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1998 RC
The most anticipated Olympia in
history exceeded expectations.
Staged in New York City, where it
all began, this was the first Mr. O
since 1977 to have no defending or
previous champ in the lineup (that
hasn’t occurred since), and after
eight years of Haney, then six of
Yates, bodybuilding was starved
for a new king. The four legends
who had finished second to Yates—
Flex Wheeler, Nasser El Sonbaty,
Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray—filled
out the best-ever top five. But it
was another soon-to-be legend
who stunned even himself by
edging past Wheeler. Though he
had never previously made an
O top five, Ronnie Coleman, in the
shape of his life, rocketed to first.
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1972 6 AS SO FZ FC
This contest, staged in Essen,
Germany, played like a
Shakespearean drama. You had
the current king, Arnold, battling
the returning, vanquished king,
Sergio. Also on the battlefield
were two future potentates,
Columbu and Zane, and a prince
from another dominion, Serge
Nubret. Arnold kept the throne,
but many contended—and
many still contend—that Sergio
bested him that day in the
most memorable bodybuilding
contest of all time.
Sergio and
Arnold battle in
1972, and fans
still debate the
result.
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