Mike Mentzer passed away on June 10, 2001. To remember this bodybuilding legend on the 20th Anniversary of his passing, author John Little joins the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast to discuss the life of Mike Mentzer. In Part One of the interview, John talks about the competitive career of Mentzer from 1970-1980 including the 1971 AAU Mr. America contest, the 1976 IFBB Mr. America, the 1978 IFBB Mr. Universe and the 1979 and 1980 Mr. Olympia competitions. At the end of the podcast, host John Hansen reads an article about the 1976 IFBB Mr. America contest report written by Jack Neary for the January, 1977 issue of Muscle Builder Magazine.

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Beginning of the Podcast

4:00 - Audio Book of Bodybuilding Heroes and Legends, Vol. One is now available (link below)

5:05 - Emails from last week's episode

16:30 - John Little Interview, Part One

28:10 - Mike Mentzer's upbringing and character

34:00 - Mike's great genetics for bodybuilding

36:50 - How Mike got started in bodybuilding

47:30 - When Mike Mentzer went to see the 1965 Mr. Olympia contest

50:40 - Mike's first competitions as a teen

57:40 - When Mike changed the way he trained

1:05:19 - Why Mike choose to compete in the IFBB over the AAU

1:11:00 - The most satisfying contest Mike ever won

1:19:37 - When Kal Szkalak beat Mike at the 1977 Mr. Universe

1:23:40 - Mike wins the 1977 IFBB Mr. North America

1:26:09 - Why winning the 1978 Mr. Universe was the most important win of his career

1:27:40 - Mike Mentzer vs. Arnold

1:34:42 - John Hansen reads the 1976 IFBB American Bodybuilding Championships report by Jack Neary from the January, 1977 issue of Muscle Builder Magazine

Audio Book for Bodybuilding Heroes and Legends, Vol One

John Hansen Fitness website

Bodybuilding Legends website

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