Title-holder can afford to pay off mortgage

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 4

Title-holder can afford to pay off mortgage

PA Wellington Mike Quinn says the best thing about earning the “Mr Universe” title is that he will next year have enough money to pay off his parents’ mortage. Also, the 1984 title has given his parents and two younger sisters some prestige in working-class Boston, he says. Mr Quinn came to New Zealand as the guest of the recent Auckland body building show and is conducting seminars about the sport and what it takes to be good at it — mental and physical commitment “If you have a good body and weak mind how far can you take your body? Not very far,” he says. Asked if his enormous

body was a machine he replied that his mind was the machine and controlled a heavily regimented life of working out, eating, drinking and sleeping. He has no social life but says he is only 25 and there is plenty of time for that in later life. He will not be body-building for ever. Mr Quinn says “Mr Universe” is an athlete demonstrating an art form and “Miss Universe” is basically a pretty woman. Most people do not associate the two titles or see the competitions as having anything to do with each other. He does not see . “Mr Universe” as displaying the classic male assets of strength and muscle and “Miss Universe” displaying the female body stereotypes.