Ronnie Coleman, de opt ori Mr. Olympia. Sportivul cu cele mai multe victorii în culturismul profesionist

Ronald Dean Coleman este un culturist profesionist american, căștigător al titlului Mr. Olympia de opt ori consecutiv, între anii 1998 - 2005. Este cunoscut sub diminutivul "Ronnie Coleman". La înălțimea de 1,80m el cântărește în jur de 135 kg în formă de concurs, iar în extrasezon urcă până la aproximativ 150 kg.
Pe lângă cele opt titluri de Mr. Olympia, prin care l-a egalat pe alt american de culoare, Lee Haney (campion între anii 1984 - 1991), Coleman deține recordul pentru cele mai multe victorii în culturismul profesionist, câștigând 26 de concursuri. Coleman a absolvit Grambling State University în 1989 cu specialitatea contabilitate. În acea perioadă el a jucat fotbal american în echipa universității. După absolvire, Coleman a lucrat ca ofițer de poliție în paralel cu activitatea de culturist profesionist.

Coleman a participat la Mr. Olympia 2006, desfășurat la 30 septembrie în Las Vegas, Nevada, cu dorința de a doborî recordul de opt victorii deținut de el și Haney, dar a terminat pe locul doi în urma lui Jay Cutler. În 2007 a încercat din nou să mai obțină un titlu, dar s-a clasat doar pe locul patru. După premiere, Ronnie a anunțat că aceasta a fost ultima lui participare la concursul Mr. Olympia.
Ronnie Dean "Big Ron" Coleman (born May 13, 1964 in Bastrop, Louisiana) is an American professional bodybuilder who holds the record of eight straight wins as Mr. Olympia, a record career total that he shares with Lee Haney.Alongside his eight Mr. Olympia wins as a professional bodybuilder, Coleman holds the record for most wins as an IFBB professional with 26. He broke the previous record (held by Vince Taylor at 22 wins) in Moscow on November 5, 2004.

Coleman graduated cum laude from Grambling State University (GSU) in 1986 with a B.S degree in accounting. While attending Grambling State University Coleman also played football as a middle linebacker with the GSU Tigers under famous coach Eddie Robinson. After graduation, Coleman became a police officer.
Being a police officer allowed Coleman the free time he needed to work out. Coleman's fellow officer suggested he attend a gym known as Metroflex. The owner of the gym was Brian Dobson, who happen to also be an amateur bodybuilder, offered Coleman a free lifetime membership to Metroflex if he would allow him to train Coleman for the upcoming Mr. Texas bodybuilding competition that year.
After the training for the upcoming event of Mr. Texas, Coleman won first place in both the heavy weight and overall categories. He also defeated the man that trained him, Dobson. Also in 1990 not only did Coleman take the title of Mr. Texas but he also took titles in that years National Physique Committee (NPC) Texas Championships. In 1991 Coleman also won what is probably considered one of the most prestigious competitions in amateur bodybuilding, Mr. Universe. This victory qualified him to enter the professional contest sponsored by the IFBB, the sport's largest sanctioning body.

Coleman won his first competition as a professional—the Canada Pro Cup in 1995. The following year he won the contest again. Followed by a first place win in 1997, The Russian Grand Prix.

Coleman's success as a professional bodybuilder has led to many product endorsements and other opportunities in his career. Due to his bodybuilding profession Coleman undergoes a lot of travel to places such as China, Brazil, and Australia. Coleman also makes many guest appearances at gym openings all around the U.S.
Coleman has also made some training videos. His first Training Video; The Unbelievable; The cost of Redemption; and On the Road. In these videos Coleman gives tips for more experienced weightlifters, while warning against over exertion and improper form.

