The Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest was created by fitness publisher and promoter Joe Weider.
Weider established the competition to give top amateur Mr. Universe winners a professional stage where they could continue competing and earn prize money. The first Mr. Olympia took place on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. Larry Scott won the inaugural title and successfully defended it in 1966.
The contest was designed as an addition to existing bodybuilding championships rather than a replacement for them. Early competitors included Harold Poole and Earl Maynard, and the event soon became the sport’s most prestigious professional title. Joe Weider’s influence extended beyond competition promotion: through bodybuilding magazines, training systems, and athlete promotion, he helped bring the sport to a mass audience.
Mr. Olympia is not the same as the Mr. Universe contest, although the first Olympia was created partly to provide Mr. Universe winners with another opportunity. Other famous champions include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, and Dorian Yates. The equivalent women’s title is Ms. Olympia.