Total
pictures:
490Have
you a new Samir Bannout's photo? Help us
Three
months before Christmas 1983, Samir Bannout flexed his
“decorated” lumbar region in Munich, West Germany, for the
IFBB Mr. Olympia judges. Since then, the high definition found
in a muscular lower back has been called a “Christmas tree”.Known
as the “Lion of Lebanon” because of his birthplace
(Beirut, Lebanon), Samir roared into America in 1974 and
settled first in Detroit. In that city, he was crowned
1978 Mr. Michigan.
In 1979, he won the Best in the World event
and the light-heavyweight division of the IFBB World Amateur
Championships. The
latter win bequeathed him an IFBB pro card, and he made his
debut (also in 1979) at the Canada Pro Cup, by which time he
had moved to Venice, California.
Bannout’s IFBB pro career
spanned 53 contests; his 11 attempts at the IFBB Mr. Olympia
are a record among those who have won the title as he did
in 1983.
His
last win was the 1990 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational, and
the final sighting of Samir in contest mode was at the 1996
IFBB Masters Olympia where he finished in sixth place. His pro
career had endured for 17 years.
The
Lion always was and still is renowned as one of
bodybuilding’s more entertaining characters. His ability to
mix quotes with poses never left the industry’s writers
disappointed. Today, Samir lives in Los Angeles with his wife
and two children and pursues several business interests,
including the marketing of a supplement company.
Have
you a new Samir Bannout's photo? 
