Joe Weider was a former bodybuilder who had a major influence on the fitness and strength sports scene.

He was the publisher of various bodybuilding and fitness magazines (Muscle & Fitness, Flex, and many more), and a manufacturer of fitness equipment and supplements. In 1946, he founded what is now the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness) with his brother Ben Weider.

Learn more about the two largest bodybuilding federations and their importance for competitive athletes: IFBB vs. NPC – Differences and Meaning.

In 1965, he founded the Mr. Olympia, which remains the most prestigious bodybuilding competition today. The first Mr. Olympia was held in New York City and was won by Larry Scott. Until 1974, the Mr. Olympia had no weight classes, and the competition was open only to men.

Gradually, the different classes were introduced so that women could also participate.

First of all: Everything you need to know about Mr. Olympia can be found here: Mr. Olympia Website

How Do You Qualify For Mr. Olympia?

Every IFBB Pro athlete has the opportunity to win the overall title at a Pro Show to secure a place in the Mr. Olympia.

Exceptions:

• If someone has already won the Mr. Olympia once, he is qualified for subsequent competitions for life.
• The top 3 in each class (except Wheelchair) from the previous Olympia are automatically qualified for the next Mr. Olympia.

Previously, there was a point system for placings 2-5 at a pro show. Once you reached a certain number of points, you were automatically qualified. This system was abolished in 2023. Now, you only qualify for the Mr. Olympia by winning a pro show.

The current competition calendar for the coming year is published on the IFBB Pro website every December.

Spectators can purchase tickets for the following Mr. Olympia event just a few weeks after the event. Tickets are highly sought after and usually sell out within hours. However, there is also a paid PPV for those not traveling to the USA.

How Does the Mr. Olympia Work?

The Mr. Olympia weekend runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Everything you need to know can be found on the Mr. Olympia homepage under "Schedule."

Thursday:

• Weighing (for selected classes with weight limit)
• press conference
• Ceremonies
• Meet the Olympians (fans can meet all Mr. Olympia participants in one hall and take pictures)

Friday:

• Pre-judging of the selected categories (on the Expo stage)
• Finals including posing routine (on the main stage)
• Pre-Judging Men's Open Bodybuilding

Saturday:

• Pre-judging of the selected categories (on the Expo stage)
• Finals including posing routine (on the main stage)
• Finals Men's Open Bodybuilding
• Evening event (shared dinner, Mr. Olympia finale)

To keep the excitement going, Men's Open Bodybuilding is the only class that will be on stage for two days.

Sunday:

• Press conference with the winners of each class
• Photo shoots