantino Caleazzo	Sergei Dukhota	Edson Prado	Dennis Giusto	Gary Lister
2003	Birmingham	Hassan Al Saka	Andre Van Der Mescht	Geoff Hargreaves	Hassan Al Saka	Luiz De Jesus	Gary Lister
2004	Birmingham	Steve Sinton	Gregor Koman	Giuseppe Cozzi	Steve Sinton	Charles Mario	Hassan Al Saka
2005	Southport	Charles Mario	Hedwig Parden	Yan Salaks	Khalid Almohsinawi	Charles Mario	Sergei Ogorodnikov
2006	Southport	Tomáš Bureš	Alexei Netesanov	Tomáš Bureš	Neset Icli	Paul Sutton	Steve Sinton
2007	Southport	Orazio Salvatori	Alessandro Grassi	Tomáš Bureš	Orazio Salvatori	Marilandio Pouchet	Orazio Salvatori
2008	Southport	Lionel Beyeke	Andre Santos	Lionel Beyeke	Petr Vanis	Marilandio Ponchet	Alessandro Savi
2009	Southport	Martin Kasal	David Titterton	Martin Kasal	Zoltan Toth	Marilandio Ponchet	Alexey Netesanov
2010	Southport	Miha Zupan	David Titterton	Miha Zupan	Shane Copley	Christian Lacoche	Charles Mario
2011	Southport	Paulo Lima Santos	Jiri Borkovec	David Guest	Tony Mount	Paulo Lima Santos	Abolition of the professional category
2012	Southport	Andy Polhill	Petar Klančir	Slavoj Bednář	Andy Polhill	Tommy Staunton
2013	Southport	Lee Priest	Stuart Garrington	Slavoj Bednář	Rodrigo Atis	Lee Priest

Female classes

year	Miss Physique
1966	Elizabeth Lamb
1967	Kathleen Winstanley
1968	Silvia Hibbert
1969	Jean Galston
1970	Christine Zane
1971	Linda Thomas
1972	Christine Charles
1973	Jean Galston
1974	Linda Cheesman
1975	Linda Cheesman
1976	Cindy Breakspear
1977	Bridget Gibbons
1978	Sandra Kong
1979	Karen Griffiths
1980	Erika Mes
1981	Jocelyn Pigeonneau
1982	Jocelyn Pigeonneau
1983	Mary Scott
1984	Mary Scott
1985	Jocelyn Pigeonneau			Miss Figure
1986	Monika Steiner			Heidi Thomas
1987	Connie McClosky			Sonia Walker
1988	Lisa Campbell			Sarah Staunton
1989	Tatjana Scholl			Tracey Lemon
1990	Monika Debatin			Browny OBrien
	Miss Physique (overall winner)	Large	Small	Miss Figure (overall winner)	Large	Small
1991	Ute Geisel	Beverly Hahn	Ute Geisel	Helen Maderson	Helen Maderson	Sylvia Zanet
1992	Bernadette Price	Bernadette Price	Lynda Mason	Anita Lawrence	Saryn Muldrow	Anita Lawrence
1993	Deborah Compton	Millie	Deborah Compton	Susana Perez	Tania Mittroni	Susana Perez
1994	Andrea Izard	Kathy Butler-Corish	Kathy Butler-Corish	Susana Perez	Susanna Palma	Susana Perez
1995	Kathy Butler-Corish	Renate Neubauer	Kathy Butler-Corish	Susana Perez	Tania Mittroni	Susana Perez
1996	Billie Kaine	Siobhan O'Neill	Billie Kaine	Pina Theodoridis	Susanna Palma	Pina Theodoridis
1997	Patricia Veldmann	Ingrid Distler	Patricia Veldmann	Claudia Mühlhaus	Claudia Mühlhaus	Brigitte Crepieux
1998	Julia Abel	Abolition of size classes		Pina Theodoridis	Lynn Perrott	Pina Theodoridis
1999	Taylor Young			Giovanna Rosa	Giovanna Rosa	Lisa Masson
2000	Olga Tikhonova			Giovanna Rosa	Giovanna Rosa	Loretta McMillan
2001	Anja Timmer			Giovanna Rosa	Giovanna Rosa	Terri Roberts
2002	Claudia Bianchi			Giovanna Rosa	Giovanna Rosa	Tatiana Kovalenko
2003	Olga Tikhonova			Cherie Loomes	Cherie Loomes	Flávia Crisostomo
2004	Sandra Waterschoot			Lorena Bucci	Patricia Mello	Lorena Bucci
2005	Desiree dump			Andrea Carvalho	Victoria Zabourdiaeva	Andrea Carvalho
2006	Olga Tikhonova			Silvia Finocchi Ferreira	Malika Zitouni	Silvia Finocchi Ferreira
2007	Alina Popa			Andrea Carvalho	Malika Zitouni	Andrea Carvalho
2008	Vivian Hijlkema			Maria Stukova	Maria Stukova	Rachael Grice
2009	Larissa Cunha			Dora Rodrigues	Anne Marie Lasserre	Dora Rodrigues
2010	Valentyna Yefyemchuk			Flora Conte	Lidia Miralpeix	Flora Conte
2011				Maria Kuzmina	Maria Kuzmina	Jodie Howard
2012				Maria Kuzmina	Maria Kuzmina	Linda Gartside
2013				Flora Conte	Carol Bittencourt	Flora Conte

Junior classes

Between 1990 and 1999 there was no junior competition at NABBA-Mr. Universe instead.

year	Junior of the Universe
1988	Ian Harrison
1989	Michael Melksham
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000	Stuart Craig Core
2001	David Dahan
2002	Eduardo Correa
2003	Denis Nikiforov
2004	James Flex Lewis
2005	Marvin Nagelbloem
2006	Vitaly Gerasimov
2007	Daren Borg
2008	Jakub Subrt
2009	Bongani Myaka
2010	Pero Tomas
2011	Emmanuel Knabben dos Martyres
2012	Rodrigo Da Silva Bizerril
2013	Kagan Orton

Senior classes

year	Master of the Universe Over 40
1991	Graeme Lancefield
1992	Roy Duval
1993	Bernard Bryan
1994	John Lemon
1995	John Lemon
1996	Walter Engelskircher
1997	John Lemon
1998	John Lemon
1999	Peter Andreas
2000	Carl Rung
2001	Terry Fisher
year	Master of the Universe Over 40	Master of the Universe over 50
2002	Rob Van Der Dussen	Ian Lawrence
2003	Joao Bispo De Andrade	Peter Andreas
2004	Brian Peters	John Lemon
2005	Joao Bispo De Andrade	Dimitri Dokour
2006	Jan De Weerd	Bernie Cooper
2007	Nortom James Murayama	Graham Park
2008	Nortom James Murayama	Walter Van Elderen
2009	Nortom James Murayama	Aivars Visockis
2010	Jason Corrick	Hugh Ross
2011	Nortom James Murayama	Dave Steele
2012	Gary Lister	Nigel Cox
2013	Paul Sutton	Joao Bispo

See also

• Mr. Universe
• IFBB-Mr. Universe

Web links

• NABBA Universe Hall of Fame
• NABBA international