Muhammad Yahya Butt was born on 23rd April 1965 in Lahore to Muhammad Hafeez Butt. He got his early schooling from Don Basco High School where he did his matriculation in 1981. After that, he joined Government College, Lahore and passed his Intermediate and Graduation. He was also awarded the Roll of Honour from the College. Soon after passing his matric, he joined Bajwa Health Cub, Lahore where Azam Bajwa, who himself was a former Mr Pakistan took him under his wings and polished his skills.
YAHYA BUTT
Born on 23rd Apr 1965
Died on 6th Feb 2022
Pakistani BodyBuilder
In 1982, he participated in the first major event of bodybuilding, when he was declared Junior Mr Pakistan. 1985, His induction into the Pakistan Bodybuilding team came in 1985, when he toured Jambi (Indonesia) to take part in the Junior Mr Asia contest, where he got the Gold medal in the Welterweight category. Later the same he also participated in the Mr Asia contest which was held in Colombo (Sri Lanka), where he did not get any medal. In the next year 1986, he won the Gold medal and was declared Mr Pakistan. This competition was held at Quetta.
In 1989, the Pakistan Bodybuilding team went to Tottori (Japan) to contest Mr Asia. Pakistan secured the Bronze medal by the courtesy of Yahya Butt in the middle-weight class category. In 1990, he got the gold medal as best Poser in Mr Asia contest which was held in Sabah (Malaysia). In 1992, he declared Mr Pakistan Olympia and won the Gold medal. In 1994, he won the gold medal in Pro-Am Championship held in China. He won four consecutive Gold medals in Mr Pakistan Olympia in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Apart from that he also represented Pakistan four times in Mr Universe’s contest but was unable to clinch the title due to poor facilities available in Pakistan.
After quitting active bodybuilding he joined Gold Gym, Lahore as Chief Instructor and remained associated with this Gym until 1990. After that, he became the first Chief Instructor/Advisor of the shapes health studio, Lahore, and worked with them for 5 years (1994-1999).
In 1990, he founded Yahya Sports Equipment Company in Lahore and very soon it became one of the largest manufacturers of Gym equipment in Pakistan. Besides manufacturing, he also provides Gymnasium Designing, Management and Consultancy. Yahya Butt was also a certified trainer from Gold’s Gym, California, USA.
Yahya Butt also established his own Gym in Lahore, which has all the modern machines for gents and ladies to exercise. He took his early retirement from Punjab Police to turn his focus back on bodybuilding.
In 2020, he contracted COVID-19 and after recovering from it, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He was hospitalized when his condition deteriorated and on 6th February 2022 he died in Lahore. Later he was buried at the EME Society Graveyard, in Lahore. He left behind his widow and a married daughter, relatives and a loving circle of friends to mourn his death.
He also served as President of the Lahore Bodybuilding Association and Punjab Bodybuilding Association.
