firstproshowyear yesorretiredyear bestwin weight firstproshow height image_size bestwinyear article_title
1969 retired 1981 ifbb mr. universe 230 ; kg -rrb- -lrb- 1975 -rrb- & nbsp ; lb -lrb- 104 & nbsp ifbb mr. america 6 ft 2 in m 3 on 300px 1972 mike katz

mike katz

michael katz -lrb- born november 14 , 1944 -rrb- is a former american ifbb professional bodybuilder and former professional football player with the new york jets , most famous for his appearance with arnold schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary film `` pumping iron '' .
katz attended southern connecticut state college , graduating in 1966 .
he worked as a jr. .
high school gym teacher while training as an amateur bodybuilder .
katz cited bullying in his youth , for being jewish and wearing glasses , as inspiration for weight training .
he was known for his role as the underdog in the 1975 mr. universe competition , where he refused to give up on himself despite placing 4th place in the tall division .
katz later went professional and qualified for the 1976 mr. olympia , placing 2nd in the heavyweight division in what was considered his peak form -lrb- katz had greatly improved his proportions , considered his main flaw as a competitor -rrb- .
mike katz was also a pro football player with the new york jets before ending his nfl career with a leg injury in 1968 .
katz appeared in the documentary `` challenging impossibility -lrb- film -rrb- '' , commenting on the weightlifting odyssey of spiritual teacher and peace advocate sri chinmoy .
the film was an official selection of the 2011 tribeca film festival .
