TEEN TITANS

By GREG MERRITT SENIoR WRITERphoToS couRTESy of WEIdER hEAlTh ANd fITNESS

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ThERE ARE SEvERAl WAyS To do A lIST lIkE ThIS. one is to attempt (often with scant photographic and video records) to discern who was built the best. With that methodology, paul deMayo and Eddie Robinson would’ve made the top 15. Another is to factor in which teen champs went on to the greatest success, and if this is a primary criterion, we would need to make room here for Jay cutler and chris cormier. you can also weigh what leg-ends did in competition shortly after turning 20, presuming they possessed similar attributes when still 19, and thus names like Steve Reeves, Berry deMey and lou ferrigno would be here.

Those three factors were all considered in the rankings, but our principal focus was on who accom-plished the most onstage before their 20th birthday. That’s the only standard that is fair for body-builders of all eras and, as you will see, teens had more success in earlier decades. Nine of our 15 turned 20 before 1980. only three did so in the ’90s and none in this decade; the most recent, Branch Warren, left his teens in ’95. And so, with this compendium, we journey through the often-murky past to discover how amazingly accomplished some bodybuilders were while still considered “kids.” let this honor roll educate, spark or settle debates and inspire bodybuilders of all ages.

South carolina’s haney received a weight set as a christmas present in 1971 at age 12. “I was hooked for life,” he says. he flexed at 16 in the Mr. South carolina and racked up his first wins, Mr. palmetto and Mr. South, when 18. These were open contests in his home state against much older competitors. At 19, he traveled to detroit as one of 78 teens competing for the 1979 Teen Mr. Amer-ica (future pro phil Williams was in the lineup). Already noted for his v taper, 212-pound, 5'11" haney won the tall class and overall. Three years later, at 23, he completed a stunning sweep of the Jr. Nationals, Nation-als and World championships, and in 1984 he chalked up his first of a record-setting eight consecutive Mr. olympia wins.

Growing up in Southern california and looking to beef up for high-school football, Ray joined a gym before his junior year, and the already-famous body-builder John Brown began coaching him on his very first day. As a 17-year-old middleweight, Ray won the teen division of the california pro cup. At 18, he took the Teen los Angeles (he also placed third in the open middleweight class) and Teen california, and was runner-up among middleweights at the ’84 Teen Nationals. The next year, already noted for his pleas-ing lines, but now with solidity to match, Ray won the

light-heavy and overall titles at the Teen Nation-als, and, after turning 20, the Jr. World champion-ships in Australia. he didn’t stay amateur for long. After winning the overall at the ’87 Nation-als as a 22-year-old light heavy, Ray launched a remarkably consistent pro career, placing in the top five at the Mr. olympia 12 straight years before retiring in 2001.

like Ray, he caught the iron bug when training for foot-ball, and the 5'6" Warren was victorious at the Teen Texas at only 16 and the AAu Teen Mr. America when 17. Then, at 18 and 184 pounds, after toiling in Arlington’s Metroflex Gym (where Ronnie coleman sweated), he nabbed the light-heavy and overall titles at the ’93 Npc Teen Nationals. If you’re wondering why Jay cutler isn’t on our list, the current Mr. o won the heavy class that year before the more polished Warren beat him for the overall (capriese Murray, Rodney St. cloud and Jeff Willett also competed). Age is crucial in teen body-building, where even a couple months can make a sig-nificant difference in mass and muscle maturity, and Warren established himself as his country’s supreme teen, beating near-20-year-olds like cutler, less than four months after his 18th birthday. With no more “youth” titles to capture, he focused on college and didn’t compete again until he was 24. Now one of the world’s top pros, Warren earned his pro card when he won the heavy class at the 2001 Nationals at 26.

