Harold Poole
Encyclopedia
Harold Poole is a former AAU
, IFBB
and WBBG
professional bodybuilder.
Poole's athleticism was apparent very early on. He was quarterback
on his footballl
team at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis
, placed fourth in the state high school wrestling
championships, ran 440 yards in 50 seconds and put the 12 pound shot 55 feet.
In 1960, Poole entered the AAU Mr. America
and, at the age of 16, took 18th place. His final AAU teen opportunity came in June 1963, where he won most muscular, but was the runner-up to Vern Weaver.
Three months later, Poole switched to the IFBB and, at age 19, he won the Mr. Universe
. The next year, he became the first African-American to be named IFBB Mr. America. Starting in 1965, Poole became the only man to compete in the first three Mr. Olympia
contests.
He retired from bodybuilding competition following the 1982 IFBB Night Of Champions where he placed out of the top 10.
Today he lives in Florida
where he continues to train with weights and practice Martial Arts
. He was inducted to the IFBB Hall of Fame
in 2004 and the WBBG
Hall of Fame in 2007.
Mr America - AAU, 18th
Mr Mid-America - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
1961
Mr America - AAU, 4th
Junior Mr America - AAU, Overall Winner
1962
Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Mr North America - AAU, Winner
1963
Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Teen Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Universe - IFBB, Tall, 1st
Universe - IFBB, Overall Winner
1964
Mr America - IFBB, Tall, 1st
Mr America - IFBB, Overall Winner
1965
Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1966
Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1967
Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1968
Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
1971
Mr USA - IFBB, Tall, 1st
1972
Mr World - IFBB, Tall, 3rd
1980
Night of Champions - IFBB, 12th
1981
Grand Prix California - IFBB, 7th
Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 9th
Night of Champions - IFBB, 6th
Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, 8th
1982
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 9th
2004
IFBB Hall of Fame
2007
WBBG Hall of Fame
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...
, 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 ,...
and WBBG
WBBG
WBBG is a commercial FM radio station in Youngstown, Ohio market broadcasting at 106.1 MHz with an oldies format. The station is licensed to Niles, Ohio, with programming similar to fellow Clear Channel stations WWSW-FM in Pittsburgh and WMJI in Cleveland....
professional bodybuilder.
Poole's athleticism was apparent very early on. He was quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
on his footballl
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, placed fourth in the state high school wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
championships, ran 440 yards in 50 seconds and put the 12 pound shot 55 feet.
In 1960, Poole entered the AAU 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...
and, at the age of 16, took 18th place. His final AAU teen opportunity came in June 1963, where he won most muscular, but was the runner-up to Vern Weaver.
Three months later, Poole switched to the IFBB and, at age 19, he won the 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...
. The next year, he became the first African-American to be named IFBB Mr. America. Starting in 1965, Poole became the only man to compete in the first three 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...
contests.
He retired from bodybuilding competition following the 1982 IFBB Night Of Champions where he placed out of the top 10.
Today he lives in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
where he continues to train with weights and practice Martial Arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. He was inducted to the IFBB Hall of Fame
IFBB Hall of Fame
The IFBB Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to honor outstanding athletes and officials in the sport of bodybuilding.-1999:*Carla Dunlap*Cory Everson*John Grimek*Lee Haney*Rachel McLish*Sergio Oliva*Reg Park*Bill Pearl*Steve Reeves...
in 2004 and the WBBG
World Bodybuilding Guild
World Bodybuilding Guild is a bodybuilding federation first established in 1967 by Dan Lurie. The federation sponsored events such as Pro. Mr. America, Mr. International, Pro. Mr. World and Olympus. The WBBG originally lasted only until the early 1980s. However, it was re-launched around 2007, by...
Hall of Fame in 2007.
Competition & Award history
1960Mr America - AAU, 18th
Mr Mid-America - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
1961
Mr America - AAU, 4th
Junior Mr America - AAU, Overall Winner
1962
Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Mr North America - AAU, Winner
1963
Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Teen Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Universe - IFBB, Tall, 1st
Universe - IFBB, Overall Winner
1964
Mr America - IFBB, Tall, 1st
Mr America - IFBB, Overall Winner
1965
Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1966
Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1967
Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1968
Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
1971
Mr USA - IFBB, Tall, 1st
1972
Mr World - IFBB, Tall, 3rd
1980
Night of Champions - IFBB, 12th
1981
Grand Prix California - IFBB, 7th
Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 9th
Night of Champions - IFBB, 6th
Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, 8th
1982
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 9th
2004
IFBB Hall of Fame
2007
WBBG Hall of Fame
See also
- List of male professional bodybuilders
- List of female professional bodybuilders