Mike Mentzer started competing in local physique contests when he was eighteen. His first contest was in 1969. In 1971 he
suffered his worst defeat, placing 10th at the AAU Mr. America, which was won by Casey Viator. Mentzer considered his presence
at this contest important later on, as it was here that he met Viator who gave Mentzer the contact information for his trainer
Arthur Jones. After a layoff of a few years, he returned to competition in 1975 at the Mr. America, placing third behind
Robby Robinson and Roger Callard. Mentzer went on to win that competition the next year, in 1976. He won the 1977 North
America championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, and competed a week later at the 1977 Mr. Universe in Nîmes, France placing second to Kal Szkalak. -Wiki-