Superstars (British TV programme)

Superstars is TV program. The show is a sports competition between very good athletes from different sports. They try to win a series of athletic events similar to a decathlon.  Figure skating champion Dick Button developed the idea.  ABC bought it as a special for the winter of 1973. The first Superstars competition was held in Rotonda West, Florida in March 1973. The winner was pole vaulter Bob Seagren.  The BBC covered the competition and aired their own programme on December 31, 1973. The BBC version featured British athletes.

Competitors usually participate in ten different sporting events, including a 100-yard dash,  run, obstacle course, weightlifting, bowling, rowing, tennis, basketball, bicycle racing, and swimming. Sometimes the sports have changed over time and between the European and American competitions. For example, in the first USA competition, there was no obstacle course, but there was table tennis and baseball. Athletes get points for the position they finish in each event. The competitor with the most points at the end of all ten events is the winner.

 List of American winners 
YearAthleteSport1973Bob SeagrenPole Vault1974Kyle Rote, Jr.Soccer1975O. J. SimpsonFootball1976Kyle Rote, Jr.Soccer1977Kyle Rote, Jr.Soccer1978Wayne GrimditchWater Skiing1979Greg PruittFootball1980Charles WhiteFootball1981Renaldo NehemiahTrack and field1982Renaldo NehemiahTrack and field1983Renaldo NehemiahFootball1984Tom PetranoffJavelin1985Mark GastineauFootball1986Renaldo NehemiahFootball1987Herschel WalkerFootball1988Herschel WalkerFootball1989Willie GaultFootball1990Willie GaultFootball1991Kelly GruberBaseball1992Mike PowellLong Jump1993Dave JohnsonDecathlon1994Dave JohnsonDecathlon1995--1996--1997--1998Jason SehornFootball1999Jason SehornFootball2000Jason SehornFootball2001Hermann MaierSkiing2002Bode MillerSkiing2003Jeremy BloomFreestyle Skiing

Other websites
'The Superstars': a page describing the Superstars competitions over the years.
BBC Superstars website
Category:1970s British sports television series
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