Juan Ferrero facts for kids
Juan Ferrero (born April 5, 1918 – died June 17, 1958) was a Spanish bodybuilder. He became famous for winning the Mr. Universe Pro title in London in 1952. Even though he moved to France when he was seven, he always felt connected to his home country, Spain.
Early Life
Juan Ferrero was born as Fidel Ferrero y Colino on April 5, 1918. He was born in a small town called Puente Almuhey in the province of León, Spain. His father, Alfonso Ferrero, worked at a local charcoal factory.
In 1925, Juan and his family moved to Bordeaux, France. They moved because of political issues in Spain at the time. When Juan was a young boy, he was often sick, thin, and weak. His skin was very dark, which made him look different from his family. At school, he was sometimes called "El Negro" (the black) because of his skin color. This caused him problems when he was growing up. Later, this skin tone actually helped him in his sport. He also started using the name Juan, which was the name of his grandfather, whom he loved very much.
Becoming a Bodybuilder
When Juan was fifteen, he became very interested in gymnastics. Soon, he started getting amazing results in other sports too. He could run 100 meters in just 11 seconds. He could also do a long jump of 3.15 meters with his feet together. He was even able to climb a 7-meter smooth rope in only five seconds without using his legs.
Ferrero later focused on bodybuilding. In 1937, he won the Best Athlete competition in Europe. In weightlifting, he set a world record by lifting 190 kg with one arm in a deadlift.
On July 12, 1952, when he was 34 years old, Ferrero won the Mister Universe Professional title. This big competition was held at the Scala Theatre in London. The award was given by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA). This was the first time NABBA had a professional category for the competition. Even though he became a big success in sports, his win wasn't widely celebrated in Spain under Franco. This was because Ferrero was a migrant whose family was not supported by the government at the time.
After he stopped competing, Juan Ferrero opened a famous gym in France called "Institut Ferrero." It had the newest equipment available back then. He taught physical education, dance, and acrobatics there.
Personal Life
In 1939, Juan Ferrero married Magdalena Isabel Martínez Cuadros in Bordeaux. She was also a Spanish dancer. They had two children, a son named Rodolfo and a daughter named Anita. Rodolfo followed in his father's footsteps. At 23 years old, he became the Plus Atlete de France in 1961.
Juan Ferrero died on June 17, 1958, when he was 40 years old. He was in a car accident in Bordeaux. He was sitting next to the driver in a Renault Dauphine with four other people. The car went off the road on a curve and flipped over. Ferrero was the only person who died in the accident. The other five passengers were not seriously hurt.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Ferrero para niños