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England’s harrison was 16 when he won the under-17 division of the 1985 Mr. york-shire. Noted for his strength and quads at a young age, he claims to have squatted 620 for reps at 17. In 1988, the 19-year-old was victorious at both the Jr. Britain and Jr. uni-

verse. The following year, at 20 and sport-ing an imposing X-frame, 6' harrison became the youngest man ever to win the British champion-ships, a record that still stands. Subse-quently, he waited four years before com-peting in the IfBB pro ranks. When harrison last posed in a contest in 1998 he was 29.

he began working out at 14, but in his native Egypt, there were few if any opportunities for Makkawy to compete in teen contests. So, when only 17 in 1969, he entered and won the Mr. Egypt and Mr. Mediterranean (the first of four times he won the latter contest). In Iraq in 1972, the 5'4" Makkawy finished third out of nine competitors in the short class of the Mr. uni-verse. he was just 19. celebrated for his pro-portions and posing, The Magic Egyptian went on to win the 1975 Mr. International and, despite weighing only around 160, conjured up a spellbinding pro career in the ’80s, placing second in the Mr. olympia twice, both times to fellow former teen phenoms: Samir Bannout and lee haney.

When the lion of lebanon was merely a 110-pound cub, he was inspired by his brother-in-law’s success as a weight-lifter. Six months after his first workout, the 15-year-old won his class in the lebanese Junior Weightlifting championships. In 1973, he spotted Arnold Schwarzenegger on the cover of MuSclE BuIldER/poWER and purchased the portal to his destiny. unable to speak English, the 17-year-old studied the photos for weeks, seeking out the smallest clues. Then he trekked to the magazine distributor’s warehouse and con-vinced them to give him back issues of Weider magazines, and he taught himself English in order to read the articles. At 18 and already displaying his now-celebrated symmetry, Bannout won the Mr. Beirut, but lost the Mr. lebanon by one point. one month later, he achieved the honor of representing leb-anon at the Mr. universe by defeating the man who previously edged him out. In the 1974 Mr. u, 18-year-old Bannout fin-ished in a three way tie for seventh (out of 19) in the medium class. The press dubbed him “Teenage Mr. universe.” he won the Mr. lebanon at 19, but his country’s team boycotted the 1975 Mr. u, held in South Africa. After immigrating to Amer-ica, Samir Bannout earned pro status in 1979 and became Mr. olympia in ’83 at 27.

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BETANcouRTJorge

presenting classical lines and proportions reminiscent of Bob paris, this 5'5" floridian dominated teen contests, first as a light-weight, then as a middleweight. The cuban émigré was victorious at the 1989 Teen uSA at only 17 and the 1990 Teen Nationals when only 18 (future pros Aaron Maddron, Mike Morris and derik farnsworth were in the latter show). “chic” then moved up to open events and won the prestigious 1991 Southern States as a 165-pound, 19-year-old (future pro Michael francois was the third-place heavy). he thus generated much buzz going into that year’s Nationals, where, not at his best, he finished 13th among middles. however, his reputation as one of history’s greatest teen bodybuilders was already established, as his is argu-ably the physique on this list that appeared most “finished” before his 20th birthday. Touted as a sure-fire pro, the ever-aesthetic Betancourt instead vanished from the stage for 12 years. In recent years, his best placing was a mid-dleweight fourth at the 2004 uSA.

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Growing up in south-western louisiana, 14-year-old coe was the first person to enroll in his town’s gym. The following year, he entered a contest, and, at 17, three days before graduating from high school, he was triumphant at the 1964 Mr. New orleans. It was the first of five open contests coe won as a teen. later in ’64, he was named Mr. hercules of the Southwest, and the following year he racked up vic-tories at the Mr. louisiana, Mr. Texas and Mr. South-west uSA. Already known for his sharply peaked biceps, in 1966 coe became Teen Mr. America, and just two weeks after his 20th birthday he lost the Mr. uSA by the slimmest of margins (a half-point) to fellow 20-year-old dennis Tinerino, who also edges past him on this list. By nabbing the 1969 Mr. America at 22, coe joins 10 other men on our compendium who claimed their coun-try’s ultimate amateur title at 22 or less. Boyer coe’s competitive career spans 33 years from 1962 to 1995, amateur to pro, teen shows to masters.

