Albert "Al" Beckles (born July 14, 1930, as stated by Albert himself on John Hansen’s Bodybuilding Legends podcast) is a former IFBB pro bodybuilder and Mr. Universe. He was a three-time New York City ‘Night of Champions’ winner. He was celebrated for being competitive at the top level in his fifties. He is the oldest professional male bodybuilder to win the overall of an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League (IFBB Pro League) contest at the age of 60 years old.[1]
Al Beckles | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 14, 1930 |
| Occupation | Bodybuilder |
Bodybuilding career
editBeckles was born in Barbados but immigrated to London.[2] In the mid-1960s, he won several British regional titles before winning the 1969 and 1970 NABBA Mr. Britain titles. In 1971, Beckles joined the IFBB, earning the overall at the IFBB "Mr. Universe."
Beckles was one of the most active participants in bodybuilding history, having been in over 100 contests. In 1982, at the age of 52, he won the Night of Champions competition in New York.
Beckles’ 13 forays into the IFBB Mr. Olympia have yielded six placings among the top five, including coming second to Lee Haney in 1985 at the age of 55.[3]
In 1991, at the age of 60 years,[4] he won the Niagara Falls Pro Invitational.
Personal life
editBeckles resided in Los Angeles.[5]
Beckles was a "pollo-vegetarian", which means he ate poultry but no red meat.[6]
Statistics
editHeight: 5'6”
Weight: 218 lb
Neck: 17
Waist: 31
Thigh: 28
Calf: 16¾
Arms: 19”
Chest: 48.5”
Contest history
edit| YEAR | CONTEST | HEIGHT/WEIGHT CLASS | PLACING |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Mr. Britain NABBA | 5th | |
| 1965 | Universe NABBA | Medium | 3rd |
| 1966 | Universe NABBA | Medium | 6th |
| 1967 | Mr. Britain NABBA | 3rd | |
| 1968 | Mr. Britain NABBA | 2nd | |
| 1969 | Mr. Britain NABBA | 2nd | |
| 1969 | Mr. World IFBB | Medium | 2nd |
| 1969 | Universe NABBA | Medium | 3rd |
| 1970 | Mr. Britain NABBA | 1st | |
| 1970 | Mr. Europe | 1st | |
| 1970 | Mr. Europe | Medium | 1st |
| 1970 | Universe NABBA | Medium | 2nd |
| 1971 | Mr. Britain NABBA | 1st | |
| 1971 | Mr. World AAU | 1st | |
| 1971 | Mr. World AAU | Medium | 1st |
| 1971 | Mr. World AAU Most Muscular | 1st | |
| 1971 | Universe IFBB | Medium | 1st & Overall |
| 1971 | Universe NABBA | Medium | 1st & Overall |
| 1973 | Mr. Europe IFBB | Medium | 1st & Overall |
| 1973 | Universe IFBB | Medium | 1st |
| 1975 | Olympia IFBB | Lightweight | 3rd |
| 1975 | Universe IFBB | Medium | 2nd |
| 1977 | Olympia IFBB | Short | 4th & 7th Overall |
| 1978 | Olympia IFBB | Lightweight | 8th |
| 1979 | Best in the World IFBB, Professional | 3rd | |
| 1979 | Grand Prix Pennsylvania IFBB | 3rd | |
| 1979 | Olympia IFBB | Lightweight | 7th |
| 1979 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1980 | Universe Pro IFBB | 4th | |
| 1980 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 4th | |
| 1981 | Canada Pro Cup IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix Belgium IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix California IFBB | 4th | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix Louisiana IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix Massachusetts IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix New England IFBB | 1st | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix New York IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix Wales IFBB | 3rd | |
| 1981 | Grand Prix World Cup IFBB | 6th | |
| 1981 | Professional World Cup IFBB | 6th | |
| 1981 | World Grand Prix IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1982 | Grand Prix Belgium IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1982 | Grand Prix Sweden IFBB | 4th | |
| 1982 | Night Of Champions IFBB | 1st | |
| 1982 | Olympia IFBB | 5th | |
| 1982 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 1st | |
| 1983 | Grand Prix England IFBB | 5th | |
| 1983 | Grand Prix Las Vegas IFBB | 3rd | |
| 1983 | Grand Prix Portland IFBB | 4th | |
| 1983 | Grand Prix Sweden IFBB | 5th | |
