Joe Abbenda - 1962 Mr. America

Joe Abbenda, 1962 AAU Mr. America and NABBA Mr. Universe winner, is the guest on this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast. Joe talks about how he began bodybuilding as a teenager and the early gyms he trained at in New York. Joe also tells the stories of when he started competing in bodybuilding and traveling to the national level competitions. Joe was one of the few bodybuilders who was able to win both the AAU Mr. America and the NABBA Mr. Universe competitions in the same year. At the end of the podcast, host John Hansen reads the 1983 Mr. Olympia report written by Rick Wayne for the February, 1984 issue of Muscle & Fitness Magazine. Time Stamps: 1:30 - Mr. America and Mr. Universe winners in the same year 2:39 - The Rick Wayne Interviews 5:10 - Joint-Friendly Fitness 7:20 - Beginning of Joe Abbenda Interview 8:00 - When Joe started training 11:39 - The friendships in bodybuilding 14:40 - Working out in the gyms 17:00 - Reg Park's 5x5 workout 19:07 - Earning the athletic points for the Mr. America contest 24:00 - The Mr. America anniversary 25:00 - Joe's early competitions 28:06 - Competing in the Mr. America 31:50 - Bill Pearl's passing 35:00 - Winning the AAU Mr. America and the NABBA Mr. Universe in the same year 37:00 - A young Harold Poole 38:15 - Competing in the NABBA Mr. Universe 43:00 - Traveling to Europe 44:00 - Joe's career after bodybuilding 47:00 - Guest posing with Reg Park 56:00 - When Joe stopped competing 1:13:10 - Host John Hansen reads the 1983 Mr. Olympia report written by Rick Wayne from the February, 1984 issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Links: John's Online Training Become a Patreon Sponsor Joint-Friendly Fitness book Bodybuilding Legends website John Hansen Fitness John's YouTube Channel