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(1930-07-14)July 14, 1930
OccupationBodybuilder

Bodybuilding career

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Beckles 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

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Beckles resided in Los Angeles.[5]

Beckles was a "pollo-vegetarian", which means he ate poultry but no red meat.[6]

Statistics

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Height: 5'6”

Weight: 218 lb

Neck: 17

Waist: 31

Thigh: 28

Calf: 16¾

Arms: 19”

Chest: 48.5”

Contest history

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Niagara Falls Pro Invitational Results
  2. ^ Hageman, Bill (19 August 1988). "Shaping Up Great—at 58". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  3. ^ "S.C. man keeps Mr. Olympia title". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. 23 October 1985. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  4. ^ "What is Albert Beckles' Real Age??? – Built Report".
  5. ^ "Home". albertbeckles.com.
  6. ^ "Albert Beckles: the vegetarian muscle man you should know". Generation Iron Fitness Network.
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