As with any sport, bodybuilders have a platform of their own where they recognize exemplary sportsmanship. From the larger Mr. Universe right down to the teen awards for the younger aspiring athletes, bodybuilders have a place to get the well-deserved pat on their backs for a job well done or worked for. The competitions are not necessarily only championship-based, there are magazines and online sites where submitted photos are voted for, and the best gets to walk away with that particular award.

There is the International Federation of Body Builders or the IFBB. This is a worldwide organization that runs competitions like Mr. Olympia, Ms. Internationals, the National Amateur Bodybuilding Championships (held all over the United States) and the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships. The NABBA are behind the Mr. Universe, Miss Figure, and Miss Physique competitions. This organization was soon to be renamed International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness.

Mr. Olympia is also known as the IFBB Professional league. Previous winners include Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno who were still actively involved even after winning the title. The prize loot is believed to be in the range of over $1 million. There is also the AAU Mr. Universe competition and Mr. America competition. Most of these competition were tied-in with weightlifting competitions but as time has gone by, there have been moves made to separate the two. (Weightlifting is in the Olympics- Bodybuilding is not)

Mr. Universe winners include Steve Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the pioneer winner was called John Grimke and this was in the year 1948. The 2009 Mr. Universe is known as César Munoz. The female competitions Miss Figure and Miss Physique are also run by the National Amateur Bodybuilding Championships. Miss Figure 2009 is Nicole Wilkins Lee. This competition also means that the female bodybuilders can show off their work and hard-earned bodies on an international platform. International magazines like Men’s Health do have health and fitness awards given to men who have posed in the magazine within a given period, as voted for by the subscribers.

The awards are given based on the poses presented on stage as decided by the judges of any given competition. The female competition rules were adjusted in such a way to allow the not extremely built females to try a hand at the championships. Pre-judging requires you to be fit and most of all healthy, as that is the core basis of bodybuilding.

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