Dave Palumbo's athletic beginning did not start in
bodybuilding. He was a
long-distance runner throughout his youth and onto college. At the age of 22, Palumbo began to lift weights and in 6 months of training he competed in his first
bodybuilding competition at the 1990
NPC Natural New York City weighing in at 168 lb. where he took 6th place in the
middleweight class. Palumbo would quickly rise in
bodybuilding and in 5 years he would win the 1995
NPC Junior USA Championships. At this point Palumbo would embark on a quest to turn professional in the
IFBB. From 1995 – 2004, Palumbo would attempt to turn pro 16 times at qualifying events, but never placed higher than runner-up position at the
NPC Nationals and
NPC USA Championships.
Competition results 1990 NPC Natural New York City - 6th, Middleweight (168 lbs) 1992 NPC NJ Suburban Bodybuilding Champs - 5th, Light Heavyweight (198 lbs) 1992 Natural Tri State Championships - 1st, Heavyweight (202 lbs) 1992 NPC Eastern USA - 3rd, Heavyweight (212 lbs) 1992 NPC Westchester - 2nd, Heavyweight (212 lbs) 1994 NPC NY Metropolitan Bodybuilding Champs - 1st, Heavyweight (228 lbs) 1994 NPC Jr USA - 3rd, Heavyweight (228 lbs) 1994 Amateur Grand Prix - 1st, Heavyweight and Overall Champ (235 lbs) 1995 NPC Jr Nationals - 1st, Heavyweight (258 lbs) 1995 NPC USA Champs - 7th, Heavyweight (256 lbs) 1996 NPC USA - 7th (254 lbs) 1996 NPC Nationals - 4th (268 lbs) 1997 NPC USA - 6th (270 lbs) 1997 NPC Nationals - 5th (272 lbs) 1998 IFBB North American - 6th (281 lbs) 1998 NPC Nationals - 8th, Super Heavyweight (273 lbs) 1999 NPC USA - 9th 2000 NPC NY Metropolitan - 1st, Super Heavyweight and Overall (275 lbs) 2000 NPC USA - 4th, Super Heavyweight (274 lbs) 2000 NPC Nationals - 8th, Super Heavyweight (268 lbs) 2001 NPC USA - 7th, Super Heavyweight (265 lbs) 2001 IFBB North American - 5th, Super Heavyweight (271 lbs) 2002 NPC USA - 3rd, Super Heavyweight (260 lbs) 2002 NPC Nationals - 2nd, Super Heavyweight (260 lbs) 2003 NPC USAs - 2nd, Super Heavyweight (265 lbs) 2003 NPC Nationals - 6th, Super Heavyweight (268 lbs) 2004 NPC USA - 6th, Super Heavyweight (258 lbs) ==Muscular development==