When working out, Coleman prefers to use free weights rather than machines in order to maximize his flexibility and range of motion. He lifts weights six days per week.
Coleman supports the Inner City Games, an organization that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger co-founded in 1991. He was the recipient of the 2001 Admiral in the Texas Navy Certificate Award from Texas Governor Rick Perry for outstanding achievements in bodybuilding and for the promotion of physical fitness.
On June 30, 2009 on MuscleSport Radio, Coleman stated that he would compete in the 2010 Mr. Olympia competition.[citation needed] Coleman also indicated that he would not participate in the 2009 Mr. Olympia competition for lack of preparation time. On October 10, 2009 at the Northern Territory Fitness & Bodybuilding Titles in Darwin, Australia, Coleman confirmed that he would compete in the 2010 Mr. Olympia competition, however, he did not appear at the 2010 Mr. Olympia competition.

Harlem Globetrotters: #40 Slick Willie Shaw

Willie Shaw started playing the game at the age of six. In his seventh-year as a Globetrotter after four years as a starter at St. John's University, Slick helped lead St. John’s to the NIT Championship in 2003, and he holds the school record for most career three-pointers. During the Globetrotters’ 2011 tour, he will be setting his sights even higher on the new 4-point shot.

Slick has been to dozens of countries during his years with the Globetrotters and has seen some incredible things, like the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China. He’s had the honor of entertaining U.S. troops on the Globetrotters’ annual holiday military tour, and he performed for a national TV audience in Dec. 2010 on a Globetrotters’ special from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.
Being born in New York, Slick loves the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Giants. Even though he has close friends that are also sports stars, like NBA sharpshooter Ben Gordon, he was blown away when playing his very first game ever with the Globetrotters. “It was at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, it was sold out, and I will never forget how many celebrities were there. It was really an introduction to how many people love the Globetrotters.”

Harlem Globetrotters: Big Easy Lofton #52

Big Easy Lofton gets his nickname from growing up in New Orleans and his easy-going nature, which helped him and teammate Flight Time Lang to a top-four finish during Season 15 of “The Amazing Race.”
The popular pair is getting another shot at the top spot, as Big Easy and Flight Time are competing in a special season of the Emmy Award-winning series, “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business”.

Big Easy has also appeared on other popular TV shows such as “The Price is Right,” “The Bonnie Hunt Show,” and “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” He and Flight Time also walked the red carpet at, and appeared on, the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.Despite his nickname, nothing was easy about what Big Easy and 13 family members and friends went through when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. Most of the group lived in the uptown projects, and when the levees gave way, everyone was looking to Big Easy and his late father to pull everyone together. With his father at the wheel, Big Easy and two friends pushed the group in a pickup truck from the middle of the projects to near St. John the Baptist Church. From there, they were able to make it out of the city and evacuate to Houston.

As luck would have it, it was in Houston where Big Easy was discovered by the Globetrotters’ scouting department. “One of the most difficult times in my life turned into an unbelievably positive twist of fate,” he says.
Big Easy, who still resides in his hometown, was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection at Southeastern Louisiana, and as a senior, he led the team in blocks, steals, rebounds and assists. During his two seasons, the Lions won consecutive conference titles and made their first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2005.
His gregarious personality and thunderous dunks entertain Globetrotter fans young and old. He was 13 when he first dunked on an alley-oop…although he admits it was “kind of a baby dunk,” but a dunk nonetheless.

Big Easy took many life lessons from his father. “He worked really hard so we could have a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs and clothes on our backs,” says Big Easy. “Sometimes I did not see him for days, because he would leave at four in the morning and come back at eleven at night from work; all because he did not want my little brother and I to have to put in those kinds of hours later in life. Now that I'm a father, it’s the best thing in the world when I walk through the door. My two girls just see daddy; they don't care what I have or don't have, it's just their daddy.
“The day my first daughter was born, my father told me, ‘Work every day to feed your kids, put clothes on their backs and provide them with the finer things in life. Also spend as much time as you can with them. You don’t get an award for any of that; it’s what you do if you want to call yourself a father.’

Harlem Globetrotters: Dizzy Grant, The General #2. The author of the first 4-point shot in basketball history

Dizzy Grant started playing basketball after he attended a Harlem Globetrotters game at the age of 7. The New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year his senior season in college, Dizzy was also a first team all-conference selection in both his senior and junior seasons.

