​John Brown Bodybuilder: His Journey, Achievements, and Competition History

John Brown, a trailblazing African-American bodybuilder, rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite facing racism and discrimination in the sport, Brown achieved remarkable success, winning the Mr. Universe title in 1981 and 1982, as well as the Mr. World title three times.

Brown's bodybuilding journey began at the age of 14 when he took up weightlifting to improve his performance in American football. A chance encounter with a stranger in a local park convinced him to focus on bodybuilding instead, and by 16, he was competing and winning against adult men. Brown's dedication and strong work ethic propelled him to the top of the sport, despite facing significant racism in America.

In this article, we delve into the world of John Brown, a dedicated bodybuilder. We'll explore his journey, from his beginnings to his impressive achievements. We'll also take a deep dive into his competition history, uncovering the battles that sculpted him into the champion he is today.

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Short Summary

• Meet John Brown: We'll introduce you to John Brown, a determined bodybuilder on his path to greatness.
• From the Beginning: Discover John's journey, and how he started his bodybuilding adventure.
• Building a Champion: Explore the impressive achievements John has earned through hard work and dedication.
• The Test of Strength: Dive into John's competition history, the battles that shaped him into a champion.
• Ready to start your bodybuilding journey? Discover our top recommended muscle-building supplement, Androvar™ by Hard Rock Supplements to support you every step of the way.

About John Brown Bodybuilder

John Brown was an American bodybuilder who dominated the sport in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the Amateur Mr. Universe title twice (1981, and 1982) and three times Mr. World. Born and raised in West Sacramento, California, Brown began his bodybuilding journey at the age of 14. 

A chance meeting with a stranger in a local park inspired him to focus on bodybuilding, and by the age of 16, he was already competing and winning against adult men. His dedication and strong work ethic propelled him to the top of the sport.

Brown's career took him around the world, and he even learned German while competing frequently in Germany. He met his wife, Miriam, in Germany, and they settled down in the United States to raise a family. Their three sons, Equanimeous, Osiris, and Amon-Ra, all inherited their father's sporting genes and became successful American football players. 

Despite his achievements, Brown faced significant racism in America. He was denied a magazine cover because the owner believed having a black man on the cover would hurt sales. However, in Europe, he was treated better, and he and his family enjoyed a level of celebrity status.

He was the Arnold Schwarzenegger of his time—a world champion bodybuilder who dominated the sport and won numerous titles. However, unlike Schwarzenegger, John Brown did not receive the fame and recognition he deserved and eventually faded into obscurity.

The Career of John Brown

John Brown grew up in the tough and dangerous Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles. He loved playing American football as a kid. When he was 14 years old, he started weightlifting to improve his football skills.

One day, while working out in a local park, a stranger approached Brown and told him that with his physique, he should focus on bodybuilding instead of football. The teenager took the stranger's advice and started bodybuilding. By the time he was 16, Brown was competing against adult bodybuilders and winning.

Brown dedicated himself to bodybuilding, even though money was tight and equipment was hard to find. He built a bench press out of wood and nails and collected weights from his community. He read muscle magazines to learn how to get bigger and stronger and used the free gym at Compton Community College.

Soon, he became a star in local competitions and then moved up to state and regional levels. He won the Mr. Universe title in 1981 and 1982 and the Mr. World title three times. His career took him all over the world, and he competed in Germany so often that he learned the language and met his wife there.

Brown credits his "strong work ethic" for his success. He said, “My motto was to outwork everybody. No one would ever outwork me, I promised myself that.”

However, Brown faced significant racism, especially in America. He felt that black bodybuilders were treated unfairly compared to white competitors. In Europe, he and other black bodybuilders were treated like "big-time celebrities," but in the US, they "suffered from a lot of racism."

One shocking incident happened in the mid-1980s when he wanted to be on the cover of a popular muscle magazine. He was told no because he was black, with the magazine's owner saying that having a black person on the cover would hurt sales.

After meeting his wife Miriam in Germany, he settled down and focused on raising a family in the U.S. They named their three sons after Egyptian gods because of Brown's fascination with them. He added "St" to their last names because he thought it looked cool on their jerseys. 

He wanted his children to have unique names, saying, “There are a lot of John Browns out there.” They are Osiris Adrian Amon-Ra J. St Brown, Equanimeous Tristan Imhotep J St Brown, and Amon-Ra Julian Heru J St Brown.

All three sons became professional American football players. The oldest, Equanimeous St, plays for the Green Bay Packers; Osiris is on the Stanford Cardinals team; and the youngest, Amon-Ra St., plays for the Detroit Lions in the NFL.

John Brown Competition History

1975

• Mr California - AAU, Teen, 3rd place
• Mr Southern California - AAU, Teen, 3rd place

1976

• Gold's Classic - AAU, Tall, 2nd place
• Mr Los Angeles - AAU, Teen, 1st place

1977

• Mr Los Angeles - AAU, Winner
• Mr Southern California - AAU, 3rd place

1978

• Junior Mr America - AAU, Tall, 3rd place
• Junior Mr USA - AAU, Tall, 3rd place
• Orange County (CA) Championships - AAU, Overall Winner

1979

• Mr America - AAU, Tall, 6th place
• Mr California - AAU, Tall, 3rd place
• Junior Mr America - AAU, Tall, 1st place
• Mr. Western America - AAU, Winner

1980

• Mr America - AAU, HeavyWeight, 6th place
• Mr California - AAU, Tall, 2nd place
• World Championships - WABBA, Tall, Winner

1981

• Mr Universe - NABBA, Winner
• World Championships - WABBA, Winner
• World Championships - WABBA, Tall, 1st

1982

• Mr Universe - NABBA, Winner
• Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 1st
• World Championships - WABBA, Tall, 1st

1983

• Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 2nd place
• World Championships - WABBA, Professional, 3rd place

1984

• Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, 9th place
• World Grand Prix - IFBB, 9th place

1985

• Night of Champions - IFBB, 10th place
• Olympia - IFBB, 14th place

1986

• Night of Champions - IFBB, 16th place
• World Pro Championships - IFBB, 14th place

1987

• Detroit Pro Championships - IFBB, 8th place

1989

• Grand Prix Melbourne - IFBB, 10th
• World Pro Championships - IFBB, 9th

1991

• Ironman Pro Invitational - IFBB, 12th place
• San Jose Pro Invitational - IFBB, 10th place

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FAQs: John Brown Bodybuilder

Q: What were some of John Brown's major achievements in bodybuilding?

A: Brown's major achievements include winning the Amateur Mr. Universe title in 1981 and 1982, as well as capturing the Mr. World title three times.

Q: Did John Brown experience racism in his bodybuilding career?

A: Unfortunately, yes. Despite the presence of black bodybuilders, John felt they were treated unfairly compared to white competitors, particularly in America. Europe, on the other hand, embraced them as celebrities.

Q: How did John Brown get started in bodybuilding?

A: Brown was discovered by a local bodybuilder named George Caracas while working out in a park in Compton, California. Caracas encouraged the teenage Brown to pursue bodybuilding, and he soon started competing.

Q: What happened after John Brown retired from bodybuilding?

A: After retiring from bodybuilding, John Brown settled in the U.S. with his wife Miriam and raised their three sons, all of whom went on to become successful professional football players in the NFL.

Final Thoughts

John Brown's journey in bodybuilding is a true inspiration. From starting out in a tough neighborhood to becoming a Two-time Mr. Universe, and three-time Mr. World, his hard work and dedication have made a lasting impact on the sport. He faced many challenges, including racism, but he never gave up. 

Brown's legacy extends beyond his bodybuilding career. His sons, who were named after Egyptian gods, followed in his footsteps and became successful American football players in the NFL. 

His story encourages anyone looking to improve their fitness to stay committed and believe in themselves. With the right mindset and support, you can achieve your own bodybuilding goals, just like John Brown did.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(bodybuil...

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/forgotten-bodybu...

https://lasentinel.net/local-legend-john-brown.htm...

https://musclememory.com/show.php?a=Brown,+John

Photo Credits:

John Brown MR Universe Facebook Page

Pierre Mazereau

Shawn Ray / Digital Muscle