Tag Archive - Retro

Remembering: Debbie Dobbins

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Debbie Dobbins was born in Olongapo, Philippines, of half Irish and half Filipino descent and moved to the USA when she was 3 yrs old. She moved to California at age twenty-four to pursue a career in the fitness industry, and worked as a cheerleader for the Portland Breakers of the USFL and Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL.

She appeared in magazines including Musclemag International and Iron Man, and competed in the Ms. Fitness USA competition and Ms. Galaxy contests.

She died at only 30 years old in 1993 in a house fire.

1980′s Style Female Muscle

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Above is a retro photo of Mia Finnegan, the first ever IFBB Fitness Olympia Champion.Click here to check out some of FM’s older coverage – a 1980′s female muscle gallery. Big hair, high waisted jeans…80′s style in full effect!

Madonna & Milamar

Anyone else recall this photo on the cover of Flex Magazine?

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Going back a number of years now, this photo comprised one of my favorite magazine covers of all time. It features [now retired] IFBB fitness pros Milamar Flores-Sarcev and Madonna Grimes.

Milamar is a Canadian of Filipino ancestry and now lives in California with her husband IFBB pro Milos Sarcev. Madonna is a former Miss Fitness America and is well known for workout DVD’s showcasing her dance and choreography work.

Few more photos of both these ladies, click to enlarge:

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Looking Back: Female Boxing

I filed this under our ‘retro‘ tag only because we didn’t have a ‘super retro’ available. I have no clue when this is from, but obviously it’s from way back.

I’m not too knowledgeable on old style clothing, but are these boxers wearing ‘petticoats’?

According to wikipedia women’s boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1904. For most of the 20th century it was banned in most nations.

1994 Ms Olympia

The 1994 Ms Olympia was one of Lenda Murray’s eight wins, and part of her consecutive six wins streak and a show that saw popular competitor Sharon Bruneau fall to last place.

Final Placings of 1994 Ms Olympia
1 Lenda Murray
2 Laura Creavalle
3 Debbie Muggli
4 Marie Mahabir
5 Audrey Harris-White
6 Sue Price
7 Drorit Kernes
8 Yolanda Hughes
9 Muriane Nicolas
10 Diana Dennis
11 Laura Binetti
12 Christa Bauch
13 Eva Sukupova
14 Sabine Froschauer
15 Gabriella Spuhn
16 Fredrique Auchart
16 Veronique Gady
16 Sharon Bruneau
16 Nuria Sala

Looking Back: Flojo

Florence Griffith-Joyner was known for many things: speed, style, beauty and unfortunately dying young. She captured the world’s attention at the 1988 Olympics by winning gold medals in the marquee events: the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. She set world records for both the 100 and 200, both of which she still holds to this day.

She had first become popular after competing in the 1984 Olympics, not so much for winning two silver medals – but more due to her unique style. Flamboyant to the touch, she wore her hair out, super long nails and her signature colorful one legged suits.

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Known as ‘Flojo’ she died in her sleep on September 21, 1998, which was attributed to a heart condition she had. The direct cause of death was that she had suffocated in her pillow during a severe epileptic seizure. She was 38 years old.

It was 15 years ago today…

(apologies to The Beatles)
(via The Nashua Telegraph)

CHECK OUT OUR TANYA HARDING GALLERY – SHE’S BOXING!

Today in 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed in the knee by Shane Stant at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit. Figure skating fans (and curious onlookers) around the world were shocked, and went all the way to appalled when it was revealed that the attack may have been planned by fellow skater Tonya Harding.

Kerrigan was unable to compete in the Olympic trials due to her injury, but was granted a spot on the Olympic team. She went on to win the silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and ride on a float in a Disney parade, during which her microphone picked up some rather snarky comments that were assumed to be about the parade. Kerrigan claimed she was complaining not about the parade but about wearing her medal during the parade, which she said made her feel silly.

Harding, on the other hand, was banned from participating in United States Figure Skating Association events for the rest of her life and stripped of her title. She pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation of the attack, which also involved her ex-husband and one of his friends, but continues to maintain her innocence in regards to having planned it.

- Teresa Santoski

Auby Paulick

There’s a cliche that says “they never remember who came second” and most of the time it is true. Most hardcore female bodybuilding fans know who won the first ever Ms Olympia – Rachel McLish. But who recalls who came second?

The 2nd placer at the first Ms O was Auby Paulick, who seemed to fade off the scene after that. Auby was from Michigan, and won the Michigan State Title just before the Olympia and was invited to turn pro after that win. Despite her great placing, the 1980 Ms Olympia appears to be both Auby’s first and last pro contest.

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image via fitnessandstrength

Betty Weider

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A look back at one of the original ladies of fitness; Betty Weider [nee Brosmer]. Now in her 70′s, Betty started modeling at age 13 and won over 50 beauty pageants, appeared on over 100 magazine covers and once appeared on over 17 covers in a single month.

She married Joe Weider and began her second career in the health and fitness genre and appeared on the covers of muscle mags with top bodybuilders including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Lou Ferrigno, Dave Draper and the first ever Mr Olympia Larry Scott.

She is a feature editor and monthly columnist for Muscle & Fitness, a book author and a member of the Olympic Committee on Physical Fitness.

Known for her tiny wasp waist, most reports have it measuring 21″.

Queen of Pinups: Bettie Page Passes Away

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One of the original erotic models Bettie Page, who was known as the “Queen of Pinups” died on Thursday. Her seductive photographs and posters both excited and outraged the American public decades ago in the 1950s, and she emerged as a pivotal figure of the sexual revolution. In her heyday she was one of the world’s most photographed women.

Although the photographs seem tame by present day standards, they weren’t back then, and American senators started an investigatation into claims that they were pornographic and Bettie Page was subpoenaed to appear before a senate committee investigating obscenity.

By 1958, at the peak of her fame, Bettie Page vanished from public view and became a born-again Christian. She wanted to serve as a missionary but was rejected because she was divorced. She struggled with personal problems, three divorces and in 1992 she left a California mental hospital having been diagnosed a paranoid schizophrenic.

She was 85 years old, and leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten.

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Click above photos to enlarge, and click here to watch a photoslide video with Bettie “in her own words”

Looking Back: Carla Dunlap

Carla Dunlap – Ms. Olympia champion is 1983 – is the only female bodybuilder to have competed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

She started her competitive carreer in 1979, entering the “Best in the World” bodybuilding contest where she placed fifth among 45 entrants. She won the NPC Nationals in 1981, 1982 before embarking on her pro career. In January, 1999, Dunlap was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame.

Away from the contest stage, Carla appeared in the bodybuilding documentaries Women Of Iron and Pumping Iron II: The Women, was a regular on ESPN’s BodyShaping series and along with Rachel McLish and Cory Everson, was the first female inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame.

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Bikini Boxing

A pretty intense video clip of some vintage bikini boxing action featuring the now infamous female bodybuilder Sally McNeil and super bantamweight boxer Christene Dupree.

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