Dizzy holds the distinction of sinking the first 4-point shot in basketball history, when the Globetrotters unveiled their new game-changing rule during a nationally televised ESPN2 special on Dec. 5, 2010. The basketball and 4-point circle Dizzy utilized on the 35-foot shot will now be preserved for future generations at the mecca of the sport, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Dizzy has developed into one of the team’s best ball handlers and has also gained a reputation as one of the biggest Globetrotter cut-ups. “He is funny all the time,” says Big Easy Lofton. “He can do impressions of anybody,” adds Flight Time Lang.

He compares being with his Globetrotter teammates to the sitcom, “The Office.” He says, “There are so many different personalities, but when you put them all together, they complement each other.”

Dizzy has been featured in several local TV, radio and newspaper interviews while promoting the Globetrotters, and his talents were on display for a national audience during two TV specials in 2010 from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.

Being a Globetrotter has given Dizzy the opportunity to see and do things of which most people can only dream. For example, he has walked on the Great Wall of China, visited the Eiffel Tower and done ball handling atop the Space Needle. He has also experienced the satisfaction of helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

He wants to reach youngsters the way his father reached him. “He taught me what hard work is and how it can pay off,” says Dizzy. “I just hope I am doing the same for others out there in the world.”

Dizzy enjoys playing golf – he consistently shoots in the 80s – and bass fishing, which he does three to four times a week on his bass boat when he is at home.

Following his playing career, he aspires to become an airplane pilot.

Harlem Globetrotters: Hollywood #42

Harlem Globetrotters: Airport Greenup #6

Airport Greenup was a Division II All-American at Shaw University in North Carolina, where Airport shot a mind-boggling 71 percent from the field during his junior and senior seasons to lead the nation. His many powerful dunks certainly played a part in that.

As a senior, he was the only player in Division II to finish among the top 30 in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and shooting percentage. He was also the Central College Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year for the 2003-04 season.

Airport hopes to open a clothing store following his basketball career.

Position: F
Date of Birth: 11/08/1979
Height: 6' 8" Weight: 225 lbs
College: Shaw University (N.C.) '04
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Succes 2011: Mike Pender, original founding member of Merseybeat group The Searchers

Mike Pender (born on 3 March 1942 in Kirkdale, Liverpool) was an original founding member of Merseybeat group The Searchers. He is best known as the lead vocalist on many hit singles by The Searchers, including the song "Needles and Pins". He pursued a solo career after leaving The Searchers and released one solo single before forming his current band, Mike Pender's Searchers who perform songs from his many years with The Searchers in addition to all-new material and a blend of popular rock standards by classic artists such as Buddy Holly, The Drifters and Roy Orbison.

In his early years, Pender worked at a guitar shop as a day job in between playing nightly gigs with The Searchers. According to Pender, he is responsible for choosing the band name for The Searchers. "The Band was founded by myself and John McNally. In 1957 John and I went to see the movie The Searchers starring John Wayne. I was an ardent Western Fan and so I dragged John along with me to see it. I take the credit for choosing the name 'The Searchers' and for co-founding the Band in its original form."[citation needed] Some years ago,[when?] Mike Pender claimed to be a member of two fictitious groups he played in before his years with The Searchers. Hoping to build more credibility as a musician, Pender claimed to have played in early groups, The Wreckers and The Confederates.

Over the years, some of Pender's personal guitars have included his Gibson ES-345 with sunburst finish, the Burns Tri-Sonic in the colour of red with three pickups and the twelve-string Rickenbacker Rose Morris model 1993 coloured in a fireglo finish with deluxe features including the f-hole rather than the slash sound hole. Other guitars he has played include the Aria twelve-string guitar, his Danelectro Bellzouki twelve-string made from wood and hardboard, and the solid Rickenbacker 450/12 in an elegant mapleglo finish, which had a converter comb, which allowed it to be converted into either a 6-string or 12-string guitar. Pender's Rose Morris model 1993 was stolen several years ago; it had been used on many of The Searchers' studio recordings in addition to numerous live performances.

