Everyone argues about Arnold winning the 1980 Olympia. Yes, but what about the judging? We all underestimated Arnold when he arrived in Los Angeles. He was much smarter than he seemed. His former house mate, Paul Graham, was the promoter of the contest. Arnold was living with Paul and Ken Moran somewhere near Vince's Gym in Studio City. In Arnold's autobiography, Total Recall, he twice mentions driving cars to a dock in LA that were being shipped to Australia. Paul Graham's name wasn't mentioned because he was arrested in early 1969 in Honolulu by the FBI for sending stolen cars out of the USA. We wonder how Arnold's house mates were overlooked by the FBI. Paul was convicted and spent a couple years in a federal prison. He took the rap by himself. So Arnold owes Paul big time. Ken Moran arrived in Vancouver, BC, driving a red 350 Shelby Mustang. He boasted that he lived with Arnold. We asked him why he wasn't still there. He explained that he was in an accident and didn't have insurance so had to leave the country. How then did he get that almost new Mustang? He eventually took that car to New Zealand where it was worth a small fortune...enough to buy a house with in those days.
In 1980 our gym sold 200 tickets to that contest at $35 each. About a month out from the contest Paul told me Arnold was entering. He was pleased I kept coming to his house in Bondi Junction to collect more tickets. Naturally I could sell more if Arnold was competing. Paul and I had a bitter history in Australia about judging contests we were in. There was a trophy for the best support gym but he didn't present it at the contest. No way he was going to give me any recognition. There was a meeting shortly after the Olympia at our gym where bodybuilders decided to form a new organization. We decided to send the trophy our gym won to Chris Dickerson. The caption read, "Chris Dickerson, Mr Olympia 1980, from the bodybuilders of Australia. John Doyle took it over and presented it to Chris. Chris never said anything about getting that trophy.
So, there was Arnold in 1980 needing more publicity to help him get roles in movies. He wasn't happy in 1979 when he interviewed Frank Zane. He asked Frank if winning the Olympia for the third time was the biggest thrill of his life. Frank replied that beating Arnold in 1968 for Mr Universe in Miami was a bigger thrill! The look on Arnold's face was classic. Not often someone gets the better of Arnold like that.
About the judging. Paul had picked Brendan Ryan and Peter McCarthy as Australian judges. Peter had won Mr Australia and several other big titles in the area. Brendan won a Junior Mr Australia title. He had stayed at Arnold's place in LA so was mates with Arnold. I was standing with Peter and Frank Burwash in the foyer of the Opera House before the contest. Someone came up to Peter and told him the judge's meeting had already started. Peter swore and ran off to the meeting. Someone had told him the wrong time! Because Peter had missed part of the meeting he wasn't allowed to judge so was replaced by Dr Michael Walczak. Arnold didn't enter until he knew he had the support of most of the judges. He was mates with Dan Howard but Dan didn't vote for him. Brendan did. Peter didn't. So, had Peter judged the result would have been closer.
Ben Weider wanted to get bodybuilding into the Olympic Games. So he devised a judging system similar to other sports such as diving and gymnastics. There were 3 rounds then a pose down. Standing relaxed, standard poses, then routine. Finally comparisons were made standing and standard poses. At the finals a pose down was held that was scored. How on earth that could be judged was a mystery. Critics have concluded it was included so that errant judges had a chance to correct their decisions. If any judge deviated too much from the other judges he was considered unsatisfactory and wasn't allowed to judge again.
In the first call out Arnold wasn't included. There he was with his head down behind a grinning Mike Mentzer. That photo told the story. However, Arnold was included in subsequent call outs and he did every thing he could to bring attention to himself. He was warned a couple of times not to do things but he wasn't marked down for them. Like doing a biceps pose during the triceps pose. And doing a most muscular before leaving the stage. Frank and Chris didn't look so good beside Arnold in the comparisons. Arnold's huge arms and chest made them look like beginners.
By the way, they scored each round out of 20 points. What happened was too many judges gave 20 scores so they didn't separate the competitors. Those who did separate them had more weight in the placings. Brendan did separate them so his scores counted for more than those who gave several competitors a 20 score.
Yes, the contest was close. Mike looked the best in the photo I took that made the cover of IronMan. Boyer Coe had a flawless routine. Chris gave an artistic display that was popular with the audience. Dennis was the most conditioned bodybuilder there with the best abs and probably the widest. Roger Walker didn't look small beside Arnold. Danny Padilla wasn't compared that I remember but had the most complete physique and was huge as well. In an objective contest he would have been the winner but because he was short he wasn't even considered which is a shame. I can tell you the audience booed loud and long when the winner was announced! Eventually they did applaud Arnold but I bet that was the first time he was booed like that.
The reason this contest is still being discussed is because of the reasons I mention above. It isn't a waste of time. Just because someone wins a contest doesn't mean he was the best there.
