Olev Annus and Protein No1: a bodybuilder’s story
Olev Annus is one of the strongest bodybuilders Estonia has ever produced. His physique was massive, yet he stayed dry even when the season was in full swing. We look at his journey, his biggest titles and the nutritional approach that was his personal secret weapon for years.
Who is Olev Annus?
Olev began training in Estonia in the early 1970s. He later moved to Finland, where he still lives today. His defining feature was mass — a huge amount of muscle — yet his muscles remained clearly defined, without a layer of water and fat. That combination is hard to achieve, and it is what made him memorable on the competition stage.
Honestly, most top bodybuilders of that period had to choose between mass and conditioning. Olev never made that choice.
Olev Annus’s career and major titles
His career spanned more than two decades, from the USSR Championships to the professional circuit. Below is a selection of his most notable wins and placings:
- 1973–1979 — Estonian SSR Championships
- 1984 — IFBB World Championships, +90 kg, 3rd place
- 1985 — European Championships, +90 kg, 2nd place; World Games, 3rd place
- 1986 — European champion in the +90 kg category (IFBB)
- 1987 — Mister Universe (NABBA), 1st place
- 1989 — Professional world champion (NABBA)
- 1991 — Mister Universe, 1st place
- 1993–1995 — Top 10 at the IFBB Masters Olympia and Jan Tana Pro
Two Mister Universe titles in one career is no small achievement. Especially when professional competitions were so closely associated with American and Western European names.
His nutrition secret: whey and hydrolyzed collagen
During his competitive career, Olev kept the details of his diet private. That is common in elite bodybuilding — a small edge is a big advantage. As the years passed, however, the subject came up in conversation.
Olev said he used a blend of whey protein and hydrolyzed collagen as a supplement throughout his professional career. The reason was simple: good absorption. No ready-made combination like this was available on the market during his early years in Finland — he had to buy the collagen and protein powder separately and mix them himself.
According to Olev himself, the hydrolyzed collagen available back then tasted awful. Technology improved over time: collagen hydrolysis is now a more refined process, and whey protein quality is far higher than it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
When we asked where he originally got the idea, Olev’s answer was brief: “God gave it to me.”
Practical lessons from Olev Annus’s experience
What can you take away from all this as an everyday gym-goer?
First: consistency. Olev’s career lasted 20+ years. Big results are built over years, not months.
Second: protein quality. Whey protein remains one of the most reliable choices for muscle growth because its amino acid profile and absorption rate are well suited to post-workout recovery.
Third: collagen is about more than skin and nails. It is the most abundant protein in the human body and supports joint tissue, tendons and recovery from training. Over years of heavy strength training, joint health is often what brings a career to an end — or allows it to continue.
Olev Annus FAQ
Where does Olev Annus live today?
Olev still lives in Finland, where he moved years ago and spent most of his professional career.
What was Olev Annus’s greatest achievement?
Two Mister Universe titles (NABBA) — the first in 1987 and the second in 1991. He also won the European title in 1986 in the +90 kg category.
Which protein source did Olev Annus say he preferred?
A blend of whey protein and hydrolyzed collagen, specifically for its absorption. In the 1980–90s, you had to mix this combination yourself; today, there are far more high-quality ready-made options on the market.
You can read a more detailed biography of Olev Annus here: The Tallinn Terminator.
Author:Turg.Fitness.ee
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