After The Searchers recorded the singles "Sweets for My Sweet" and "Sugar and Spice", Pender took over lead vocal duties from Tony Jackson. During the late 1970s, The Searchers were signed by Seymour Stein's Sire Records and recorded two modernised albums, including "The Searchers" and "Play for Today," which was retitled "Love's Melodies" outside the United Kingdom. The Searchers recorded what would become the final single with Pender, I Don't Want to Be the One. Pender left The Searchers in 1985 to pursue a solo career and in the 1980s,[when?] joined an all-star rock band known as The Corporation AKA "The Traveling Wrinklies", whose name was a parody of the popular rock group Traveling Wilburys. That band included Pender, Brian Poole, Clem Curtis, Tony Crane and Reg Presley, lead singer of The Troggs. With The Searchers continuing to perform, Pender was replaced by a new vocalist, Spencer James.

Selecting a group of talented musicians, Pender sought to re–create the unique sound that popularised The Searchers. Forming the band "Mike Pender's Searchers", they began touring in the late 1980s and re-recorded The Searchers hits plus 4 new tracks.Various CDs,featuring these new tracks and the re-recordings have been released in various countries around the world. Mike Pender's Searchers continue to book new shows and tour, targeting Britain, Australia, U.S.A., the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark and The United Arab Emirates.

In 1994 Mike Pender's Searchers were the very first 1960's band to be invited to play on board the QE2 as part of the world famous liner's 25th anniversary celebrations. During live performances, Mike Pender's Searchers use their own custom built lighting and sound equipment and Mike Pender uses several different guitars including his famous 12-string Rickenbacker.

Fotbal: Cláudio Taffarel, campion mondial cu echipa Braziliei (1994)

Cláudio André Mergen Taffarel (born 8 May 1966 in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul) is a Brazilian former football goalkeeper. He is of German and Italian descent, and played for Brazil in their victory at the 1994 World Cup.

At club level, Taffarel played for Internacional (1985–90), Parma (1990–93 and 2001–03), Reggiana (1993–94), Atlético Mineiro (1995–98), and Galatasaray (1998–2001).

He had a key role in Galatasaray's UEFA Cup triumph over Arsenal in 2000, and was named the man of the match in the final. He also helped Galatasaray defeat Real Madrid 2-1 to win the UEFA Super Cup in 2000 and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2001, performing at the top of his game in victories against clubs such as AC Milan and Real Madrid. While with Parma he won the Coppa Italia.

He left Parma in 2002, and retired after refusing an offer from Empoli in 2003; after having accepted such offer, he changed his mind after his car broke while he was going to sign the contract, defining such event as a "sign of God". International career

Taffarel was the starting keeper for Brazil at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, in which he conceded only one goal in the first round and two in the knock-out phases (excluding two penalty kicks in the final). In addition to USA 1994, Taffarel helped lead Brazil to second place in the 1998 World Cup in France. In the semi-finals against Netherlands, he played a central role in the 4-2 penalty kick victory, saving the last two attempts. Upon his retirement in 2003, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira offered to arrange a farewell match. Taffarel refused, stating that he was not interested in such fanfare. He did return to play alongside Romário in late 2004 against Mexico to commemorate the 1994 World Cup victory in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Taffarel is the most capped goalkeeper in their history, with 101 appearances. Other than the 1994 triumph, he also played in the 1990 and 1998 World Cup tournaments. Taffarel was also Brazil's keeper at their Copa America success in 1989 and 1997.

Internaționali români de fotbal: Florin Răducioiu, singurul fotbalist român care a evoluat în toate marile campionate naționale ale Europei

Florin Valeriu Răducioiu (n. 17 martie 1970, București) este un fost fotbalist român, care a jucat pentru Echipa națională de fotbal a României la Campionatele Mondiale de Fotbal din 1990 și 1994, la EURO 1996, și este singurul fotbalist român care a evoluat în toate marile campionate naționale ale Europei (Anglia, Franța, Germania, Italia și Spania).
Răducioiu a debutat la centrul de juniori al clubului Dinamo București. A fost promovat în prima echipă de antrenorul Mircea Lucescu încă de la vârsta de 17 ani, făcând parte din echipa care se califica în sferturile de finală ale Cupei Cupelor în 1989 și în semifinalele aceleiași competiții în an mai târziu.

