Samir Bannout

Samir Hassan Bannout (born November 7, 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon) is an IFBB professional bodybuilder.


Known as "the Lion of Lebanon", Samir Bannout won the Mr. Olympia title in 1983. At that time, only 6 men had held this most prestigious title since the contest was first introduced in 1965. Many of them, obviously, held the title for several years, Bannout won it just once, a distinction shared with Mr. Olympia Chris Dickerson. Samir has appeared on the covers of many fitness and bodybuilding publications, including Strength and Health, MuscleMag International, Muscle Digest, Flex, Muscle Training Illustrated, Muscle and Fitness, Muscle Up, IronMan and Muscular Development magazines.

Samir Bannout first moved to Detroit, Michigan, in the United States. He competed at the amateur level and achieved IFBB pro status by winning his light-heavyweight class at the 1979 IFBB World Amateur Championships. By this time Samir had already relocated to Santa Monica, California. Bannout took 4th place at the 1982 Mr. Olympia contest and returned the following year to finally take home the title in 1983. The contest was held in Munich, Germany that year and the trophy awarded him is called a "Sandow" named after Eugen Sandow.

The extreme muscular definition that Bannout was able to achieve in his lower back region helped coin the term "Christmas tree" when referring the shape made visible during a back pose on the competition stage.

After placing 6th at the 1984 Olympia, he was suspended for three years by the IFBB as punishment for his participation at the rival federation, WABBA's, World Championship competition.

Samir Bannout was never able to get a top six placing again at a Mr. Olympia contest despite competing at the event many more times. In 1990 he won his second IFBB pro show, the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational. His professional career lasted for 17 years.

Today Samir Bannout lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Randa and three children Lea,Jesse,Sergio. He was inducted to the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2002.


Bodybuilding titles Samir Bannout

1974

Universe - IFBB, Medium, 7th

1976

Universe - IFBB, MiddleWeight, 12th

1977

Mr International - IFBB, MiddleWeight, 2nd

1978

Mr International - IFBB, MiddleWeight, 2nd

Mr Michigan - AAU, Overall Winner

1979

Best in the World - IFBB, Amateur, 1st

Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, Did not place

World Amateur Championships - IFBB, Light-HeavyWeight, 1st

1980

Grand Prix California - IFBB, 4th

Grand Prix Pennsylvania - IFBB, 7th

Night of Champions - IFBB, 10th

Olympia - IFBB, 15th

Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, Did not place


1981

Grand Prix California - IFBB, 7th

Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 6th

Night of Champions - IFBB, 10th

Olympia - IFBB, 9th


1982

Grand Prix Sweden - IFBB, 2nd

Olympia - IFBB, 4th


1983


Olympia - IFBB, Winner


1984

Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, 5th

Olympia - IFBB, 6th

World Grand Prix - IFBB, 5th


1985

World Championships - WABBA, Professional, 1st


1988

Grand Prix England - IFBB, 10th

Grand Prix Italy - IFBB, 9th

Olympia - IFBB, 8th


1989

Arnold Classic - IFBB, 4th

Grand Prix Finland - IFBB, 6th

Grand Prix France - IFBB, 8th

Grand Prix Germany - IFBB, 5th

Grand Prix Holland - IFBB, 5th
Grand Prix Spain (2) - IFBB, 5th

Grand Prix Spain - IFBB, 5th

Grand Prix Sweden - IFBB, 3rd

Olympia - IFBB, 9th



1990

Arnold Classic - IFBB, Disqualified

Grand Prix England - IFBB, 6th

Grand Prix Finland - IFBB, 5th

Grand Prix Italy - IFBB, 6th

Houston Pro Invitational - IFBB, 3rd

Olympia - IFBB, 8th

Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, Winner

World Championships - NABBA, Professional, 2nd


1991

Olympia - IFBB, Did not place


1992


Arnold Classic - IFBB, Did not place

Grand Prix Germany - IFBB, 11th

Olympia - IFBB, Did not place


1993


Arnold Classic - IFBB, 13th

Ironman Pro Invitational - IFBB, 15th

Ironman Pro Invitational - IFBB, 13th

San Jose Pro Invitational - IFBB, 10th


1994


Grand Prix England - IFBB, 14th

Grand Prix Germany - IFBB, 13th

Grand Prix Italy - IFBB, 12th

Grand Prix Spain - IFBB, 12th

Olympia - IFBB, Did not place


1996

Olympia - Masters - IFBB, 6th