Danny Padilla Elected to Bodybuilding Hall of Fame

Danny Padilla

The 5-foot-2 ½-inch Danny Padilla was called "The Giant Killer" because he defied the odds and defeated taller elite bodybuilders of his era.

December 11, 2008

Editor's Note:  Look for the rest of the 2008 IFBB Hall of Fame induction class, as well as past honorees, at http://www.ifbb.com/halloffame/. 

Rochester's Danny Padilla has been elected to the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Hall of Fame.

Padilla, 57, won the 1970 Mr. Rochester competition and went on to win Mr. U.S.A. at Madison Square Garden in 1975 and Mr. America and Mr. Universe in 1977.

The 5-foot-2 ½-inch Edison Tech graduate was called "The Giant Killer" because he defied the odds and defeated taller elite bodybuilders of his era.

He was the first short man to win a major title.

Padilla once said, "I destroyed the myth that a short guy can't win."

The new IFBB Hall of Fame class will be formally unveiled later this month.

To qualify for the honor, a candidate must have made "a major and lasting contribution bodybuilding and fitness."

Source:  Rochester Democrat and Chronicle