După selecția în lotul echipei României pentru Mondialul din 1990, la doar 20 de ani, Răducioiu a fost ofertat de echipele din străinătate, semnând pentru AS Bari. A trecut apoi prin curtea altor echipe din Italia, în 1993 ajungând la campioana Europei, AC Milan, alături de care, deși a evoluat doar de șapte ori, marcând două goluri, a câștigat Liga Campionilor UEFA.În 1994 s-a mutat în Spania, unde a evoluat timp de două sezoane la Espanyol Barcelona, iar în 1996 a fost transferat în Anglia, la West Ham United. Nu s-a adaptat la fotbalul britanic și după doar jumătate de sezon în Premier League, a revenit în Spania, la Espanyol.În 1997 a bifat al patrulea campionat ca valoare din Europa, cel german, evoluând un sezon la VfB Stuttgart, pentru ca apoi după o trecere prin Italia, la Brescia, și una prin România, la Dinamo, să joace și în al cincilea campionat puternic de pe continent, Ligue 1, pentru AS Monaco.

Răducioiu și-a încheiat cariera în 2004, la echipa franceză de amatori US Créteil-Lusitanos.
Florin Răducioiu a debutat la prima reprezentativă a României într-un meci amical împotriva Israelului, la data de 25 aprilie 1990. A jucat la Mondialul din 1990 în trei dintre cele patru meciuri ale României, dar nu a marcat niciun gol. Abia în decembrie 1990 a înscris pentru prima dată la națională, într-un meci din calificările pentru EURO 1992, împotriva echipei statului San Marino.

În 1993 a intrat în istoria naționalei României, devenind primul fotbalist care marchează patru goluri într-un singur meci. S-a întâmplat la Toftir, în jocul dintre Insulele Feroe și România. Performanța a fost egalată în 1997 de Gheorghe Popescu. A fost de altfel golgheterul naționalei României în preliminariile pentru Cupa Mondială din 1994, cu nouă reușite. La Mondialul din Statele Unite a mai înscris alte patru goluri, câte două în meciul inaugural contra Columbiei și în cel din sferturi cu Suedia.

La EURO 1996, Răducioiu a înscris unicul gol al României, în meciul cu Spania, acesta fiind ultimul său gol pentru echipa națională.

Gheorghe Hagi, cel mai bun fotbalist român, în sutana unui călugăr pios

Cel mai bun fotbalist român din istoria acestui sport, Gheorghe Hagi, a schimbat la un moment dat sportul cu rugaciunile într-un spot publicitar difuzat pentru o bancă, în 2006.
Alături de Nadia Comaneci şi Ilie Nastase, Gică a îmbrăcat sutana pentru a promova cardurile "editie limitata".
Supranumit Regele fotbalului românesc și Maradona din Carpați, Hagi este cel mai bun marcator din istoria naționalei României, cu 35 de goluri înscrise.

Top Gun: Oare şi-o fi închipuit Tom Cruise 'Maverick' că se va transforma într-un dumnezeu al scientologilor? Poză de grup cu Anthony Edwards 'Goose' şi Val Kilmer 'Iceman'

Top Gun is a 1986 American action film directed by Tony Scott, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, in association with the Paramount Pictures company. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr., and was inspired by the article "Top Guns" written by Ehud Yonay for California magazine.

The film stars Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt. Cruise plays Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young Naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Edwards) are given the chance to train at the Navy's Fighter Weapons School. The film depicts Maverick's progress through the training, his romance with a female instructor (McGillis), and his overcoming a crisis of confidence following a fatal training accident.

United States Naval Aviator LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) fly the F-14A Tomcat aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They, with Maverick's wingman "Cougar" (John Stockwell) and his RIO "Merlin" (Tim Robbins), intercept MiG-28s over the Indian Ocean. After one of the MiGs missile locks on Cougar, he is too shaken to land, despite being low on fuel. Maverick defies orders and assists Cougar in landing despite also being low on fuel, but Cougar gives up his Wings of Gold citing his newborn child whom he has never seen. Despite disliking Maverick's reckless flying and repeated violation of rules, due to his talent CAG "Stinger" (James Tolkan) must send him and Goose—now his top crew—to attend the Top Gun school at NAS Miramar.

