- Samir Bannout
Infobox bodybuilder
name = Samir Bannout
| image_size =
image_caption =
nickname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1955|11|7
birthplace =Lebanon
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = 5 ft. 8 in.
weight = 210 lb
firstproshow = 1974 Mr Universe
firstproshowyear = 1974
bestwin = IFBB Mr. Olympia 1983
bestwinyear =
predecessor =Chris Dickerson
successor =Lee Haney
yesorretiredyear = Retired 1996Samir Hassan Bannout (b.
November 7 ,1955 inBeirut, Lebanon ) is anIFBB professionalbodybuilder .Biography
Known as "the Lion of Lebanon", Samir Bannout won the
Mr. Olympia title in 1983. Only eleven men have held this most prestigious title since the contest was first introduced in 1965. Many of them, obviously, held the title for several years, Bannout won it just once, a distinction shared with Mr. OlympiaChris Dickerson . Samir has appeared on the covers of many fitness and bodybuilding publications, including Strength and Health, MuscleMag International, Muscle Digest, Flex, Muscle Training Illustrated, Muscle and Fitness, Muscle Up, IronMan and Muscular Development magazines.Bannout first moved to
Detroit, Michigan , in theUnited States . He competed at the amateur level and achieved IFBB pro status by winning his light-heavyweight class at the 1979IFBB World Amateur Championships. By this time Samir had already relocated toSanta Monica, California . Bannout took 4th place at the 1982 Mr. Olympia contest and returned the following year to finally take home the title in 1983. The contest was held inMunich, Germany that year and the trophy awarded him is called a "Sandow" named afterEugen Sandow .The extreme muscular definition that Bannout was able to achieve in his lower back region helped coin the term "christmas tree" when referring the shape made visible during a back pose on the competition stage.
After placing 6th at the 1984 Olympia, he was suspended for three years by the IFBB as punishment for his participation at the rival federation, WABBA's, World Championship competition.
Bannout was never able to get a top six placing again at a Mr. Olympia contest despite competing at the event many more times. In 1990 he won his second IFBB pro show, the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational. His professional career lasted for 17 years.
Today he lives in
Los Angeles, California with his wife Randa and two children. He was inducted to theIFBB Hall of Fame in 2002.Bodybuilding titles
* 1974 Mr. Universe, Medium Class 7th
* 1976 Mr. Universe, Middleweight 12th
* 1977 Mr. International, Middleweight 2nd
* 1978 Mr. International, Middleweight 2nd
* 1979 Best in the World, Amateur 1st
* 1979 Canada Pro Cup, N/A
* 1979 World Amateur Championships, Light Heavyweight 1st
* 1980 Grand Prix California 4th
* 1980 Grand Prix Pennsylvania 7th
* 1980 Night of Champions 10th
* 1980Mr. Olympia 15th
* 1980 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational N/A
* 1981 Grand Prix California 7th
* 1981 Grand Prix New England 6th
* 1981Night of Champions 10th
* 1981 Mr. Olympia 9th
*1982 Grand Prix Sweden 2nd
*1982 Mr. Olympia 4th
*1983 Mr. Olympia 1st
*1984 Canada Pro Cup 5th
*1984 Mr. Olympia 6th
*1984 World Grand Prix 5th
*1985 WABBA World Championship 1st
*1986 WABBA World Championship 1st
*1988 Grand Prix England 10th
*1988 Grand Prix Italy 9th
*1988 Mr. Olympia 8th
*1989 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic 4th
*1989 Grand Prix Finland 6th
*1989 Grand Prix France 8th
*1989 Grand Prix Germany 5th
*1989 Grand Prix Holland 5th
*1989 Grand Prix Spain 5th
*1989 Grand Prix Spain (2nd) 5th
*1989 Grand Prix Sweden 3rd
*1989 Mr. Olympia 9th
*1990Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Disqualified
*1990 Grand Prix England 6th
*1990 Grand Prix Finland 5th
*1990 Grand Prix Italy 6th
*1990 Houston Pro Invitational 3rd
*1990 Mr. Olympia 8th
*1990 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational 1st
*1990 NABBA World Championships Professional 2nd
*1991 Mr. Olympia N/A
*1992 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic N/A
*1992 Grand Prix Germany 11th
*1992 Mr. Olympia 16th
*1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic 13th
*1993 Ironman Pro Invitational 13th
*1993 San Jose Pro Invitational 10th
*1994 Grand Prix England 14th
*1994 Grand Prix Germany 13th
*1994 Grand Prix Italy 12th
*1994 Grand Prix Spain 12th
*1994 Mr. Olympia 19th
*1996 Masters Mr. Olympia 6thee also
*
List of professional bodybuilders
*Mr. Olympia
*Arnold Classic
*Ironman Pro Invitational
*Night of Champions References
*Roark, Joe. (December, 2002). [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_10_20/ai_98488614 "Factoids - History - Samir Bannout"] . Flex
External links
* [http://www.samirbannout.net/ Samir Bannout Official Website]
* [http://www.solid-gains.com/gallery/view/samir-bannout/ Samir Bannout Bodybuilding Gallery]
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