World Natural Bodybuilding Federation

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WNBF HISTORY: FROM YEAR 1989

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Summer 1989

Cheh N. Low first considers founding new professional bodybuilding federation. Invites principles of ANBC, NANBA, ABCC, ANPPC and other natural federation to a meeting in New York City to discuss rules, natural requirements, cooperation and promotion.

November 1989

Mr. Low forms the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation in New York, with Steve Downs as Chairman and Peter Neff as Vice-Chairman. The headquarters is in the Empire State Building, Suite 8216. The NANBF, ABCC and USNFA are the first official affiliates with pro-qualifying status. The WNBF names Natural Physique as its official magazine.

March 1990

Inaugural WNBF Pro Natural event is held in Minneapolis as part of a pro/am event with the NANBF. Jim Evans is promoter. Thirteen men compete for over $8000 in prize money. Doyle Washington wins the Mr. Universe title.

Doyle Washington

July 1990

The WNBF comes to Virginia Beach in a pro/am event with the USNFA, headed by Doug Stewart. Doyle Washington wins his second event in a row, earning $2500.

Doyle Washington

September 1990

The final WNBF pro/am for the inaugural year is co-hosted by Jack O'Bleness and the ABCC in Los Angeles. John Moore wins the American title.

John Moore

November 1990

Women join the WNBF as pros for the first time at the World Championships, with Judy Kalvin-Stiefel winning the inaugural title.

Judy Kalvin-Stiefel

November 1990

The first Pro Natural World Championships takes place in Manhattan. Mike McCloud takes the Men's title, sharing in $21,000 in total prize money. Russ Testo takes a turn as guest poser at the event.

Mike McCloud

January 1991

WNBF Officials travel to Australia to ink a contract with the ANBB as an official amateur affiliate. John Boom is the ANBB founder and president.

August 1991

The National Gym Association (NGA) is named as a new affiliate with the WNBF, having pro-qualifying status in select events. The NANBA remains as a pro-qualifying affiliate in the Midwest, along with the ABCC on the West Coast.

Summer 1991

NBBUI takes over as new Italian affiliate. WNBF sends a team of athletes for USA vs. Italy Natural Bodybuilding Championships, and wins all divisions.

November 1991

Some 54 pros turn out for the second World Championships, held in Union City, N.J. Johnny Green and Kathi Harrison win the titles. Harrison's win gives her the first multi-contest annual sweep of victories in the WNBF.

Johnny Green

Spring 1992

The ANB, under direction of Roy Jones, becomes a WNBF affiliate in Great Britain.

Nigel Davis

June 1992

The American Chiropractic Association sponsors the inaurural WNBF Pro Natural American Chiropractic Cup in Spartanburg, S.C. Ron Williams and Karen Deo are named champions.

Ron Williams

August 1992

The WNBF sends a team of athletes and officials into Eastern Correctional Facility in Napanoch, N.Y., to assist in the staging of the Mr. Nap Contest as part of an inmate outreach program.

June 1993

The WNBF promotes the American Chiropractic Cup in Washington, D.C., with the NGA as a co-promoter. Doyle Washington and Kathi Harrison are named as champions.

Kathi Harrison

November 1993

New York City is host once more to the WNBF World Championships, with the historic Hudson Theater as the venue. Kevin Davidson wins the Men's title, while Kathi Harrison completes 1993 as the top women in the federation. Again in 1993, Harrison is undefeated in Women's bodybuilding.

Kevin Davidson

December 1993

The Nippon Bodybuilding Federation, headed by Yukinori Susaki and Mr. Okafuji, becomes the official Japanese affiliate of the WNBF. Officials from the WNBF travel to Nagasaki for the All Japan Championships and Steve Downs is guest poser.

June 1994

First WNBF event is held in Atlantic City. Trump Taj Mahal plays host to the Women's Atlantic Coast championships, won by Karen Close.

Karen Close

November 1994

Atlantic City hosts its first WNBF World Championships. Gary Gomez and Kathy Unger win World titles at the Taj Mahal.

Gary Gomez

June 1995

The first of two Atlantic City shows takes place at the Taj Mahal, with Kai Greene winning the U.S. Cup.

Kai Greene

November 1995

Eddie "The Rock" Hernandez lays claim to the World Championship and $5000 at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Kathy Unger wins the Women's title.

