Danny Padilla
Encyclopedia
Dennis "Danny" Padilla is an American bodybuilder nicknamed "The Giant Killer" because of his short stature and amazing ability to defeat much taller competitors.
. He had been watching his older brother and cousin lift weights together in order to become stronger for their wrestling competitions. He acquired a rusty York barbell, as a hand-me-down from his brother Ray, and quickly set about to become Mr. America
. It wasn’t long before he was absolutely smitten with the iron game and training a full seven days a week.
He entered a lot of other smaller competitions in the upstate New York area - Mr. Buffalo and Mr. Syracuse. After establishing himself in the local arena, he progressed to participating in both the Junior Mr. America and the Mr. America
contests. He finished in the top twenty of both competitions.
Padilla then entered the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU
) World Championships in the lightweight division. He recalled, "I lost to a guy who didn’t even shave his legs!" This defeat was a turning point. After the show, the judges were “kind” enough to inform him that, in their studied opinion, he had a great physique but, at 5' 2" tall, was much too short to compete.
After that AAU show, Padilla decided to compete in the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB
) instead. His first contest was the 1975 IFBB Mr. USA. It was held at the old Madison Square Garden
in New York City. It was the first time that the 23-year-old had ever seen bodybuilders from the West Coast. They included Arnold Schwarzenegger
, Franco Columbu
, Robby Robinson
and many others. To his great surprise, he not only won his lightweight division, but also took the overall title.
It was during that impressive first outing with the IFBB that Padilla first met Joe Weider
. Weider introduced himself to the "kid from Rochester" backstage at the contest, telling Padilla that he had a great physique and that he could do very well in the sport. Weider also invited him to train in California.
Padilla arrived in Los Angeles just in time to take part in the filming of Pumping Iron
. He trained for three months to prepare to compete in the lightweight division in the upcoming Mr. Universe
competition in South Africa
for which he had qualified to compete based on his earlier Mr. USA win.
Disaster struck in Pretoria
. Just minutes before the Universe show was to begin, Padilla was told that he could not compete. The IFBB decided that they’d rather have two heavyweights represent the United States - Ken Waller
and Mike Katz
- and one middleweight, Robby Robinson
. Their reasoning was that since Katz was retiring, they should let him try to win the Universe for the last time. Padilla quickly maneuvered to get a spot on Portugal’s team. He felt confident that he was in a position to win in the lightweight category and was determined to compete. After all of his pre-contest preparation, travel to South Africa and hours of participation in the filming of the movie, he would try to take home the title, even under Portugal’s flag. The IFBB would have none of this. Padilla was disqualified by them in order to avoid what they perceived as the “embarrassment” that his potential win for Portugal would cause the organization.
Padilla now exists as a visual footnote in Pumping Iron
. The film makers were forced to cut the majority of his scenes from the film because the IFBB did not want the whole incident depicted in the movie.
Bouncing back the following year, Padilla competed in the IFBB Universe, but was defeated by Mohamed Makkawy. In 1977, he again entered the IFBB fray and competed in the Mr. America
. This time he walked off the stage with a trophy for both his weight class and the overall title. It was the first time a lightweight had beaten both a middle and heavyweight for the overall title. That same year, Padilla won the lightweight title at the IFBB Mr. Universe
. He is one of only two men in the history of the sport to win both the America and the Universe in the same year, the other being Frank Zane
. Padilla followed up with a great showing at the 1977 Mr. Olympia
. He was in the top five in both his weight class and in the overall standings.
Danny was inducted into Joe Weider
's IFBB Bodybuilding Hall Of Fame in 2009.
