Who Is Harold Poole?
In the 1960s and 1970s, Harold Poole was a renowned American bodybuilder who was regarded as one of the toughest opponents.
On Christmas Day, Harold was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He showed exceptional athletic ability at a young age, dominating American football, track, and wrestling.
Harold afterward astonished the bodybuilding world with a physique that had never been seen before after he started weightlifting.
When Harold was at his finest, his muscles were the ideal combination of size, proportion, and definition. He was in advance of the game.
Harold won many medals throughout more than two decades of competition. A few examples include the 1963 IFBB Mr. Universe, the 1962 Mr. America, and the North American Champion.
In addition, Harold participated in three Mr. Olympia competitions in a row, making him the first bodybuilder to do so.
He later won the title of Greatest Teen Bodybuilder of All Time, one of several honors he’d racked up throughout his glittering career. Here is his account:
Body Measurements Of Harold Poole
| Full Name: | Harold Poole |
| HEIGHT: | 6′ (183cm) |
| WEIGHT: | N/A |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| PROFESSION: | Professional Bodybuilder |
| ERA: | 1960, 1970, 1980 |
Accomplishments
1960
- 18th Mr. America – AAU
- AAU Mr. Mid-America, Most Muscular, Runner-Up
1961
- Mr. America – Fourth AAU
- AAU’s Junior Mr. America, overall champion
1962
- Mr. America – AAU, First Place Most Muscular
- AAU, the second place Mr. America
- AAU, Winner, North American Champion
1963
- Mr. America – AAU, First Place Most Muscular
- AAU, the second place Mr. America
- AAU, 2nd Teen Mr. America
- Universe – Tall, 1st IFBB
- Overall IFBB World Champion
1964
- Mr. America – Tall, First IFBB
- Mr. America, overall champion of the IFBB
1965
- Mr. Olympia-IFBB, second place
1966
- Mr. Olympia-IFBB, second place
1967
- WBBG’s Pro Mr. America, Winner
- Mr. Olympia-IFBB, second place
1968
- WBBG’s Pro Mr. America, Winner
1971
- Mr. USA – Tall, 1st IFBB
1972
- Mr. World – Tall, Third IFBB
1980
- 12th Night of Champions for the IFBB
1981
- California Grand Prix – IFBB, seventh
- IFBB’s Grand Prix New England, ninth
- IFBB’s sixth annual Night of Champions
- IFBB Canada Pro Cup, eighth place
1982
- IFBB World Pro Championships, ninth
2004
- The IFBB Hall of Fame
2007
- Hall of Fame for WBBG
Biography
Short Career Of Harold Poole 
Harold Poole was an active child who was born and raised in Kentucky. His pursuit of sports, such as American football, track, boxing, and wrestling, started when he was 12 years old.
Harold’s power and speed increased dramatically in his first year of training, as seen by his athletic accomplishments.
In addition to finishing second in his high school wrestling tournament at 175 pounds of strong muscle, he was able to run a quarter mile in under 54 seconds.
Starting A Weight Training Program
Roy, Harold’s track coach, advised him to undertake weight training to boost his athletic performance even further.
Weightlifting activity was derided at the time since it was still considered somewhat taboo in society. However, Harold was unaffected by this and soon began weight training to build a bigger and stronger body.
Harold developed a muscular and lean figure by the time he was 18 and weighed 200 lbs. He quickly rose to the position of heavy-weight wrestling champion in his school because of his enhanced physicality.
At the Indiana State Heavyweight Competition, he finished in second place. He also threw a 55-inch, 12 lb. shot, demonstrating his incredible explosive power.
A New Route, (Fitness)
After observing the advantages of strength training, Harold quickly fell in love with his new way of life. He quickly devoted his entire attention to bodybuilding as a result of a series of events. He was quite good at it.
Even though Harold’s coach was the one who introduced him to weightlifting, Dossie and Loren, two of his closest friends and fellow trainees, served as mentors for Harold as he progressed.
For many years, Harold and his two pals exercised together, adhering to a three-day-per-week schedule. They were devoted to their training, according to Harold, and they never missed a session.
Mr. Indianapolis Junior
In 1960, Harold’s disciplined effort in the gym paid off. At that point, he participated in his first bodybuilding competition and won first place. He gained the title of Junior Mr. Indianapolis after this success.
But it didn’t end there. Harold also earned a spot in the first-ever AAU Mr. America competition, which he went on to win three times, in 1964, 1967, and 1968.
Harold had a body that was ahead of his time for a man in his early twenties. He frequently faced off against bodybuilders who were older and more seasoned, but he was still able to consistently win titles.
If Harold’s first year of competition was any indication, he would eventually rank among the top bodybuilders in the world.
Additional Success Of Harold Poole
By 1961, Harold was succeeding on numerous “fronts.” He not only participated in athletics regularly and won, but he also added to his collection of medals in bodybuilding.
He later went on to place in the top five at the AAU Mr. America competition and win two competitions, Mr. Junior America and Mr. Indianapolis.
One of Harold’s biggest successes up to this point came a year later when he stepped up to win the AAU Mr. North America championship.
However, Harold didn’t reach the pinnacle of his career until 1963, when he switched to the IFBB league.