Eddie Hernandez

November 1996

The World Championships return to New York City. Kai Greene takes the Men's title, while Australian Femmy Ayegun is the Women's victor. With his win, Greene becomes the first WNBF pro male to win every show within the same year.

Femmy Ayegun

November 1998

More than 60 athletes participate in the World Championships, the biggest WNBF contest to date. Dave Goodin and Tracy Bacon are the victors.

Dave Goodin

November 1999

Atlantic City plays host to the first World Championships to feature the introduction of even weight classes for Men and Women. The Athletes are split into classes evenly by weight (not set class divisions). At the Tropicana Casino & Resort hosted event, Carmi Smith and Nancy Andrews win the overall titles ($6000 and $4000 in earnings, respectively).

Nancy Andrews

December 1999

The BNBF joins the WNBF as an amateur affiliate in Great Britain.

Nigel Davis

May 2001

The first WNBF Pro Natural Masters Cup is held in Worcester, Mass., promoted by Nancy Andrews. It is the first drug-tested pro show for men over age 40. Carmi Smith, age 51, takes the title.

Carmi Smith

November 2001

The World Championships is cancelled due to the 9/11 tragedy. The proposed contest site, Tribecca Theatre, is damaged due to the World Trade Center catastrophe.

November 2002

The SNBF, under the direction of Francois Gay, joins the WNBF as the official amateur affiliate in Switzerland.

SNBF President Francois Gay

May 2003

The first WNBF pro figure show is held in Worcester, Mass., the Pro Natural Northeast Figure Classic. Tammy Cann is the winner.

Tammy Cann

August 2003

Cayman Islands federation (CINBA) conducts the first INBF co-promoted contest, the Caribbean Championships. The contest, promoted by WNBF Mr. Universe Tiger Wilson, is a WNBF pro-qualifier.

Tiger Wilson

November 2003

The Ms. Exercise World Figure Championships is held for the first time. Lisa Brewer takes the title in New York City.

November 2003

The World Championships moves to the Manhattan Center. Nigel Davis and Nancy Andrews win the World titles.

Nancy Andrews

January 2004

The newly formed GNBF, under the direction of WNBF pro Berend Breitenstein, becomes the official WNBF amateur affiliate in Germany (gnbf.de).

June 2004

The WNBF promotes its first pro contest outside the U.S. The Mr./Ms. Universe takes place in Barbados, with Rob Hope (U.K.) and Carla Yee Sing (Cayman Islands) winning.

August 2004

The first WNBF pro figure show to be held outside the U.S. takes place in the Cayman Islands. Tiger and Susan Wilson host the WNBF Caribbean Figure Championships, won by Yvonne Bates.

Yvonne Bates

October 2004

Teaming with the U.S. Army, the WNBF sends officials to oversee the pro-qualifying INBF U.S. Forces Europe Championships in Germany.

June 2006

The Cayman Islands host the WNBF Mr./Ms. Universe Bodybuilding Championships, with Brandon Greenwood and Kristi Dietrich winning the titles.

Brandon Greenwood

November 2006

Danny Chau forms the WNBF Asia-Pacific, with permission of the WNBF, and becomes the official affiliate for Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific Rim.

November 2006

Three weight classes are introduced to the Men's Worlds for the first time. Athletes are split into three classes evenly by weight (not set class divisions).

Lightweight Champ Luis Santiago

November 2006

The World Championships culminates a year where over $80,000 is awarded for the first time. Jon Harris and Cheryl Myers take home the winners' checks to the U.K., the first time a Worlds event was won exclusively by non-U.S. residents.

Jon Harris

Spring 2007

U.S. Army soldier Woody Carter hosts the WNBF pro-qualifying U.S. Forces-Iraq in Baghdad.

Angela Mraz

November 2007

With 109 athletes participating in bodybuilding and figure, the 2007 Worlds is the largest WNBF show ever held. The overall titles belong to Jim Cordova, Brenda Rahe and Angela Mraz.

Jim Cordova

December 2007

The NBFI is formed in Italy, with Sandro Ciccarelli as president, and joins the WNBF as the official Italian affiliate. Sandro also agrees to publish Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness in an Italian-language version as part of his Olympian's News magazine.

Sandro Ciccarelli

May 2008

With the 2008 WNBF American Championships and WNBF Northeast Classic Figure Contest, the WNBF exceeds $900,000 in total prize money handed out since 1990.