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Taking up weight training at 15 to beef up for wrestling, philadelphia’s Teufel found his calling and soon focused entirely on bodybuilding. When 18 in 1975, he won the short class and “most muscular” at the Teen uSA (future pros dean Tornabene and Ron Magnum also competed) and the overall at the Teen

America. The MuSclE BuIldER/poWER report for the latter contest praised his legs and abdominals (he won the “best” awards for both bodyparts) and stated he “could send a chill through senior Mr. America contestants.” The next year, at 19, the 5'6" blonde did just that when he finished a close second in the short class of the 1976 Mr. America (Tom platz was third) and won “best abdominals.” That same year, he was victorious at the Mr. colonial America and Mr. Eastern Seaboard, bringing to a close one of the best teenage records ever. With abs like a tray of dinner rolls and a pec cleft deep enough for yodeling, the late Ron Teufel won the short class of the Mr. America the following three years, as well as the overall of the ’78 Mr. uSA at 21.

hailing from upstate New york, diMora took up bodybuilding as a young teen when his family moved to florida. At 17 in 1984 he won the Teen St. petersburg, Teen North florida, Novice North florida, Teen West coast florida and his class at the Teen Nation-als (losing the overall to 19-year-old franco Santoriello). The fol-lowing year, he won the Teen florida and middleweight class of the Teen Nationals (losing the overall to 19-year-old Shawn Ray). Then, in 1986, at age 19, the 5'3" densely developed middleweight completed one of the most shocking sweeps in body-building history, winning not just the Teen Nationals overall, but also his class at both the Jr. Nationals (eight future pros were in that contest, including Ray) and the Nationals (ahead of Santoriello). Twenty-two years later, his record for earning a pro card at the Npc Nationals as a teenager still stands. At 20 the fol-lowing year, he placed second in his pro debut. one of the most indomitable ama-teurs of all time, diMora competed only four times in the pros and retired from the stage at 25.

At 14 and 140 pounds, Tinerino first rattled the floor of his family’s Brooklyn apartment with a barbell. he joined the local yMcA in ’61 at 16, by then weighing 175, and when 17 he began working out with a former Mr. Teen America who had recently won the NABBA pro universe: Joe Abbenda. over time, the teen was able to keep up with the living legend, and they drove each other to see who gave in first. In one torturous workout they did 34 sets of 250-pound barbell rows. At 18, in 1964, Tinerino was named Jr. Mr. Met-ropolitan, Mr. Atlantic coast, Mr. East coast and he placed third in the Teen Mr. America (just ahead of Mike katz). continuing to fill out his 6' frame,

the kinetic New yorker col-lected even more trophies at 19 in ’65, when he won the Jr. Mr. uSA, Mr. North America and Teenage Mr. America; placed sec-ond in the Mr. uSA; third in the Jr. Mr. America (just behind Sergio oliva); and ninth out of 29 in the Mr. America — whew! Tin-erino went on to win the Mr. uSA at 20, Mr. Amer-ica at 21, Mr. universe at 22 and compete in the pros until 1982.

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Raised by his bodybuilding mother and stepfather in Newcastle, Australia, priest took up weight training at 13 and set about turning himself from a clark kent to something closer to his hero: Superman. In 1986, at 13 and 14, he won the junior divisions of three local contests, competing against older teens. When priest himself was an older teen, he defeated his continent’s best adults. Starting in 1989, when only 17, lightweight priest won the overall Australian cham-pionships three successive years — an incredible feat of preeminence by a mere teenager. Interestingly, in the earliest footage, his legs and delts grab attention more than his arms, though the latter would become his strong points. In 1990, at 18, the 5'4" Blond Myth finished fourth in the lightweight class of the World championships. After journeying to the united States in 1993 with a no-longer-lightweight physique, priest was conferred a pro card and he made his professional debut while still only 20, placing ninth at the ’93 Niagara falls pro Invitational. By the following year, the audacious Aussie was a top pro.

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contest in Ironman, oscar heidenstam prophesied of the teen phenom, “the lad has the potential to be one of the greatest of all time.” The following month, the lad won the Best Built Inter-national Athlete and Best Built Athlete of Europe (25-year-old franco columbu was fourth both times), as well as the heavyweight powerlifting contest in the latter. Two months after turning 20 and weighing in at 245 with 201⁄2" arms, the Austrian oak unanimously won the 1967 Mr. universe (second to him in the tall class was 21-year-old Tinerino). In only five years, he had gone further than most men could dream, and yet Arnold Schwarze-negger’s phenomenal journey had barely begun.

one hot Sunday in July 1962, a skinny 14-year-old met Austrian bodybuilding champ kurt Marnul, and soon thereafter the eager teen began training under the adult’s tutelage at the Athletic union Graz. Around the time Marnul won the ’64 Mr. Austria and 16-year-old Schwarzenegger placed third, the still-skinny pupil told the teacher, “I’m going to be the best bodybuilder ever.” The following year, he won the Mr. Steiermark and, at 18, the 1965 Best Built Junior Athlete of Europe. Already, he was showcasing some of the size and shape that would carry bodybuilding to new heights.

