HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPIA
The qualifying criteria for the first Mr. Olympia in 1965 was simple and straight-forward … you had to hold a "major title", such as Mr. America, Mr. World or Mr. Universe. [MUSCLE BUILDER, April 1965].
In those days, the winners of these competitions could not return to defend their title. In creating the Mr. Olympia, Joe Weider provided the world’s elite bodybuilders with a professional "best of the best" competition where the Olympia title could be defended and prize money could be earned.
Forty-three years later, we celebrate the Joe Weider OLYMPIA WEEKEND and the Mr., Ms. [created 1980], Fitness [created 1995] and Figure [created 2003] Olympia competitions.
The qualifying criteria for "The Greatest Physique Show on Earth" is governed by Pro Rule 4.1-4.5, reprinted below.
4.1 Mr. Olympia:
The Promoter of the MR. OLYMPIA competition shall invite the following competitors:
1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Mr. Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Arnold Classic;
3. The top 5 from the same year’s Iron Man Pro and New York Pro;
4. The top 3 from any Grand Prix or similar competition held after the previous year’s Mr. Olympia; and
5. Any competitor who qualifies pursuant to Pro Rule 4.5.
4.2 Ms. Olympia:
The Promoter of the MS. OLYMPIA competition shall invite the following competitors:
1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Ms. Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Ms. International;
3. The top 3 from any other competition held after the previous year’s Ms. Olympia; and
4. Any competitor who qualifies pursuant to Pro Rule 4.5.
4.3 Fitness Olympia:
The Promoter of the FITNESS OLYMPIA competition shall invite the following competitors:
1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Fitness Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Fitness International;
3. The top 3 from any other competition held after the previous year’s Fitness Olympia; and
4. Any competitor who qualifies pursuant to Pro Rule 4.5.
4.4 Figure Olympia:
The Promoter of the FIGURE OLYMPIA competition shall invite the following competitors:
1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Figure Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Figure International;
3. The top 3 from any other competition held after the previous year’s Figure Olympia; and
4. Any competitor who qualifies pursuant to Pro Rule 4.5.
4.5 Additional Factors:
The following additional factors shall apply:
1. Any former Mr., Ms., Fitness or Figure Olympia winner has lifetime eligibility. However, this eligibility is not automatic. Where more than five (5) years have elapsed since the last Olympia win, approval of the Pro League is required.
2. The Pro League may, at its own discretion, increase or decrease the number of qualifying competitors from any competition.
3. The Promoter of the Mr. Olympia may nominate one competitor, as a "Special Invitee", who has not qualified for the current year’s Mr. Olympia competition. This competitor may compete only with the approval of the Pro League.
4. In men’s and women’s competition, if the competitors who qualify for the next year’s Olympia pursuant to Pro Rules 4.1, 4.2 [see also Pro Rule 4.5.5], 4.3 and 4.4 are already qualified, the next highest-placed competitor will also qualify, provided he or she is not already qualified, in which case, no other competitors will qualify.
5. In any year where there are less than three "open" women’s professional bodybuilding competitions [the term "open" is defined as competitions other than the Ms. Olympia and the Ms. International], the following qualifying criteria shall apply [otherwise Pro Rule 4.5.4 shall apply]:
a. At the Ms. International, the top six finalists qualify for the same year’s Ms. Olympia. If any of the top six finalists are already qualified, up to a maximum of three previously-unqualified competitors may also qualify [see table below].
b. At "open" competitions, the top three finalists qualify for the Ms. Olympia. If any of the top three finalists are already qualified, up to a maximum of three previously-unqualified competitors may also qualify [see table below].
6. At any women’s bodybuilding competition that is divided into two categories, only the top finalist in each category shall qualify for the Ms. Olympia. Rule 4.5.4 shall still apply.
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