Farbotnik Wins at Paris

by Bob Hoffman

This year for the first time a world's championship physique contest was conducted by the International Weight-lifting Federation. We started this project in conjunction with the World Weight-lifting Championships back in 1947 when the tournament was staged at Philadelphia. However, this physique competition of three years ago was not officially sanctioned by the International Weight-lifting Federation. The 1950 physique competition to determine the world's best developed athlete took place in Paris at the conclusion of the weight-lifting championships on the 15th of October.

Prior to the competition there was considable discussion concerning Reg Park . It should have been entirely unnecessary since Reg Park, like everyone else, was fully aware that this competition was restricted to amateur athletes. Reg Park knew, of course, that he is a professional. There is recent irrefutable proof of this for as recently as September 8th of this year Reg Park competed in a much advertised professional physique contest in New York City. He was the winner of this professional event in which he competed against other professional athletes, including Alan Stephan and Floyd Page. It was advertised that $1,000 in cash prizes were to be awarded at this contest which Reg Park won. Despite the fact that Reg Park should have realized that he was not eligible to compete in the amateur competition at Paris, he and his parents were determined that he would participate. Their conduct in this connection was lacking in both sportsmanship and good manners.

Reg Park in this determination to violate the regulations governing this competition went so far as to try to disqualify our official entry, John Farbotnik , the current A.A.U. "Mr. America" . The only evidence that Reg Park put forth in this connection very likely resulted from his (Park's) close affiliation with Joe Weider. Park claimed that Farbotnik received a check from Weider for the publication of the exercise photos of him which were recently released. The truth of this matter is, and this was readily proved, that Joe Weider endeavored to put across one of his unethical deals at John Farbotnik's expense. Joe Weider sent Farbotnik a check for a paltry sum to compensate for the unauthorized publication release of these posed for photos of Farbotnik. Not only was this check returned to Joe Weider by Farbotnik but his letter accompanying it made it be known that he was seriously considering taking legal action against Weider for publishing these photos without a release from him. Knowing of Weider's unethical tactics makes one wonder if he was plotting against our "Mr. America" in the transaction that did not materialize. It so happens that John Farbotnik, to preserve his amateur status, so as to be eligible to compete in the competition at Paris, purposely did not take part in any of the professional physique events, such as the "Mr. U.S.A." contest at Los Angeles in July. He was willing to sacrifice the lucrative professional prospects he has had since winning the "Mr. America" title this year in order to represent the U.S.A. in this amateur physique tournament at Paris. Reg Park's efforts against Farbotnik at Paris, of course, proved futile.

Park's father claimed that I was the instigator of the "attack" against his son. Words can not properly describe how obnoxious his conduct was in the unpleasant incident he and his son were responsible for. I was in Paris as the coach of the American team and was absorbed in helping them to win. The official protest against Park was lodged by Dietrich Wortmann, our National Weight-lifting Chairman, President of the Metropolitan A.A.U. and First Vice-President of the International Weight-lifting Federation. This protest, which rejected Reg Park's entry, was completely justified and substantiated by irrefutable evidence to prove him to be a professional athlete.

After I left the meeting pertaining to Reg Park's efforts to compete in this amateur tournament, it was decided that Park's entry would be rejected since he was a professional and therefore ineligible. I was engaged in the weighing in procedure of the lifters after I left the meeting dealing with Reg Park. It was assumed that this matter would be ended then. This was not so for there was more unpleasantness to result from the conduct of Reg Park and his parents. Even though Reg's entry had been officially rejected he was unwilling to accept this decision. Before the physique contest started he showed up with his posing trunks. It was then that Reg Park and his parents bombarded John Farbotnik with criticism in the dressing room. Their conduct here was certainly in bad taste. John Farbotnik was most certainly not deserving of such an attack. It is unfortunate that circumstances proved such that he was exposed to their unjustified criticism.

This unpleasant experience with Reg Park and his parents calls to mind an incident that occurred when the "Mr. Universe" contest was staged at Philadelphia in 1947. John Grimek was declared ineligible so he was prevented from competing. Did Grimek create a scene or exert pressure to compete like Reg Park did at Paris? He most certainly did not! His conduct, unlike Reg's in this connection, displayed good sportsmanship.

Finally the physique contest to determine the world's best developed athlete started. There were some outstanding contestants in competition. However, as a group the entries were not as extraordinary as those in the major American A.A.U. physique events. Some of the entries in the competition at Paris would have appeared most impressive with better posing ability. John Farbotnik looked marvelous and his posing display was superb. The enthusiastic applause accorded him by the audience made it evident that he was their favorite. When the decision was arrived at by the judges, which included doctors, artists and physical culture experts, it proved that the spectators were correct in their reaction. John Farbotnik was selected as the winner of this international competition. His victory was indeed popular and certainly well deserved.

At the conclusion of the contest the prizes were awarded. Farbotnik was given a vase that was devoid of an inscription. The second place man was presented with an impressive trophy and the third place winner received a large medal in an ornate box. Farbotnik smiled in his usual good-natured way and did not register disappointment. He said, referring to the prize he received, "It's nice and looks valuable." But I was not satisfied for I felt sure a mistake had been made. I hunted up the dressing room of Mario Maurello, the French athlete who placed second. I asked his permission to examine his prize and upon looking at it noticed immediately that it was marked to indicate that it was intended for the "World's Best Developed Athlete", the winner. I endeavored to explain, under the handicap of my limited French, that Farbotnik was first and he was second. This he understood, but was unable to converse in English. I then asked him if we could exchange prizes. His mother, a handsome woman, knew some English and immediately responded by saying, "Of course, it is your prize, the officials made a mistake." I shook hands with her and told her she could be very proud of her son. She introduced me to her husband and I said the son can be very proud of his parents. They were a fine family, one it was a pleasure and privilege to meet.

Thus it had a happy ending. Farbotnik was elated over his success. We were all very happy for our tremendous effort and many sacrifices have been compensated for with the glorious team victory in the weight lifting and with Farbotnik's win in the physique competition. This time we added to the American laurels with a championship in body building. Verily, verily, our cup runneth over.

RESULTS OF "WORLD'S BEST DEVELOPED ATHLETE" CONTEST