Taken by Storm: IFBB
Harold was ready for fresh challenges after making his debut in the premier IFBB league.
By capturing both the Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe titles, he swiftly established himself. He was the first African-American bodybuilder to ever receive the former award.
Just about Mr. Olympia
Bodybuilding received a new kind of exhibition in 1965, which would eventually grow to be the sport’s premier competition. Mr. Olympia is its name.
Harold was one of the favorites to win the competition because of his prior achievements and amazing physique. He was seen by many as the one who should take home the award.
This, however, never occurred. Harold finished second in the first Mr. Olympia to Larry Scott, who the judges deemed to be the winner.
The outcome was the same the next year, with Harold coming in second to Larry. This time, however, the outcomes caused controversy since some individuals, including Harold, thought the triumph was staged and that Harold Poole was the real champion.
Against Sergio Oliva In combat
Larry stopped competing in bodybuilding in 1967, making Harold the clear favorite to win the competition.
Once more, Harold came very close to winning the grand prize, but Sergio Oliva, better known as “The Myth,” defeated him this time.
Establishing His Status
Harold achieved several remarkable milestones in the competition even if he never took home the Mr. Olympia title. He was the first bodybuilder to contest three times at Mr. Olympia.
Being just 21 years old at the time, he was also the youngest man ever to compete on the biggest bodybuilding stage in the world.
Harold made a name for himself among the best of his era and beyond with these accomplishments, in addition to the many other titles he had previously won.
He gained notoriety for making the well-known most muscular posture fashionable. Harold’s general posing was regarded as some of the most dynamic and graceful in bodybuilding history.
Later Years
After taking part in the 1982 Night of Champions, Harold gave up the IFBB competition. He didn’t place in the top 10 in the competition.
He gradually replaced the fame of the bodybuilding stage with a new profession and physical endeavors. These included naming a few, professional wrestling, teaching Taekwondo, and personal training.
After relocating to Florida, Harold kept up his active lifestyle by lifting weights, mentoring others, and participating in sports.
Harold was welcomed into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004. He also won a spot in the WBBG Hall of Fame three years later.
When Harold won the vote for the greatest teenage bodybuilder of all time in 2008, his bodybuilding career received the final mark of approval.
Death
- On August 7, 2014, Harold Poole passed away in New York City.
- In his 60s, Harold Poole.
Training
Early Life of
In the beginning, Harold Poole exercised three times per week. It was very uncommon for him to skip a workout.
Typically, he worked out his legs on Monday, his upper body on Wednesday, and his legs once more on Friday. He would switch up his routine the following week, beginning with the upper body on Monday, the legs on Wednesday, and the upper body once more on Friday.
On each exercise, he performed 5 sets of 15 repetitions. Squats, according to Harold, used to be his go-to exercise. He explained: “I used to perform a lot of squats because most bodybuilders at the time lacked legs. And the reason behind that is that they disliked squats. It takes effort. (Harold)
Harold spent a lot of time running when he was getting ready for a tournament. Additionally, he got both aerobic and strength training from his high-rep sets.
Fitness In His Sixties And Beyond
To improve his health and lifespan, Harold modified his workout as he approached his 60s.
He stopped working out vigorously. Instead, he substituted light isolation exercises that required numerous repetitions—more than 30 per set—in their place.
With this strategy, Harold was able to stay in shape and keep his body ripped well into his late 60s.
Exercises By Harold Poole
Harold exercised using simple compound workouts when he was at his best. He didn’t have a secret or elaborate routine; rather, his success in the gym was a result of his diligence and perseverance.
Harold used to perform the following fundamental workouts and routines:
- 3 sets of barbell neck presses
- Wide Grip, 6 Sets of Barbell Bench Press
- 3 Rowing Sets with Barbells
- Three pairs of chins behind the neck
- 5 Triceps Kickback Sets
- Three sets of fraudulent barbell curls
- 3 Front Squat Sets
- Donkey calf raises in six sets
- Sit-ups for one set
Nutrition, (Fitness)
When Harold competed, he lacked the modern bodybuilders’ level of nutrition expertise. He ate a lot of protein and complex carbs to “grow enormous.”
To quote Harold, “Then you would eat steak and potatoes and you would eat your eggs and drink your milk – whatever that would allow you to put on weight.” The goal was to grow to be extremely large.
Influences And Idols
Loren and Dossie, two of Harold’s buddies and training partners, had the largest influence on his early bodybuilding career.
The following is Harold’s description of them: “When I was a teenager in Indiana, I had two pals named Loren Comstock and Dossie San Sing who were both bodybuilders and older than I was.
They spent the time showing me the proper poses. They were rivals in their own right.
What Harold Poole Can Teach Us?
Harold has demonstrated to us that even the greatest bodybuilding legends had humble beginnings.
Harold was a fervent athlete in high school, but his track coach later introduced him to weightlifting.
Harold Poole sculpted a physique that would help him win multiple bodybuilding awards with the support of his pals Loren and Dossie and his determination.
Harold’s tale, if anything, emphasizes the need of taking advice from more knowledgeable individuals. As we’ve seen with Harold, they’ll help point you in the correct direction and arm you with the information you need to succeed.