Rewind to 1993

Flex, August, 2009 by Joe Roark

ALPHA & OMEGA FLEXERS

Three men began and ended their IFBB pro careers in 1993. Fifteen others began in the IFBB, and 14 others ceased IFBB competition. Of these 32 men, out of a combined 99 contest appearances, only one won any contests during 1993: Flex Wheeler. His four consecutive wins in a calendar year set the record, which remains to this day.

PROS WHO BEGAN AND ENDED IFBB COMPETITION IN 1993

COMOETITOR        1ST CONTEST          FINAL CONTST    PRO RECORD

Arthur Buurman  Mr. Olympia         Grand Prix France      0/5

Vern Gauther    Pittsburg Pro       Night Of Champions     0/3

Mike Scionti    Night Of Champions  Night Of Champions     0/1

14 WHO COMPETED IN THEIR LAST PRO SHOW IN 1993

COMPETITOR              FINAL CONTEST    '93 WINS/LOSSES

Adrian Batho         San Jose Pro              0/2

Selwyn Cottrell      Grand Prix Germany        0/4

Joe Dawson           Ironman Pro               0/1

Armando Defant       Night Of Champions        0/2

Jose Guzman          Night OF Champions        0/1

Peter Hensel         French Pro                0/1

Frank Hillebrand     German PRo                0/3

Wilheli Jansinowski  German Pro                0/2

Mats Kardell         Grand Prix Finland        0/2

Ron Love             Grand Prix France         0/10

Ray McNeil           Grand Prix France         0/10

Jay Matlock          Night Of Champions        0/2

Van Walcott Smith    Chicago Pro               0/3

John Terilli         Ironman Pro               0/1

15 PROS WHO DEBUTED IN 1993

COMPETITOR             1 ST CONTEST     '93 WINS/LOSSES

Denis Adass         Grand Prix Spain           0/2

Giuseppe Ami        Grand Prix France          0/1

Hamdullah Aykutlug  Mr. Olympia                0/4

Aaron Baker         Pittsburgh Pro             0/2

Koen Balchen        Niagara Pro                0/3

Andre Charette      Mr. Olympia                0/1

Chris Duffy         Chicago Pro                0/2

Ian Harrison        Grand Prix England         0/1

Jason Marcoivci     Niagara Pro                0/4

Lee Priest          Niagara Pro                0/1

Jim Quinn           Niagara Pro                0/3

John Sherman        Pittsburgh Pro             0/9

Viggo Snoghoj       Grand Prix Finland         0/4

Tom Varga           Ironman Pro                0/3

Flex Wheeler        Ironman Pro                4/6

AMATEUR ACHIEVERS

* July 10. NPC USA in Santa Monica, California, heavyweight and overall winner: Chris Cormier, age 25

* October 16, NPC National in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. heavyweight and overall winner: Mike Francois, age 28

MUSCLE WARRIORS IN THE MAKING

In Durham, South Carolina, at the NPC Teen National Championships held in June, 19-year-old Jay Cutler won the heavyweight class, but was edged out for the overall by the light-heavy winner, 18-year-old Branch Warren.

PASSING OF THE TORCH

On March 6, Ben Weider, with the new century a handful of years away, presented Arnold Schwarzenegger, age 45, with an award for the IFBB's Greatest Bodybuilder of the 20th Century. On May 13,1950, when Arnold was only two years old, John Grimek, age 39, had been awarded the same AAU title.

THE WORLDS

The 47th rendition of the IFBB World Amateur Championships was held on November 15. Note that there was no welterweight category in 1993, nor was there an overall winner.

Bang Woon Hyuk      Bantamweight

Han Dong Ki         Lightweight

Abdullah Azman      Middleweight

Roland Cziurlok     Light heavyweight

Gunter Schlierkamp  Heavyweight

1993 PRO CALENDAR

A total of 15IFBB pro events in 1993 saw the top prizes divided among seven winners. Wheeler secured four wins in four shows (he did not compete in San Jose).

CONTEST                  WINNER

Ironman             Flex Wheeler

Arnold Classic      Flex Wheeler

San Jose Pro        Vince Taylor

French Pro          Flex Wheeler

German Pro          Flex Wheeler

Niagara Falls       Mauro Sarni

Pittsburgh Pro      Porter Cottrell

Chicago Pro         Porter Cottrell

Night Of Champions  Dorian Yates

Mr. Olympia         Kevin Levrone

Grand Prix Germany  Charles Clairmonte

Grand Prix Spain    Charles Clairmonte

Grand Prix Finland  Charles Clairmonte

Grand Prix France   Charles Clairmonte

LAST SETS

* January 16 Jon Pall Sigmarsson, age 32, died after a workout set of deadlifts with 300 kilograms

* January 25 Grace Klein, age 92, widow of legendary strongman Sigmund Klein, and daughter of strength performer and strongman trainer Professor Attila (real name: Louis Durlacher)

* January 27 Andre the Giant, most famous as a pro wrestler, age 46

* February 24 Chuck Sipes, age 51 -1959IFBB Mr. America, 1960 IFBB Mr. Universe and 1968 IFBB Mr. World

* June 1 John Terpak Sr., famous lifter and official at York Barbell Company

* July 25 Vern Weaver, age 56,1963 AAU Mr. America

* August 20 Earline Beasley, bodybuilder and writer for Female Bodybuilding magazine

* August 23 Tony Rose, age 69. writer for The Hardgainer magazine and 1941 Apollon Silver Cup and Medal winner

* October 6 Ed Jubinville, bodybuilder, muscle-control artist, equipment manufacturer and contest promoter, died following a set of lat pulldowns at age 71