| 1983 | Grand Prix Switzerland IFBB | 5th | |
| 1983 | Night Of Champions IFBB | 3rd | |
| 1983 | Olympia IFBB | 7th | |
| 1984 | Canada Pro Cup IFBB | 1st | |
| 1984 | Olympia IFBB | 4th | |
| 1984 | World Grand Prix IFBB | 1st | |
| 1984 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 1st | |
| 1985 | Night Of Champions IFBB | 1st | |
| 1985 | Olympia IFBB | 2nd | |
| 1986 | Olympia IFBB | 4th | |
| 1987 | Grand Prix France IFBB | 4th | |
| 1987 | Grand Prix Germany (2) IFBB | 6th | |
| 1987 | Grand Prix Germany IFBB | 4th | |
| 1987 | Olympia IFBB | 7th | |
| 1987 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 3rd | |
| 1988 | Chicago Pro Invitational IFBB | 4th | |
| 1988 | Grand Prix England IFBB | 7th | |
| 1988 | Grand Prix France IFBB | 11th | |
| 1988 | Grand Prix Germany IFBB | 8th | |
| 1988 | Grand Prix Italy IFBB | 8th | |
| 1988 | Grand Prix Spain (2) IFBB | 8th | |
| 1988 | Grand Prix Spain IFBB | 7th | |
| 1988 | Night Of Champions IFBB | 5th | |
| 1988 | Olympia IFBB | 15th | |
| 1988 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 10th | |
| 1989 | Arnold Classic IFBB | 7th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix England IFBB | 9th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix Finland IFBB | 9th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix France IFBB | 9th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix Holland IFBB | 11th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix Melbourne IFBB | 4th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix Spain (2) IFBB | 10th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix Spain IFBB | 10th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix Sweden IFBB | 9th | |
| 1989 | Grand Prix US Pro IFBB | 4th | |
| 1989 | Night of Champions IFBB | 8th | |
| 1989 | Olympia IFBB | 15th | |
| 1989 | World Pro Championships IFBB | 4th | |
| 1990 | Arnold Classic IFBB | 9th | |
| 1990 | Houston Pro Invitatinal IFBB | 11th | |
| 1990 | Niagara Falls Pro Invitatinal IFBB | 12th | |
| 1990 | Night of Champions IFBB | DID NOT PLACE | |
| 1991 | Grand Prix Denmark IFBB | 7th | |
| 1991 | Grand Prix England IFBB | 7th | |
| 1991 | Grand Prix Finland IFBB | 9th | |
| 1991 | Grand Prix Italy IFBB | 8th | |
| 1991 | Grand Prix Spain IFBB | 9th | |
| 1991 | Grand Prix Switzerland IFBB | 8th | |
| 1991 | Niagara Falls Pro Invitational IFBB | 1st | |
| 1991 | Night of Champions IFBB | 7th | |
| 1991 | Olympia IFBB | DID NOT PLACE | |
| 1991 | Pittsburg Pro Invitational IFBB | 12th | |
| 1991 | San Jose Pro Invitational IFBB | 5th | |
| 1992 | Chicago Pro Invitational IFBB | 16th | |
| 1992 | Niagara Falls Pro Invitational IFBB | 8th |
See also
edit- Betty Pariso (oldest professional female bodybuilder to win an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League (IFBB Pro League) contest)
- Shawn Rhoden (oldest Mr. Olympia overall (OA) winner)
- Frank Zane (oldest Mr. Olympia lightweight)
- Ken Waller (oldest Mr. Olympia heavyweight)
- Dexter Jackson (oldest Arnold Classic OA winner)
- Fred Smalls (oldest Arnold Classic best poser award winner)
- Roelly Winklaar (oldest Arnold Classic most muscular award winner)
- Don Youngblood (oldest Masters Olympia OA winner)
- Honore Cironte (oldest Masters Olympia over 60 winner)
- Robby Robinson (oldest Masters Olympia over 50 winner)
References
edit- ^ Niagara Falls Pro Invitational Results
- ^ Hageman, Bill (19 August 1988). "Shaping Up Great—at 58". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "S.C. man keeps Mr. Olympia title". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. 23 October 1985. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "What is Albert Beckles' Real Age??? – Built Report".
- ^ "Home". albertbeckles.com.
- ^ "Albert Beckles: the vegetarian muscle man you should know". Generation Iron Fitness Network.
External links
edit
 | This biographical article relating to a United Kingdom sportsperson is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This biographical article relating to bodybuilding is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |