A true bodybuilding legend and veteran has passed away.
The 1982 Mr. Olympia champion, Chris Dickerson has reportedly passed away on Dec. 23, 2021, at the age of 82. Dickerson suffered a prior heart attack and was the sixth winner of bodybuilding’s Mr. Olympia title. His passing comes less than two months after the death of 2018 Mr. Olympia, Shawn Rhoden. News of Dickerson’s passing was confirmed to Generation Iron by close sources as shared across several notable Instagram accounts.
In August of 2019, Dickerson suffered a broken hip after a fall. While in the hospital, Dickerson had a heart attack and contracted COVID-19 while recovering.
About Chris Dickerson
Chris Dickerson was one of the best bodybuilders of all-time and broke many barriers. He was the first openly gay professional bodybuilder and Olympia champion. Dickerson was also the first African-American winner of the Olympia and Mr. America competitions.
He was the sixth winner of the Olympia competition. The event began in 1965 when Larry Scott took home the title. In 17 years, there was a total of five winners — Scott, Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, and Frank Zane. After two second-place finishes in 1980 and 1981, Dickerson was able to win gold in 1982.
Chris Dickerson did not start competing until he was 27. In 1966, Dickerson won three of the four contests he entered. This jump started what would become a legendary career. Dickerson would go onto win the 1968 AAU Mr. USA and 1970 AAU Mr. America championships. He added the title during the 1973 and 1974 NABBA Mr. Universe competitions.
In 1979, Dickerson competed in his first IFBB Pro League competition. This was a victory during the Canada Pro Cup. Dickerson appeared in the Olympia that year and finished fourth — with Zane winning the title. He would go onto finish second to Schwarzenegger during the 1980 Olympia and Columbu during the 1981 competition.
Chris Dickerson saw great success in 1980 and 1981 when he won a total of nine shows with eight runner-up finishes. He did not compete following his Olympia title until 1984. This is when he returned to the Olympia stage and finished 11th. Dickerson’s final competition came in 1994 where he won the Over 50 division in the Masters Olympia.
Dickerson is the fifth Olympia champion to pass away. This is less than two months after 2018 Olympia champ Shawn Rhoden tragically passed away. Dickerson will be remembered as one of the best of all-time.
Chris Dickerson Competition Titles Won
The 1982 Mr. Olympia champion, Chris Dickerson has reportedly passed away on Dec. 23, 2021, at the age of 82. Dickerson suffered a prior heart attack and was the sixth winner of bodybuilding’s Mr. Olympia title. His passing comes less than two months after the death of 2018 Mr. Olympia, Shawn Rhoden. News of Dickerson’s passing was confirmed to Generation Iron by close sources as shared across several notable Instagram accounts.
In August of 2019, Dickerson suffered a broken hip after a fall. While in the hospital, Dickerson had a heart attack and contracted COVID-19 while recovering.
About Chris Dickerson
Chris Dickerson was one of the best bodybuilders of all-time and broke many barriers. He was the first openly gay professional bodybuilder and Olympia champion. Dickerson was also the first African-American winner of the Olympia and Mr. America competitions.
He was the sixth winner of the Olympia competition. The event began in 1965 when Larry Scott took home the title. In 17 years, there was a total of five winners — Scott, Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, and Frank Zane. After two second-place finishes in 1980 and 1981, Dickerson was able to win gold in 1982.
Chris Dickerson did not start competing until he was 27. In 1966, Dickerson won three of the four contests he entered. This jump started what would become a legendary career. Dickerson would go onto win the 1968 AAU Mr. USA and 1970 AAU Mr. America championships. He added the title during the 1973 and 1974 NABBA Mr. Universe competitions.
In 1979, Dickerson competed in his first IFBB Pro League competition. This was a victory during the Canada Pro Cup. Dickerson appeared in the Olympia that year and finished fourth — with Zane winning the title. He would go onto finish second to Schwarzenegger during the 1980 Olympia and Columbu during the 1981 competition.
Chris Dickerson saw great success in 1980 and 1981 when he won a total of nine shows with eight runner-up finishes. He did not compete following his Olympia title until 1984. This is when he returned to the Olympia stage and finished 11th. Dickerson’s final competition came in 1994 where he won the Over 50 division in the Masters Olympia.
Dickerson is the fifth Olympia champion to pass away. This is less than two months after 2018 Olympia champ Shawn Rhoden tragically passed away. Dickerson will be remembered as one of the best of all-time.
Chris Dickerson Competition Titles Won
- 1966 – AAU Junior Mr. USA
- 1966 – AAU Junior Mr. USA (Most Muscular)
- 1966 – AAU Mr. Atlantic Coast
- 1966 – AAU Mr. New York State
- 1967 – AAU Mr. California
- 1968 – AAU Mr. USA
- 1970 – AAU Junior Mr. America
- 1970 – AAU Junior Mr. America (Most Muscular)
- 1970 – AAU Mr. America
- 1970 – AAU Mr. America (Most Muscular)
- 1970 – NABBA Mr. Universe (Short)
- 1971 – NABBA Mr. Universe (Short)
- 1973 – WBBG Pro Mr. America
- 1973 – NABBA Pro Mr. Universe
- 1974 – NABBA Pro Mr. Universe
- 1979 – IFBB Canada Pro Cup
- 1980 – IFBB Canada Pro Cup
- 1980 – IFBB Florida Pro Invitational
- 1980 – IFBB Grand Prix California
- 1980 – IFBB Grand Prix Miami
- 1980 – IFBB Grand Prix New York
- 1980 – IFBB Night of Champions
- 1981 – IFBB Grand Prix California
- 1981 – IFBB Grand Prix Louisiana
- 1981 – IFBB Grand Prix New York
- 1981 – IFBB Grand Prix Washington
- 1981 – IFBB Night of Champions
- 1982 – IFBB Mr. Olympia
- 1994 – IFBB Olympia Masters 50+