The single Maverick flies recklessly in part to compensate for his father Duke Mitchell, a Naval Aviator with VF-51 aboard the USS Oriskany (CV-34) during the Vietnam War. The elder Mitchell died when his F-4 Phantom II was shot down in an incident Maverick refuses to believe was his fault. Goose is cautious and devoted to his wife Carol (Meg Ryan) and child. The two officers are nonetheless close friends and effective partners, whose mantra is "I feel the need...The need for speed!". At a bar the day before the Top Gun program starts, Maverick, assisted by Goose, unsuccessfully approaches a girl by singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". He learns the next day that she is Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (Kelly McGillis), an astrophysicist and civilian Top Gun instructor.

Maverick's reckless flying both annoys and impresses LCDR Rick "Jester" Heatherly (Michael Ironside) and other instructors. He defeats Jester in combat, but violates two rules of engagement in the process; becomes a rival to top student LT Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (Val Kilmer), who considers Maverick's methods "dangerous"; and continues to pursue Charlie. During class she analyzes Maverick's engagement with the MiG-28, calling it "an example of what not to do." Later, Charlie admits to him that she admires his tactics but criticized them to hide her feelings for him from the others, and they begin a relationship.

During a training sortie Maverick abandons his wingman "Hollywood" to chase chief instructor CDR Mike "Viper" Metcalf (Tom Skerritt). Although Maverick effectively challenges the older pilot, Viper maneuvers Maverick into a position from which his wingman Jester—who has already defeated Hollywood—can shoot down Maverick from behind, demonstrating the value of teamwork over individual ability.

Near the end of the training program, Maverick and Iceman both chase Jester, the latter attempting to gain a missile lock on the target. Under intense pressure from Maverick, Iceman breaks off. Maverick's F-14 flies through the jet wash of Iceman's aircraft and suffers a flameout of both engines, entering a flat spin from which he cannot recover, forcing him and Goose to eject. Goose ejects directly into the jettisoned aircraft canopy and is killed on impact.

Although the board of inquiry clears Maverick of responsibility he feels guilt for Goose's death, losing his aggressiveness when flying. Charlie and others attempt to console him, but Maverick considers leaving the Navy. Unsure of his future, he seeks Viper's advice. Viper reveals that he served with Maverick's father in VF-51, and tells him classified details that show that Duke Mitchell died heroically. He informs Maverick that he can graduate from Top Gun, if he can regain his self-confidence. Maverick chooses to graduate, but Iceman wins the award for top pilot.

During the graduation party, Iceman, Hollywood, and Maverick are ordered to immediately report to Enterprise to deal with a "crisis situation", providing air support for the rescue of a stricken communications ship, the SS Layton, that has drifted into hostile waters. Maverick and Merlin are assigned to one of two F-14s as back-up for those flown by Iceman and Hollywood, despite Iceman's reservations over Maverick's state of mind. The subsequent hostile engagement with six MiGs sees Hollywood shot down; Maverick is sortied alone due to catapult failure and nearly retreats after encountering circumstances similar to those that caused Goose's death. Upon finally rejoining Iceman they shoot down four MiGs and force the others to flee, and return triumphantly to Enterprise. Offered any assignment he chooses, Maverick decides to return to Top Gun as an instructor.

At a bar at Miramar, Maverick hears "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and recalls meeting Charlie. She enters the bar and the two reunite.

Succes 2011: Charles Simonyi, un turist spaţial miliardar

Charles Simonyi is a Hungarian-American computer software executive who, as head of Microsoft's application software group, oversaw the creation of Microsoft's flagship Office suite of applications. He now heads his own company, Intentional Software, with the aim of developing and marketing his concept of intentional programming. In April 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10, he became the fifth space tourist and the second Hungarian in space. In March 2009, aboard Soyuz TMA-14, he made a second trip to the International Space Station. His estimated net worth is US$1 billion.

