Bo Johansson (bodybuilder)
Bo Johansson (born February 7, 1945 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish weightlifter and bodybuilder. As a weightlifter he competed on the international scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s and set five middle-heavyweight world records.
Biography
Bo Johansson grew up in Gothenburg and began as a boy with bodybuilding. At the age of 16 he started to practice weightlifting too, and originally considered a career in carpentry. Later, he increased the weight training, lifting weights at the City Gym in Gothenburg. In 1962, the Secretary of the Swedish Weightlifting Federation ensured that the training conditions and social conditions for the Swedish weightlifting greatly improved and this benefited Johannson in his training. In 1966 he was Swedish Junior Champion in the light heavyweight division with 370 kg.
In 1968 he became the first Swedish champion in heavyweight division with 490 kg. He also competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He finished 2nd in the 1969 World Championships Middle-Heavyweight class (500.0 kg) and 3rd in the 1971 World Championships Middle-Heavyweight class (522.5 kg). He trained for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich 1972 but an injury prevented him from participating. He set five middle-heavyweight world records – four in the press and one in the clean & jerk.
After the early 1970s Johannson experienced success in bodybuilding competitions, especially in the Scandinavian region but his career as a weightlifter declined.