Junior Mr America - AAU, 8th
1973
Mr America - AAU, 15th
Junior Mr America - AAU, 15th
1974
Mr America - AAU, 18th
Junior Mr America - AAU, Did not place
Mr World - AAU, Short, Did not place
1975
Mr USA - IFBB, Short, 1st
Mr USA - IFBB, Overall Winner
1976
Mr America - IFBB, Short, 1st
Universe - IFBB, Lightweight, 2nd
1977
Mr America - IFBB, Overall Winner
Mr America - IFBB, Lightweight, 1st
Universe - IFBB, Lightweight, 1st
1978
Olympia - IFBB, Lightweight, 3rd
Olympia - IFBB, 6th
Professional World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
USA vs the World - IFBB, Lightweight, 1st
1979
Best in the World - IFBB, Professional, 5th
Florida Pro Invitational - IFBB, 3rd
Grand Prix Pennsylvania - IFBB, 5th
Night of Champions - IFBB, 2nd
Olympia - IFBB, Lightweight, 5th
1980
Grand Prix Miami - IFBB, 3rd
Olympia - IFBB, 10th
1981
Olympia - IFBB, 5th
1982
Night of Champions - IFBB, 5th
Olympia - IFBB, 12th
1983
Night of Champions - IFBB, 9th
1984
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 7th
1985
Olympia - IFBB, 16th
1986
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 13th
1990
Grand Prix England - IFBB, 5th
Grand Prix Finland - IFBB, 4th
Grand Prix France - IFBB, 5th
Grand Prix Germany - IFBB, 7th
Grand Prix Holland - IFBB, 7th
Grand Prix Italy - IFBB, 4th
Niagara Falls Pro Invitational - IFBB, 2nd
Night of Champions - IFBB, 3rd
1991
WBF Grand Prix - WBF, 10th
1994
Olympia - Masters - IFBB, 7th
2000
Olympia - Masters - IFBB, 10th
2009
IFBB Hall Of Fame
Early life
Padilla started training when he was seven years old in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He had been watching his older brother and cousin lift weights together in order to become stronger for their wrestling competitions. He acquired a rusty York barbell, as a hand-me-down from his brother Ray, and quickly set about to become Mr. America
Mr. America
Mr. America may refer to:* AAU Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the Amateur Athletic Union from 1939 onwards* IFBB Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the International Federation of BodyBuilders in 1949 and 1959-1988...
. It wasn’t long before he was absolutely smitten with the iron game and training a full seven days a week.
Bodybuilding Career
By the time Padilla was eighteen, he was ready to compete. He won the Mr. Rochester contest in 1970 while still in high school. It was his first show, and he took home the first place trophy. The only question in Padilla's mind after that was,”When is the next show?”He entered a lot of other smaller competitions in the upstate New York area - Mr. Buffalo and Mr. Syracuse. After establishing himself in the local arena, he progressed to participating in both the Junior Mr. America and the Mr. America
Mr. America
Mr. America may refer to:* AAU Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the Amateur Athletic Union from 1939 onwards* IFBB Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the International Federation of BodyBuilders in 1949 and 1959-1988...
contests. He finished in the top twenty of both competitions.
Padilla then entered the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
) World Championships in the lightweight division. He recalled, "I lost to a guy who didn’t even shave his legs!" This defeat was a turning point. After the show, the judges were “kind” enough to inform him that, in their studied opinion, he had a great physique but, at 5' 2" tall, was much too short to compete.
After that AAU show, Padilla decided to compete in the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
) instead. His first contest was the 1975 IFBB Mr. USA. It was held at the old Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City. It was the first time that the 23-year-old had ever seen bodybuilders from the West Coast. They included Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, Franco Columbu
Franco Columbu
Franco Columbu is an Italian actor, former bodybuilder and World's Strongest Man competitor.-Bodybuilding:Columbu was born in Ollolai, Sardinia . Starting out his athletic career as a boxer, Columbu progressed into the sport of Olympic Weightlifting, powerlifting and later bodybuilding, winning...
, Robby Robinson
Robby Robinson
Robby Robinson is an American former bodybuilder who won the IFBB Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe titles. He was the Masters Olympia overall champion the first year that the event was held in 1994 and then went on to win the 50+ division at that same contest in both 1997 and 2000...
and many others. To his great surprise, he not only won his lightweight division, but also took the overall title.
It was during that impressive first outing with the IFBB that Padilla first met Joe Weider
Joe Weider
Josef E. "Joe" Weider is co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders along with brother Ben Weider and creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia, and the now-defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests...
. Weider introduced himself to the "kid from Rochester" backstage at the contest, telling Padilla that he had a great physique and that he could do very well in the sport. Weider also invited him to train in California.
Padilla arrived in Los Angeles just in time to take part in the filming of Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
. He trained for three months to prepare to compete in the lightweight division in the upcoming Mr. Universe
Universe Championships
The Universe Championships are an annual bodybuilding event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association . It has a number of competitions: NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe, Miss Figure, and Miss Toned Figure....
competition in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for which he had qualified to compete based on his earlier Mr. USA win.
Disaster struck in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
. Just minutes before the Universe show was to begin, Padilla was told that he could not compete. The IFBB decided that they’d rather have two heavyweights represent the United States - Ken Waller
Ken Waller
Ken Waller is an American former bodybuilder featured in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Waller also won the 1975 International Federation of Bodybuilders Mr. Universe contest in Pretoria, South Africa...
and Mike Katz
Mike Katz
Michael Katz is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder, most famous for his appearance with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary film Pumping Iron. Mike Katz worked as a Jr. High School gym teacher while training as an amateur bodybuilder...
