History of WABBA
The history of the WABBA (World Amateur Body Building Association) began on the return flight of Mr. Serge Nubret, top body builder and movie actor, became runner-up after Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Mr. Olympia, and could beat Lou Ferrigno, the giant from New York, who got the third place. Serge was not happy about his result and about other details in the management of the compe
titions in IFBB, so he decided to found a new world association for amateurs and professionals. WABBA was founded in 1975 and soon afterwards many contests were organized by WABBA affiliates. Great athletes entered those competitions and became legends. The first WABBA championship took place in Paris in 1977 and was announced for amateurs and professionals. The champion of the professionals, Sergio Olivia, gained 10,000 $ and it was a great championship. Everyone who had rank or name and came from Europe or the USA was there to take part. Wilfried Sylvester, John Citrone, Achmet Enüli, Dave Johns, Robby Robinson and many more. Serge Nubret had reached an agreement about a collaboration with the NABBA-England, directed by their president Oskar Heidenstam. So every athlete of the WABBA or NABBA could participate in the European or World Championships (organized by the WABBA) as well as in the legendary Mr. Universum, which Bill Pearl, Frank Zane, Boyer Coe, Chris Dickerson, Sergio Oliva and Arnold Schwarzenegger already won. The collaboration lasted until about 1984 when NABBA and WABBA seperated again.
