Sports, sporting events and sporting fans form an unrivaled trio when it comes to different set of people coming together for a common liking. It is this second to none passion for a particular entity which makes it difficult for even one of these entities to move on from both joyous and saddening events.
Perhaps it is this same feeling which hasn’t let avid followers of bodybuilding move on from 1980 Mr. Olympia competition. Unequivocally the most decorated competition in this particular field, its one particular season held over four decades ago continues to be a topic of debate even for fans who were born much later than 1980.
One of the many seasons of Mr. Olympia, the one which occurred in 1980 is perhaps the most controversial seasons till date. A primary reason behind the same is not only the participation but also a title victory for legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Schwarzenegger, who was 33 at the time, hadn’t competed in the competition for four years in a row. Having said that, a comparatively last-minute decision to come out of retirement had seen him gardening an immense amount of condemnation leading to loud boos from the crowd, opponents stepping off the stage, broadcaster pulling out from subsequent seasons, rules of the sport getting changed and the season being remembered for decades for all the wrong reasons.
Notwithstanding all of this, Schwarzenegger went on to register a title victory for the seventh time (most by any bodybuilder at the time) in his career.
Despite accusations of him thumping others more because of his reputation, smart posing and stage presence than actual physicality, Schwarzenegger ended up defeating the likes of Chris Dickerson and Frank Zane. Having won the competition for three times in a row before 1980, Zane couldn’t even qualify for the Top Two positions.
1980 Mr Olympia Standings
| Place | Name | Position | Posedown | Total |
| 1 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | 295 | 5 | 300 |
| 2 | Chris Dickerson | 290 | 2 | 292 |
| 3 | Frank Zane | 291 | 0 | 291 |
| 4 | Boyer Coe | 280 | 0 | 280 |
| 5 | Mike Mentzer | 280 | 0 | 280 |
| 6 | Roger Walker | 277 | 0 | 277 |
| 7 | Roy Callender | 277 | 277 | |
| 8 | Dennis Tinerino | 276 | 276 | |
| 9 | Tom Platz | 271 | 271 | |
| 10 | Danny Padilla | 260 | 260 | |
| 11 | Ed Corney | 256 | 256 | |
| 12 | Tony Emmott | 254 | 254 | |
| 13 | Roy Duval | 252 | 252 | |
| 14 | Casey Viator | 252 | 252 | |
| 15 | Samir Bannout | 251 | 251 | |
| 16 | Ken Waller | 249 | 249 |
