Chris Dickerson (bodybuilder)

Chris Dickerson (bodybuilder)
Henri Christophe Dickerson (August 25, 1939 – December 23, 2021) was an American professional bodybuilder.
Early life
Dickerson was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on August 25, 1939. He was the youngest of triplets. His mother, Mahala Ashley Dickerson, was a lawyer and civil rights advocate for women and minorities. He graduated high school at Olney Friends School in 1957.
Bodybuilding career
One of the world's most titled bodybuilders, Dickerson's competitive career spanned thirty years; he was known for both his heavily muscled, symmetrical physique and for his skills on the posing dais.
Dickerson first entered bodybuilding competition in 1965 by taking third place at that year's Mr. Long Beach competition. He turned pro in 1973 and won a total of 15 professional bodybuilding titles across four organizations during his career.
He trained for many of his most important competitions in the 1980s with former Mr. Universe Bill Pearl.
Dickerson was the first African-American AAU Mr. America, the first openly gay winner of the IFBB Mr. Olympia contest, and one of only two bodybuilders (along with Dexter Jackson) to win titles in both the Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia competitions.
He won the Mr. Olympia once (1982), a distinction he shares with Samir Bannout (1983) and Dexter Jackson (2008) who have since retired, Shawn Rhoden (2018) who has since died, as well as Brandon Curry (2019) and Hadi Choopan (2022) who are currently active.
Dickerson retired after winning the 50+ division at the 1994 Masters Olympia and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2000. Dickerson lived in Florida where he continued to train, conduct seminars, and correspond with current athletes.
Modeling
During the 1960s, Dickerson did much physique modeling. His 1970s nude work for photographer Jim French is today considered some of the best in an admittedly limited field. He appeared in French's hardcover photo essay, Man (1972), and also posed for the photographer ten years later. These photos ran in an issue of Olympus, published by Colt Studios.
Personal life and death
Dickerson died on December 23, 2021, at the age of 82, from heart failure.
Bodybuilding titles
1966 Mr North America - AAU, 2nd
1966 Mr New York State - AAU, Overall Winner
1966 Mr Eastern America - AAU, Overall Winner
1966 Mr Atlantic Coast - AAU, Overall Winner
1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
1966 Junior Mr USA - AAU, Winner
1967 Mr California - AAU, Winner
1967 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 4th
1967 Mr America - AAU, 6th
1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 5th
1967 Junior Mr America - AAU, 4th
1968 Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
1968 Mr USA - AAU, Winner
1968 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 3rd
1968 Mr America - AAU, 3rd
1968 Junior Mr America - AAU, 3rd
1969 Mr America - AAU, 2nd
1969 Junior Mr America - AAU, 2nd
1970 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
1970 Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
1970 Mr America - AAU, Winner
1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
1970 Junior Mr America - AAU, Winner
1971 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
1973 Universe - NABBA, Short, 1st
1973 Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner
1973 Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner
1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 1st
1974 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
1975 World Championships - WBBG, 2nd
1975 Universe - Pro - PBBA, 2nd
1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, Short, 2nd
1976 Universe - Pro - NABBA, 3rd
1976 Olympus - WBBG, 4th
1979 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, Lightweight, 4th
1979 Grand Prix Vancouver - IFBB, 2nd
1979 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner
1979 Canada Diamond Pro Cup - IFBB, 2nd
1980 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, 2nd
1980 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1980 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner
1980 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner
1980 Grand Prix Miami - IFBB, Winner
1980 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, 2nd
1980 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner
1980 Florida Pro Invitational - IFBB, Winner
1980 Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Winner
1981 Professional World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
1981 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd
1981 Night of Champions - IFBB, Winner
1981 Grand Prix World Cup - IFBB, 2nd
1981 Grand Prix Washington - IFBB, Winner
1981 Grand Prix New York - IFBB, Winner
1981 Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 2nd
1981 Grand Prix Louisiana - IFBB, Winner
1981 Grand Prix California - IFBB, Winner
1982 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, Winner
1984 Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 11th
1990 Arnold Classic - IFBB, 8th
1994 Masters Olympia - IFBB, Overall, 4th
References
External links
IFBB Hall of Fame
Chris Dickerson passes away at 82
Chris Dickerson Gallery
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Mr. Olympia
|-
| style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by:Franco Columbu
| style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| First (1982)
| style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by:Samir Bannout
1939 births
2021 deaths
21st-century African-American people
20th-century African-American sportspeople
African-American bodybuilders
African-American male models
African-American models
American male models
American male adult models
Gay sportsmen
African-American LGBT people
Gay models
LGBT people from Florida
LGBT people from New York (state)
American LGBT sportspeople
American LGBT models
American gay men
Professional bodybuilders
Sportspeople from Manhattan
Sportspeople from Florida
American sportsmen
LGBT bodybuilders
21st-century American LGBT people
Olney Friends School alumni