The Mr. Universe contest organized by the National Amateur Bodybuilder's Association (NABBA) began in 1948 as a competition for amateur male bodybuilders. In 1949 an Englishman recently discharged from the Army named Roy "Reg" Park was named Mr. Britain and sought to take his title to the next level. Reg was Mr. Universe runner-up in 1950 (losing to the great Steve Reeves) before winning the contest the following year. Park received this very medal for his 1st Place triumph. His 1951 Mr. Universe title marked the beginning of a new era in bodybuilding. The NABBA added a professional category in 1952 that awarded prize money further incentivizing the global pursuit to become the world's hugest man. "Reg the Legend" went on to win the Mr. Universe professional title in both 1958 and 1965. At 6'1" and 250 lbs. he was not only massively built but equally known for his strength which he proudly displayed in strongman competitions. He is credited as the second man to ever bench press 500 lbs. Only Doug Hepburn the "World's Strongest Man" of the 1950's beat him to it. In the 1960s Park's acting career took off as he followed up Steve Reeves' original portrayal of "Hercules" with five Italian sword and scandal sequels of his own.

As a boy in Austria Arnold Schwarzenegger idolized Reg and dreamed of moving to the U.S. to pursue a career in bodybuilding and acting. In 1966 at the age of 19 Arnold got to meet his idol and within a year he had become the youngest Mr. Universe winner ever. That first victory and Arnold's dominance at future Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympiad contests was certainly no coincidence as Reg trained and mentored him throughout his bodybuilding career. Reg and Arnold became more than friends; they were practically family. When Park passed in 2007 at the age of 79 Schwarzenegger made this statement to The Mail and Guardian paper in Johannesburg:

"He was like a second father to me. He is the reason I was motivated to become Mr. Universe myself and come to America and make movies. Other than my parents there may be no single person who had more to do with me becoming the person I am today than Reg."

The medal itself is a splendid 3 1/4" by 3 1/4" octagon-shaped artifact made of bronze weighing approximately 3 lbs. The front features a sculpted image of a muscular man. The back is engraved with the following from top to bottom: [in French] "CONCOURS DU PLUS BEL ATHLETE" "DU MONDE" "LONDRES 1951" "PRIX OFFERT PAR LA F.F.C.P.H"; [in English] "WINNER" "REG PARK" "MR UNIVERSE" "1951". The medal stayed in Park's possession until he moved with his family to South Africa in 1958. Before he left England he gifted the medal to his close friend who decades later sold it to a London antique dealer (consignor).

A big break that helped Arnold and Lou Ferrigno (aka "The Incredible Hulk") get their start in Hollywood was the 1977 cult-classic documentary "Pumping Iron". Here is a short bonus scene with Reg The Legend who can also be heard throughout the movie performing the Master of Ceremonies duties.