In September 1966, the then 6'2", 230-pound 19-year-old finished second in the tall class of the Mr. universe, behind overall winner chester yorton. Reporting on the ph

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Growing up in southern louisiana, viator was 13 when he inherited a barbell set. When he outgrew his home gym, he first joined an olympic weightlifting center and then a bodybuilding emporium. Soon thereafter, he showed off his results, winning the junior division of the 1968 Mr. New orleans and placing third in the open contest where he also took home awards for “best arms,” “best legs” and “most muscular.” he was 16. The follow-ing year, at 17, he was sixth in the Teen Mr. America. In 1970, when he was training with fellow louisianian Boyer coe, 18-year-old viator burst into the bodybuild-ing big time. Amazingly, he placed third out of 29 in the Mr. America and won “best arms,” “best chest” and “best back.” over the following two months, he added two overall titles: Teen Mr. America and Mr. uSA.

In 1971, he triumphed at the Jr. Mr. America as a mere warm-up for the big show. Then, on June 12, 1971, in york, pennsylvania, viator easily defeated 32 others

to win the Mr. America. Not blessed with wide clavi-cles, he packed a rocky 217 pounds on his 5'8" frame and took every best bodypart award except abs. At 19, he was the youngest Mr. America winner ever. Then he disappeared. After returning in 1978, he won three pro contests in ’80 and finished third in the ’82 Mr. olympia, but, at 31, the enigmatic viator again vanished from the scene shortly thereafter and didn’t reappear until the Masters Mr. olympia 13 years later. like diMora’s, viator’s pro record feels abridged, leaving us to wonder what might have been, and yet it is difficult to imagine any bodybuilder ever accom-plishing more onstage before turning 20 than casey viator did — except for the one man ahead of him on our honor roll.

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NoW AT flEXoNlINETo read about five additional teen titans, go to flexonline.com.

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And, before graduating from high school, he was second in the 1962 Mr. America, nabbing the “most muscular” prize. one report said it would be “hard to find a flaw” in his physique and the only thing

keeping him from the title was “a slight speech impedi-ment.” Read between those lines, for no black man had won the AAu Mr. America until chris dickerson in 1970. At the 1963 Mr. America, poole again received the “most muscular” trophy, but again was “awarded” second, just as he was in the AAu Teen Mr. America.

poole then crossed over to the more egalitarian IfBB and promptly won the 1963 Mr. universe, defeating larry Scott. poole was only 19 and Mr. universe. The following year, at 20, he won the IfBB Mr. America (the first black man to hold that title in any organization), and the year after that, he was runner-up to Scott in the inaugural Mr. olympia. At 21, poole remains the young-est man to ever compete in bodybuilding’s ultimate event, and he nearly won it each of its initial three years. he made a comeback years later but, like seven others on our list, never won an IfBB pro show, and yet, we now celebrate harold poole as the greatest teenage bodybuilder of all time. flEX

In high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, when poole didn’t have a football game, track meet or wrestling match, he excelled in bodybuilding contests, winning the 1960 Jr. Mr. Indiana at 16. Thinking big, poole wanted to be the first black Mr. America and to do so as a teen. he placed 18th in 1960 Mr. A. By the following year, at only 17, he contended for the title, finishing a stunning fourth. he probably deserved better. Ironman reported of poole, “ . . . he had the most outstanding physique from the standpoint of shape, development, definition and general overall proportion.” Sounds like the winner. he did win four open contests at 17: Mr. Indiana, Mr. Mid States, Jr. Mr. America and Mr. ohio valley.

At 18, 5'10" 200-pound poole added four overall tro-phies to his collection: Mr. Northern Indiana, Mr. chi-cago park district, Mr. Tri States and Mr. North America.