Top 10 Short Bodybuilders of All Time: The Giant Killers

Bodybuilding is a discipline that emphasizes size and proportion. The common image associated with bodybuilding is that of a massive, muscular individual with a chiseled physique. While some may believe that height is an advantage in this sport, it is the medium to short-statured individuals who tend to excel in competitions.

In fact, there are even more short bodybuilders than there are tall ones. This is because individuals with smaller builds can more easily build muscle mass. With less body surface area to cover, shorter athletes can achieve an impressive appearance with less effort. For example, 180 pounds may not be particularly noteworthy on a 6-foot-tall person, but it can look quite impressive on someone who is 5 feet tall.

There is also the fact that tall people tend to not perform well in bodybuilding and nobody over the height of 6’2’’ (189 cm) has ever won any IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) Pro League.

Bodybuilding enthusiasts and fans alike will attest to the excitement that comes from watching a seemingly small bodybuilder beat out a towering giant. Throughout history, there have been countless examples of this phenomenon in the sport of bodybuilding.

Top 10 Short Bodybuilders

Bodybuilding is a sport where height is not a determining factor for success. While the average height of male open bodybuilders is 5 feet 7 inches, there are many successful bodybuilders who are much taller or shorter than this.

Some well-known Mr. Olympias such as Schwarzenegger and Coleman were taller than the average, but their height did not guarantee their success. The fact that bodybuilders of average height were able to beat them shows that height is not the key to success in this sport.

Keeping that in mind, here is a short bodybuilders list who have not let their small stature define them and made a name for themselves with outstanding accolades. These are some of the best short bodybuilders that have been around and are both active or inactive at the moment.

Flavio Baccianini

• Height 4’10
• Year: 1959-present

The shortest bodybuilder on this list was an actor from Italy.  Flavio Baccianini holds the record for being the shortest Mr. Olympia competitor ever and although he could not get a podium finish, he was only three spots below the 6’5’ Lou Ferrigno, who was more than double his weight. Baccianini is often considered an absolute beast of his time, which is ironic because he almost gave up his bodybuilding career.

Flavio’s journey in bodybuilding began with a slow start but he eventually made his debut in the European Championships of WABBA, where he secured the third position.

He later switched to IFBB in 1988 and participated in several events, but his most notable achievement was finishing second in Olympia – Masters IFBB in 1999.

Ed Theriault

• Height 5’1”
• Year: 1920-2003

In the 1940s, bodybuilding contests were not as common as they are now, and this is how Canadian Ed Theriault came to be known as “The Little Giant” even before he had competed on stage.

Joe Weider hired him as his first employee, and Ed Theriault appeared on the covers of Weider magazines 14 times between 1941 and 1962.

Known for his impressive hand-balancing skills and his muscular physique, particularly his legs, Ed Theriault won the overall 1949 IFBB Mr. Canada title, as well as the short classes in the 1950 IFBB Mr. America and 1959 IFBB Mr. Universe contests.

Danny Padilla

• Height 5’2”
• Year: 1951-present

Danny Padilla, a native of New York, had an impressively aesthetic and symmetrical physique with a tight waistline and can be easily termed as one of the best short bodybuilders of all time.  During his amateur career, he earned the nickname “The Giant Killer” by winning both the 1975 Mr. USA and the overall 1977 Mr. America despite being in the short classes.

In 1977, he won the short class of the IFBB Mr. Universe by beating his rival, who was also on the list. From 1978 to 1990, Padilla participated in the IFBB Pro League, as well as two Masters Olympias.

Although he never won a pro show, he came in second three times and was in the top five in 15 of his 24 open pro shows, including a controversial fifth place in the 1981 Mr. Olympia, where he arguably deserved the title at a peeled 160 lbs. In his rookie year of 1979, he defeated Mike Mentzer, who won the heavyweight class of that year’s Mr. Olympia.

Even at the age of 39, in 1990, Padilla placed third in the prestigious Night of Champions pro show, defeating 26 competitors, proving that he could still take down the giants. Padilla’s impact on bodybuilding goes beyond his impressive resume of titles, as he was renowned for his charming personality and his ability to connect with fans. He was also one of the pioneers of the modern era of bodybuilding.

Thierry Pastel

• Height 5’2”
• Year: 1959-present

Thierry Pastel, a bodybuilder from France, was a WABBA champion before he switched to IFBB. In 1990, he won a pro show by defeating many renowned bodybuilders including Benaziza and Padilla.

Despite being just 5’2″, his tiny waist, well-defined abs, broad X-frame, and stunning arms made him appear taller. Although he couldn’t win another pro show after that, he remained consistent throughout his seven-year pro career and finished in the top six almost 30 times, competing frequently.

He defeated many legends such as Ronnie Coleman, Lou Ferrigno, Kevin Levrone, and Nasser El Sonbaty. His best finish at Olympia was eighth in 1991.

Mohammed Banaziza

• Height 5’3”
• Year 1959-92

Nicknamed “Killer of Giants” by Joe Weider, Benaziza was an Algerian-born pro bodybuilder. He kickstarted into pro bodybuilding after winning the Lightweight championships in 1987. His dedication to the post helped him bulk up to an admirable physique in just a couple of years after his pro debut. In 1990, he defeated Dorian Yates in the Night of Champions and earned the mentioned nickname from Weider.