- and one middleweight, Robby Robinson
Robby Robinson
Robby Robinson is an American former bodybuilder who won the IFBB Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe titles. He was the Masters Olympia overall champion the first year that the event was held in 1994 and then went on to win the 50+ division at that same contest in both 1997 and 2000...
. Their reasoning was that since Katz was retiring, they should let him try to win the Universe for the last time. Padilla quickly maneuvered to get a spot on Portugal’s team. He felt confident that he was in a position to win in the lightweight category and was determined to compete. After all of his pre-contest preparation, travel to South Africa and hours of participation in the filming of the movie, he would try to take home the title, even under Portugal’s flag. The IFBB would have none of this. Padilla was disqualified by them in order to avoid what they perceived as the “embarrassment” that his potential win for Portugal would cause the organization.
Padilla now exists as a visual footnote in Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
. The film makers were forced to cut the majority of his scenes from the film because the IFBB did not want the whole incident depicted in the movie.
Bouncing back the following year, Padilla competed in the IFBB Universe, but was defeated by Mohamed Makkawy. In 1977, he again entered the IFBB fray and competed in the Mr. America
Mr. America
Mr. America may refer to:* AAU Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the Amateur Athletic Union from 1939 onwards* IFBB Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the International Federation of BodyBuilders in 1949 and 1959-1988...
. This time he walked off the stage with a trophy for both his weight class and the overall title. It was the first time a lightweight had beaten both a middle and heavyweight for the overall title. That same year, Padilla won the lightweight title at the IFBB Mr. Universe
World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships
The World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships is a male bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness and first held in 1959. The name was changed in 1976 to avoid confusion with the NABBA Mr...
. He is one of only two men in the history of the sport to win both the America and the Universe in the same year, the other being Frank Zane
Frank Zane
Frank Zane is an American former professional bodybuilder and teacher.- Education :Zane received a B.Sc in Education from Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1964. For 13 years, he taught mathematics and chemistry while living in Florida and California. Later he earned a B.A...
. Padilla followed up with a great showing at the 1977 Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
. He was in the top five in both his weight class and in the overall standings.
Danny was inducted into Joe Weider
Joe Weider
Josef E. "Joe" Weider is co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders along with brother Ben Weider and creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia, and the now-defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests...
's IFBB Bodybuilding Hall Of Fame in 2009.
Contest History
1972Junior Mr America - AAU, 8th
1973
Mr America - AAU, 15th
Junior Mr America - AAU, 15th
1974
Mr America - AAU, 18th
Junior Mr America - AAU, Did not place
Mr World - AAU, Short, Did not place
1975
Mr USA - IFBB, Short, 1st
Mr USA - IFBB, Overall Winner
1976
Mr America - IFBB, Short, 1st
Universe - IFBB, Lightweight, 2nd
1977
Mr America - IFBB, Overall Winner
Mr America - IFBB, Lightweight, 1st
Universe - IFBB, Lightweight, 1st
1978
Olympia - IFBB, Lightweight, 3rd
Olympia - IFBB, 6th
Professional World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
USA vs the World - IFBB, Lightweight, 1st
1979
Best in the World - IFBB, Professional, 5th
Florida Pro Invitational - IFBB, 3rd
Grand Prix Pennsylvania - IFBB, 5th
Night of Champions - IFBB, 2nd
Olympia - IFBB, Lightweight, 5th
1980
Grand Prix Miami - IFBB, 3rd
Olympia - IFBB, 10th
1981
Olympia - IFBB, 5th
1982
Night of Champions - IFBB, 5th
Olympia - IFBB, 12th
1983
Night of Champions - IFBB, 9th
1984
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 7th
1985
Olympia - IFBB, 16th
1986
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 13th
1990
Grand Prix England - IFBB, 5th
Grand Prix Finland - IFBB, 4th
Grand Prix France - IFBB, 5th
Grand Prix Germany - IFBB, 7th
Grand Prix Holland - IFBB, 7th
Grand Prix Italy - IFBB, 4th
Niagara Falls Pro Invitational - IFBB, 2nd
Night of Champions - IFBB, 3rd
1991
WBF Grand Prix - WBF, 10th
1994
Olympia - Masters - IFBB, 7th
2000
Olympia - Masters - IFBB, 10th
2009
IFBB Hall Of Fame