Superstars (British TV programme)
Superstars is TV program. The show is a sports competition between very good athletes from different sports. They try to win a series of athletic events similar to a decathlon. Figure skating champion Dick Button developed the idea. ABC bought it as a special for the winter of 1973. The first Superstars competition was held in Rotonda West, Florida in March 1973. The winner was pole vaulter Bob Seagren. The BBC covered the competition and aired their own programme on December 31, 1973. The BBC version featured British athletes.
Competitors usually participate in ten different sporting events, including a 100-yard dash, 800 metres (0.50 mi) run, obstacle course, weightlifting, bowling, rowing, tennis, basketball, bicycle racing, and swimming. Sometimes the sports have changed over time and between the European and American competitions. For example, in the first USA competition, there was no obstacle course, but there was table tennis and baseball. Athletes get points for the position they finish in each event. The competitor with the most points at the end of all ten events is the winner.
List of American winners
| Year | Athlete | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Bob Seagren | Pole Vault |
| 1974 | Kyle Rote, Jr. | Soccer |
| 1975 | O. J. Simpson | Football |
| 1976 | Kyle Rote, Jr. | Soccer |
| 1977 | Kyle Rote, Jr. | Soccer |
| 1978 | Wayne Grimditch | Water Skiing |
| 1979 | Greg Pruitt | Football |
| 1980 | Charles White | Football |
| 1981 | Renaldo Nehemiah | Track and field |
| 1982 | Renaldo Nehemiah | Track and field |
| 1983 | Renaldo Nehemiah | Football |
| 1984 | Tom Petranoff | Javelin |
| 1985 | Mark Gastineau | Football |
| 1986 | Renaldo Nehemiah | Football |
| 1987 | Herschel Walker | Football |
| 1988 | Herschel Walker | Football |
| 1989 | Willie Gault | Football |
| 1990 | Willie Gault | Football |
| 1991 | Kelly Gruber | Baseball |
| 1992 | Mike Powell | Long Jump |
| 1993 | Dave Johnson | Decathlon |
| 1994 | Dave Johnson | Decathlon |
| 1995 | - | - |
| 1996 | - | - |
| 1997 | - | - |
| 1998 | Jason Sehorn | Football |
| 1999 | Jason Sehorn | Football |
| 2000 | Jason Sehorn | Football |
| 2001 | Hermann Maier | Skiing |
| 2002 | Bode Miller | Skiing |
| 2003 | Jeremy Bloom | Freestyle Skiing |
Superstars (British TV Programme) Media
Dick Button, the creator of the US version of Superstars
Björn Borg won his heat in European Superstars at Vichy, but was unable to compete again because of scheduling conflicts with his tennis career.
Anthony Joshua won the British Men's National Superstars Championship during the 2012 Olympic Superstars edition.
Helen Glover won the British Women's National Superstars Championship during the 2012 Olympic Superstars edition of the show.
Bob Seagren won the inaugural World Superstars Championship at Callaway Gardens in Georgia in 1977
Other websites
- 'The Superstars': a page describing the Superstars competitions over the years.
- BBC Superstars website