Despite being placed in the Top 5 in the 1989 Mr. Olympia contest, Benaziza managed to draw positive attention to his physique and posing. In the next year, he won 6 more pro contests and by 1992 he had won second place in the Arnold Classic, first place in two more pro shows, and fifth place again in Mr. Olympia.

Unfortunately, he lost his life in 1992, due to severe dehydration triggered caused by an injection he took to accelerate his gains before the competition. Although this is unconfirmed, it still marked the tragic demise of a talented icon in the new age of Bodybuilding.

Benaziza is one of the only two bodybuilders ( the other is Lee Haney), who defeated Dorian Yates in any pro league. He also beat Ronnie Coleman, who like Yates was a rookie at the time.

Regardless of his untimely death, Benaziza’s legacy is still fondly remembered.

Wilfred Sylvester

• Height 5’3”
• Year: 1942-2006

Wilf Sylvester was a renowned bodybuilder who was born Sylvester Wilfred in 1942 in Castries, St. Lucia. He moved to London at the age of 18 to pursue bodybuilding and participated in 13 competitions during his career.

He made his debut at the 1965 NABBA Mr. Universe, where he secured 5th place in the short class. His last competition was at the IFBB World Amateur Championships, where he competed in the Lightweight category and achieved a respectable 5th place.

Mohamed Mekkawy

• Height 5’3”
• Year: 1953-present

A master poser with one of history’s most aesthetic physiques, Mohamed Mekkawy was nicknamed “The Magic Egyptian”. At the young age of 16, Mohamed Mekkawy won his first bodybuilding competition, the 1969 Mr. Egypt.

After moving to Canada, he won several titles in the amateur ranks, including the short class and overall Mr. International in 1975 and 1977 and the lightweight Mr. Universe in 1976.

In his early days as a professional bodybuilder, he experienced some struggles, but eventually went on to win two shows in 1982 and four in 1983. Even though he was able to beat Lee Haney five times in 1983, he was second to him in the Mr. Olympia that year. Mekkawy took second place in the 1984 Mr. Olympia, once again behind Haney, and fourth in 1985. He then retired at the age of 31 but did make a brief comeback in the late 90s.

John Citrone

• Height 5’4”
• Year: 1943-present

John Citrone is not only the world’s longest-competing bodybuilder, but also the most decorated one in Britain. He started his bodybuilding journey at the age of 14 and has over 50 years of experience. At the age of 17, he won the Junior Mr. Britain title and later went on to win it in the Senior and Masters categories too.

In addition to his Mr. Britain titles, John has also won two Mr. World titles, eight Mr. Universe titles, and a British bench press title.

Throughout his remarkable career, John Citrone has not only developed an impressive physique but also maintained symmetry and condition, making him a true pioneer of the sport of bodybuilding.

Franco Columbu

• Height 5’5’’
• Year: 1941-present

This prolific former bodybuilder holds the record for being the shortest Mr. Olympia winner.  Apart from that he was also a powerlifter, actor, author, producer, and licensed chiropractor.

Columbu, initially a boxer, achieved great success in bodybuilding by winning the Mr. Olympia title twice in 1976 and 1981. Additionally, he took part in the first edition of the World’s Strongest Man competition in 1977 and secured the fifth position.

Along with his sporting achievements, he also had a successful acting career and authored several books on nutrition and bodybuilding. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Columbu was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2001, the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, and received the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Shawn Ray

• Height 5’5”
• Year: 1965-present

Shawn Ray is a former professional bodybuilder, known for his success in over 30 major bodybuilding competitions, where he placed in the top five in all but one. He was inspired to pursue bodybuilding by influencers such as Chris Dickerson, Bob Paris, and Francis Benfatto.

Ray has also been featured in numerous documentaries, written a book about becoming a bodybuilder, and appeared on the cover of multiple fitness and bodybuilding magazines.

He is known for his sardonic temperament and has courted controversy with insensitive comments about fellow bodybuilder Shawn Rhoden.

In his post-retirement career, Ray has worked with various companies, including FasciaBlaster, Mr. Tortilla, Old School Bodybuilding Clothing, and Mutant Nutrition. Ray is also a co-master of ceremonies for the Mr. Olympia competition and has created a charity fundraiser for professional bodybuilding, which has raised over $55,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Who Is The Shortest Bodybuilder?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record of the world’s shortest bodybuilder in the competitive category is held by Pratik Mohite- a bodybuilder of Indian descent. He is 102 cm ( 3’4”) as recorded in 2021.

The 28-year-old bodybuilder has participated in several district, state, and national events and has achieved notable accomplishments over the years. In 2019, he was honored with the Raigad Bushan Award.

Currently, Mohite works as a gym trainer and when he’s not at the gym, he practices his posing to Bollywood tracks.

Who Is The Shortest Mr. Olympia?

Franco Columbu is the shortest Mr. Olympia in history. Noted for his impressive physique, this prolific bodybuilder has numerous accolades to his name.

He won the title of Mr. Olympia twice- once in 1976 and the second time in 1981.

Don’t miss:

Top 11 Tallest Bodybuilders Ever
What is a Good Height for Bodybuilding
How Strong was Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Prime
How Strong was Ronnie Coleman in his Prime

To Conclude

In conclusion, height is not a limiting factor in the sport of bodybuilding. The list of successful short bodybuilders is long and impressive, with each athlete proving that size is not a barrier to achieving success.

These individuals have shown that with hard work, dedication, and discipline, anyone can achieve greatness in bodybuilding, regardless of their height.