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This thread will be about how Bodybuilding has evolved over the years.
This thread will also be a list of Pro Bodybuilders with pictures next to names and a little about the Bodybuilder to educate some of the members here about the men who lifted iron that paved the way for us over the years and formed the sport as we know it today.
*Please do not post in this thread unless you are ADDING a bodybuilders profile/name/pic or info about them.
*NO spamming/Flamewars/Baiting
*PLEASE post any bodybuilder that is NOT mentioned and add their info, this will be VERY helpful once we get to the unknown ones.
The whole idea about this thread is to get together a list of EVERY pro bodybuilder EVER with a name/picture/info so anyone new to the sport can educate themselves OR it can be used as a reference.
Think bodybuilding dictionary with names.
The first post will be about bodybuilding history then I'll start it all off.
Guys feel free to pm me or quote something that is wrong so I/or whoever posted it can edit it!!! Once changes is made please delete post.
Official History of Bodybuilding Thread - Education, Class in session.
Last edited by tsiparlanaeht; 03-21-2012 at 12:01 AM.
The following article was written by David Robson
The physical culture of muscle-building has attracted followers for many years; well before the advent of competitive bodybuilding as we know it today.
Followers of the iron game will know that bodybuilding in its popular form began in earnest in the 1890s with the arrival of Mr Eugene Sandow, of whom the Mr. Olympia statuette is modelled on.
However, weight-training, as a general athletic activity, was initially practiced as a means to gain strength and measure power in ancient Egyptian and Greek societies. These societies would primarily use stones of various sizes and weights (a practice that would occur, in one form or another throughout history) in their quest for bodily transformation. The celebration of the human body through muscular development was, in fact, one of the Greek ideals.
Physical culture (distinguishable from bodybuilding per se due to the lack of specific physical display as an end goal) can be traced back to 11th century India where stone dumbbell weights, known as Nals, were lifted by those wanting to develop their bodies to enhance health and stamina to help overcome the challenges of daily life. Gyms were commonplace in India during this period and by the 16th century weight-training is thought to have been India's national pastime.
There was to be a long period between the 16th century physical movement in India and the beginning of bodybuilding (defined as training and dieting to develop ones body specifically for exhibitive purposes) as we know it today.
The Early Period: 1890-1929
Toward the end of the 19th century, weight-training took on a new meaning for many, as the ancient tradition of stone-lifting, practiced initially by the Greeks and Egyptians, made way for a completely new system of training, with a new end-goal. Weight-lifting for entertainment purposes emerged in Europe signalling the beginning of a physical culture never before seen.
The intention was not to develop ones physique into a glorious spectacle per se, but to thrill crowds with amazing feats of strength - the professional strongman was the outcome of this intensified interest in weight-training. The modern sport, as it was becoming, of weight-lifting was somewhat of a natural evolution from the comparatively primitive practice of stone-lifting in dark, dank dungeons.
Not surprisingly, weight-lifting exponentially grew in popularity so much so that today the practices during the early period of 1890 to 1929 would seem, at best, archaic. The practices of the late 19th century strongmen included issuing challenges to fellow strongmen to see who could out-lift the other as they travelled from town to town.
Other practices included pulling carts and lifting animals, much to the amusement of onlookers. In fact, the public loved to watch these men compete, possibly for the novelty value if nothing else. How their physiques looked did not factor into these men's displays of physical prowess. Indeed, a protruding stomach and thick, fatty limbs were commonplace among these competitors.
Symmetry and aesthetics were a foreign concept at this point. However, as the 20th century approached, a man who was to bridge the gap between the overweight and unsightly strongman and the bodybuilder as we know him today was to emerge.
Officially know as the first famous bodybuilder and the father of modern bodybuilding, Eugene Sandow (born Friedric Muller), born 1867, immediately became a phenomenon with his unprecedented combination of muscle quality and strength. He became a turn-of-the-century physical cultural icon who is referred to as one of bodybuilding's greatest even in today's climate of genetic freaks.
Before the emergence of Sandow, proponents of physical culture were trying to find new ways to promote healthy lifestyles in line with the new phenomenon of weight-training for the sake of physical demonstration. Tired of the overweight strongman image with its lack of emphasis on correct eating and high body-fat levels, they were looking for a representative who could promote the chiseled physique, and the subsequent ways of achieving this look. They found their man in Sandow.
