John Terilli
Encyclopedia
John Terilli is a former Australian professional bodybuilder.
John was born in Italy
and he moved with his family to Sydney
, Australia
, when he was 8 years old. For most of his pre-teen life John was an over-weight child. In an effort to change himself he developed Anorexia Nervosa
and Bulimia Nervosa
at the age of only 11. However, he managed to turn this around when he was 12 years old and started following a more sensible nutrition and exercise program, developed mainly from his own observations and experimentation.
He began bodybuilding after first seeing his life-long inspiration Arnold Schwarzenegger
on the cover of a magazine. He started his amateur career at home by lifting bricks tied to each end of a broomstick handle. By 1976 John had developed an impressive physique mainly through calisthenics
with very little actual weight training in a gym
nasium. In that year he entered his first bodybuilding competition, the Teen Mr. New South Wales, which he won. Due to his success in the teen competition, and the calibre of his physique, he was encouraged to enter the overall Mr. New South Wales competition, which was being held later that day. He won in that category as well, becoming the youngest person ever to do so (a feat which has yet to be equalled or bettered).
Seeing a future in bodybuilding, John began competing in other Australian contests which culminated in him winning the best in Australia in 1980 - on the same night, and the same stage, as his inspiration Arnold Schwarzenegger who won the 1980 Mr Olympia at the Sydney Opera House
. In 1982 he won the Mr. Australasia title and the 1982 Amateur Mr. Universe
title. In 1983 following his Mr. Universe win he decided to turn professional.
He went on to place fifth in the 1983 New York Night of Champions, which was quite an achievement for a relatively unknown bodybuilder competing in a contest of that calibre. He also placed second to Lee Haney
in the 1983 Caesar’s Palace Pro World Cup, losing by only one point. The general consensus, amongst the audience attending the event, was that John had won.
In 1985 John moved to the United States and in 1986 he qualified for Mr Olympia at the 1986 Professional World Bodybuilding Championships (now dubbed The Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic). He also succeeded in becoming a finalist in the 1986 Mr Olympia competition.
Hereafter, John shifted his focus to experimentation with dieting, nutrition and training protocols. He was able to gain access to the St Luke’s Roosevelt Woman’s Hospital Obesity Centre in New York, where he worked with a team of medical practitioners to study the effects of food on body composition and body fat levels, as well as ways to accurately measure body fat. He developed a keen sense of the way you should eat to maintain body fat levels and body composition. In 1989 John returned to Australia and kept working in this field and as a personal trainer until he opened gymnasiums in the Sydney Area in 1992. In Australia, he is now seen as a leading expert in gender specific biochemical effects on the endocrine and adrenal systems when dieting.
John continued to compete in various professional bodybuilding contests and in 1993 he placed second in the Professional Mr. Universe. In 1994 he became the only (as of 2006), Australian male to win the Professional Mr Universe Title. John retired from participation in bodybuilding competitions in 1994.
John married in 1990 to Angela Terilli and they had their first child in 1991 and their second in 1995.
His passion for the media, and in particular film making, has led to numerous small roles in feature films, short films and television commercials. He has also been the cover model for numerous health and fitness publications internationally throughout his career. He is currently the co-producer, host and researcher of BodyRenovator, a monthly weight loss, health and fitness DVD series.
John’s personal motto is "eat more and exercise less".
“Terilli was the best bodybuilder Australia had ever produced and none have proven otherwise since.” – Rocco Oppedisano (Reps Bodybuilding Australia, 1991, page 14).
John was born in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and he moved with his family to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, when he was 8 years old. For most of his pre-teen life John was an over-weight child. In an effort to change himself he developed Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
and Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed, usually by purging and/or by laxative, diuretics or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa is...
at the age of only 11. However, he managed to turn this around when he was 12 years old and started following a more sensible nutrition and exercise program, developed mainly from his own observations and experimentation.
He began bodybuilding after first seeing his life-long inspiration Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
on the cover of a magazine. He started his amateur career at home by lifting bricks tied to each end of a broomstick handle. By 1976 John had developed an impressive physique mainly through calisthenics
Calisthenics
Calisthenics are a form of aerobic exercise consisting of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using multiple equipment or apparatus. They are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using...
with very little actual weight training in a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium. In that year he entered his first bodybuilding competition, the Teen Mr. New South Wales, which he won. Due to his success in the teen competition, and the calibre of his physique, he was encouraged to enter the overall Mr. New South Wales competition, which was being held later that day. He won in that category as well, becoming the youngest person ever to do so (a feat which has yet to be equalled or bettered).
Seeing a future in bodybuilding, John began competing in other Australian contests which culminated in him winning the best in Australia in 1980 - on the same night, and the same stage, as his inspiration Arnold Schwarzenegger who won the 1980 Mr Olympia at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. In 1982 he won the Mr. Australasia title and the 1982 Amateur Mr. Universe
Universe Championships
The Universe Championships are an annual bodybuilding event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association . It has a number of competitions: NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe, Miss Figure, and Miss Toned Figure....
title. In 1983 following his Mr. Universe win he decided to turn professional.
He went on to place fifth in the 1983 New York Night of Champions, which was quite an achievement for a relatively unknown bodybuilder competing in a contest of that calibre. He also placed second to Lee Haney
Lee Haney
Lee Haney , is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder most famous for being the current joint record holder, along with Ronnie Coleman, for winning the most Mr...
in the 1983 Caesar’s Palace Pro World Cup, losing by only one point. The general consensus, amongst the audience attending the event, was that John had won.
In 1985 John moved to the United States and in 1986 he qualified for Mr Olympia at the 1986 Professional World Bodybuilding Championships (now dubbed The Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic). He also succeeded in becoming a finalist in the 1986 Mr Olympia competition.
Hereafter, John shifted his focus to experimentation with dieting, nutrition and training protocols. He was able to gain access to the St Luke’s Roosevelt Woman’s Hospital Obesity Centre in New York, where he worked with a team of medical practitioners to study the effects of food on body composition and body fat levels, as well as ways to accurately measure body fat. He developed a keen sense of the way you should eat to maintain body fat levels and body composition. In 1989 John returned to Australia and kept working in this field and as a personal trainer until he opened gymnasiums in the Sydney Area in 1992. In Australia, he is now seen as a leading expert in gender specific biochemical effects on the endocrine and adrenal systems when dieting.
John continued to compete in various professional bodybuilding contests and in 1993 he placed second in the Professional Mr. Universe. In 1994 he became the only (as of 2006), Australian male to win the Professional Mr Universe Title. John retired from participation in bodybuilding competitions in 1994.
John married in 1990 to Angela Terilli and they had their first child in 1991 and their second in 1995.
His passion for the media, and in particular film making, has led to numerous small roles in feature films, short films and television commercials. He has also been the cover model for numerous health and fitness publications internationally throughout his career. He is currently the co-producer, host and researcher of BodyRenovator, a monthly weight loss, health and fitness DVD series.
John’s personal motto is "eat more and exercise less".
“Terilli was the best bodybuilder Australia had ever produced and none have proven otherwise since.” – Rocco Oppedisano (Reps Bodybuilding Australia, 1991, page 14).
External links
- www.johnterilli.com - Official website
- www.bodyrenovator.com - A monthly DVD series co-produced, researched and hosted by John Terilli.