He was hired by Denmark's A/S Regnecentralen in 1966 and moved to the United States in 1968 to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his B.S. in Engineering Mathematics & Statistics in 1972.

Simonyi then went to Stanford University for graduate studies and was hired by Xerox PARC[1] during its most productive period, working alongside luminaries such as Alan Kay, Butler Lampson and Robert Metcalfe on the development of the Xerox Alto, the first personal computer. He and Lampson developed Bravo, the first WYSIWYG document preparation program, which became operational in 1974. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford in 1977 with a dissertation on a software project management technique called "metaprogramming". This approach sought to defeat Brooks' law by requiring all programmers to communicate through the manager rather than directly. Simonyi remained at PARC until 1981.
Microsoft

In 1981, at Metcalfe's suggestion, he applied directly to Bill Gates for a job at Microsoft. At the firm, Simonyi oversaw the development of what became its most profitable products, Word and Excel, as well as Excel's predecessor Multiplan. With Multiplan, Simonyi pursued a strategy called the "revenue bomb", whereby the product ran on a virtual machine that was ported to each platform. The resulting application was highly portable, although Simonyi did not foresee the rapid adoption of MS-DOS that made such efforts less important. Simonyi introduced the techniques of object-oriented programming that he had learned at Xerox to Microsoft. He developed the Hungarian notation convention for naming variables. Originally these standards were part of his doctoral thesis. The Hungarian notation has been widely used inside Microsoft.
Own company

Simonyi remained at Microsoft during its rapid rise in the software industry, becoming one of its highest-ranking developers. He left abruptly in 2002 to co-found, with business partner Gregor Kiczales, a company called Intentional Software. This company markets the intentional programming concepts Simonyi developed at Microsoft Research. In this approach to software, a programmer first builds a toolbox specific to a given problem domain (such as life insurance). Domain experts, aided by the programmer, then describe the program's intended behavior in a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)-like manner. An automated system uses the program description and the toolbox to generate the final program. Successive changes are only done at the WYSIWYG level.

In 2004, Simonyi received the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for the industry-wide impact of his innovative work in information technology.

Simonyi has been an active philanthropist. In 1995 he established an endowed chair, the Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, first held by the now retired Richard Dawkins. He also established a Charles Simonyi Professor for Innovation in Teaching endowed chair at Stanford University. In January 2004, Simonyi created the $50 million Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, through which Simonyi plans to support Seattle-area arts, science, and educational programs. Initial grant recipients include the Seattle Symphony ($10 million), and the Seattle Public Library ($3 million). In 2005, the Fund donated $25 million to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. In January, 2008 the Simonyi Fund and Bill Gates pledged $20 million and $10 million respectively to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
In early 2006, Simonyi expressed interest in becoming a space tourist and signed agreements with the space tourism company, Space Adventures, Ltd., for a ten-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

In August 2006, he passed a pre-qualification medical exam by the Russian Federal Space Agency, called the State Medical Commission (GMK). He started training at Star City in September 2006.

He launched on April 7, 2007 (GMT), on board Soyuz TMA-10. He shared a ride with two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station, and returned aboard Soyuz TMA-9, scheduled to depart from the ISS on April 20, 2007.

Upon arrival to the ISS on April 9, 2007 Simonyi said, "It is amazing how it appears from the blackness of the sky. It was very, very dramatic. It was like a big stage set, a fantastic production of some incredible opera or modern play. That's what I was referring to when I said I was blown away."

Simonyi's expected return on April 20, 2007 was delayed by one day due to 'boggy ground'. He returned to Earth on April 21, 2007 along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.

In October 2008, he booked for a second trip to the ISS through Space Adventures on board Soyuz TMA-14. On March 26, 2009 he returned to space aboard Soyuz TMA-14.He returned to Earth on board Soyuz TMA-13. Along with Soyuz Commander Yuri Lonchakov and Michael Fincke he landed in Kazakhstan on April 8, 2009