Mike Mentzer
| Mike Mentzer | |
|---|---|
| — Bodybuilder — | |
Historical photo of Mike Mentzer
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| Personal info | |
| Born |
November 15, 1951 Ephrata, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 10, 2001 (aged 49) Rolling Hills, California, U.S. |
| Professional career | |
| Pro-debut | IFBB Southern Pro Cup, 1979 |
| Best win | IFBB Mr. Olympia heavyweight champion, 1979 |
| Predecessor | Casey Viator (bodybuilder)Casey Viator |
| Successor | Dorian Yates |
| Active | Since 1980 |
Mike Mentzer (November 15, 1951 – June 10, 2001) was an American IFBB professional bodybuilder, businessman, philosopher and author.
Mike Mentzer was born on November 15, 1951 in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and grew up there. In grammar school and Ephrata High School, he received "all A's, though mostly A's and B's." He credits his 12th grade teacher, Elizabeth Schaub, for his love "of language, thought, and writing." In 1975, he started attending the University of Maryland as a pre-med student where his hours away from the gym were spent in the study of "genetics, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry." After three years he left the university. He said his ultimate goal during that period was to become a psychiatrist.
Mentzer started bodybuilding when he was 12 years of age at a body weight of 95 lb (43 kg) after seeing the men on the covers of several muscle magazines. His father had bought him set of weights and an instruction booklet. The booklet suggested that he train no more than three days a week, so Mike did just that. By age 15, his body weight had reached 165 lb (75 kg), at which point Mike could bench press 370 lb (170 kg). Mike's goal at the time was to look like his bodybuilding hero, Bill Pearl. After graduating high school, Mentzer served four years in the United States Air Force. It was during this time he started working out over three hours a day, six days a week.
Mentzer started competing in local physique contests when he was 18 years old and attended his first contest in 1969. In 1971, Mentzer entered and won the Mr. Lancaster contest. In 1971 he suffered his worst defeat, placing 10th at the AAU Mr. America, which was won by Casey Viator. Mentzer considered his presence at this contest important later on, as here that he met Viator who gave Mentzer the contact information for his trainer Arthur Jones. Due to a severe shoulder injury, he was forced to quit training from 1971 to 1974. In early 1975, however, he resumed training and returned to competition in 1975 at the Mr. America contest, placing third behind Robby Robinson and Roger Callard. Mentzer went on to win that competition the next year, in 1976. He won the 1977 North America championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and competed a week later at the 1977 Mr. Universe in Nîmes, France, placing second to Kal Szkalak. In 1978, Mentzer won the Mr. Universe in Acapulco, Mexico with the first and only perfect 300 score. He became a professional bodybuilder after that 1978 Universe win.
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