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Kevin O'Toole (bodybuilder)
Encyclopedia
----
Kevin O'Toole is a Canadian
bodybuilder and mixed martial artist
.
and Irish
background and grew up in the cities New Westminster
and North Vancouver, British Columbia
. He played hockey
in both cities up to the Midget 'A' level. Becoming inspired by the Arnold Schwarzenegger
movie Pumping Iron
, and already a weight training
enthusiast, O'Toole was encouraged to compete in bodybuilding because of his impressive genetics.
A late starter, he entered his first competition, a novice show known as the Gator's Classic, in 1992, and won the middleweight class, tying for the overall - despite reportedly arriving so late he did not even have time to put on his bronzer. Two years later, at the 1994 British Columbia Bodybuilding Championships, a scoring error gave the initial light heavyweight class win to another competitor. This decision was reversed by the organization a few weeks later, but only the class win could be reversed and not the overall competition, which all those present including guest poser Dennis Newman had assumed would go to O'Toole.
O'Toole entered the last-ever Western Canada Bodybuilding Championships the following year and won the Light Heavyweight as well as the Overall competitions. In 1996, he competed in the Canadian Bodybuilding Championships, placing second in the light heavyweights, but went on two weeks later to compete in the North American Championships, easily winning the light heavyweight title. This made him the second man ever to win both the overall Western Canada championship and a weight class win at the North American championship (the other being fellow British Columbian Franco Cavaleri).
Unwilling to engage in heavy drug use to put on the extra mass to compete as a heavyweight, O'Toole retired from bodybuilding competition after the 1996 North American championships and is pursuing a career as a personal trainer
, and has occasionally competed in mixed martial arts
. O'Toole's physique remains notable in the bodybuilding
world because of his symmetry and aesthetics, which have been compared to Shawn Ray
and Mike Mentzer
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
bodybuilder and mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
.
Background
O'Toole is of MétisMétis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
and Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
background and grew up in the cities New Westminster
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
and North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
. He played hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
in both cities up to the Midget 'A' level. Becoming inspired by the 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....
movie 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...
, and already a weight training
Weight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
enthusiast, O'Toole was encouraged to compete in bodybuilding because of his impressive genetics.
A late starter, he entered his first competition, a novice show known as the Gator's Classic, in 1992, and won the middleweight class, tying for the overall - despite reportedly arriving so late he did not even have time to put on his bronzer. Two years later, at the 1994 British Columbia Bodybuilding Championships, a scoring error gave the initial light heavyweight class win to another competitor. This decision was reversed by the organization a few weeks later, but only the class win could be reversed and not the overall competition, which all those present including guest poser Dennis Newman had assumed would go to O'Toole.
O'Toole entered the last-ever Western Canada Bodybuilding Championships the following year and won the Light Heavyweight as well as the Overall competitions. In 1996, he competed in the Canadian Bodybuilding Championships, placing second in the light heavyweights, but went on two weeks later to compete in the North American Championships, easily winning the light heavyweight title. This made him the second man ever to win both the overall Western Canada championship and a weight class win at the North American championship (the other being fellow British Columbian Franco Cavaleri).
Unwilling to engage in heavy drug use to put on the extra mass to compete as a heavyweight, O'Toole retired from bodybuilding competition after the 1996 North American championships and is pursuing a career as a personal trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
, and has occasionally competed in mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. O'Toole's physique remains notable in the bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
world because of his symmetry and aesthetics, which have been compared to Shawn Ray
Shawn Ray
Shawn Ray is a former professional bodybuilder and author.-Bodybuilding career:In over 30 major bodybuilding competitions, Ray only failed to place in the top five once...
and Mike Mentzer
Mike Mentzer
Mike Mentzer was an American IFBB professional bodybuilder, businessman, and author.-Bodybuilding career:...
.
Contest history
- 1992: Gator's Classic Middleweight Championship, and tied for Overall Champion.
- 1994: British Columbia Light Heavyweight Champion. (lost the overall winner due to a scoring error)
- 1995: Western Canadian Light Heavyweight and Overall Champion.
- 1996: North American Light Heavyweight Champion.