Eugene Sandow.
Sandow himself started out in Europe as a professional strongman, outdoing all other strongmen to make a name for himself. He travelled to America in the1890s to be billed as the worlds strongest man, travelling the country impressing people with his extraordinary feats of strength.
The most amazing thing about Sandow, however, was his beautifully symmetrical and densely muscular physique, which eventually positioned him as the first real bodybuilder and promoter of bodybuilding. Indeed, Sandow published the first bodybuilding magazine (Physical Culture), developed some of the first bodybuilding machinery, an appeared in numerous books and postcards, while continuing to tour America posing to sell-out audiences.
While Sandow continued to promote bodybuilding, weight-lifting contests were officially held for the first time with the World Championships and England in 1891. Weight-lifting was also featured in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, Athens Greece. Due to Sandow's influence, sales for barbells and dumbbells increased by a wide margin and a whole bodybuilding industry was created, with Sandow earning thousands of dollars a week.
Sadly, Sandow suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage when, according to legend, he tried to pull his car from a ditch in the interests of physical display. Sandow's legacy lives on in the increasing popularization of bodybuilding as a sport into the 21st century. In fact, Sandow judged the first bodybuilding contest ever held and his image is immortalized on the current Mr. Olympia statuette.
The First Bodybuilding Contest Ever Held
The first bodybuilding show, staged in 1891 and billed "The Great Show", was developed and promoted by none other than the great Eugene Sandow.
After popularizing bodybuilding though frequent strength exhibitions and posing displays across Europe and America, Sandow, 34, decided, after three-years of planning, that the time was right. He would provide all Sandow students in the U.K with the opportunity to display their physiques in a competition setting replete with a full judging panel and paying audience.
The contest was advertised three-years in advance in the first edition of Sandow's Magazine to promote the further spread of physical display and pride in ones physique. "To afford encouragement to those who are anxious to perfect their physiques" was the statement issued and many enthusiasts took this sentiment to heart as exemplified by the large turn-out of contestants and sell-out crowd of 2000.
The total prize money came to 1'000 guineas, which equated to more than $5000 at the time. First place would receive the equivalent of $2,500 and a gold Sandow statuette, while second and third would take home silver and bronze statuettes respectively.
In order to compete in this contest of contests, all competitors first had to have placed in a smaller regional show (a bold move on Sandows part at the time). However, this system proved viable and on Saturday, September 14, 1901, England's Royal Albert Hall was packed to overflowing with spectators and competitors. Sandow believed in giving his audience their money's worth and provided various athletic displays as a form of pre-competition entertainment.
These displays included wrestling, gymnastics, and fencing and, at their completion, the real athletes, the bodybuilders, made their entrance. The bodybuilders, of which there were 60, marched to the beat of Sandow's own composition, The March of the Athletes, wearing the required costume: black tights, black jockey belt and leopard skins.
As for the physiques, the paying public were highly impressed. One journalist remarked "to stand in these men's ranks is a distinction".
The judging criteria was stringent and Sandow made it clear that points would be awarded for attributes other than sheer size. Indeed, Sandow was looking for symmetrically even development - the qualities that many say are overlooked in bodybuilding today.
The Qualities Sandow Looked For Were:
*General development.
*Equality or balance of development.
*The condition and tone of the tissues.
*General health.
*Condition of the skin.
*The man judged to have had the right combination of all of these qualities was William L Murray of Nottingham Great Britain, who took hame the gold Sandow and the title: Winner Of The World's First Big Bodybuilding Contest.
Following this contest, bodybuilding culture became increasingly widespread. Many entrepreneurs seized upon the notion of physical development and began distributing bodybuilding equipment and literature. Bernarr Macfadden, who became referred to as the father of physical culture, sold his popular chest expander and went on to become one of the greatest physical identities on the early 20th century.
He published one of the first bodybuilding magazines, Physical Culture, and eventually became the most successful magazine publisher ever. In 1921, Macfadden helped to push another major protagonist for the physical movement in the form of Charles Atlas into the spotlight.
Well developed for that time, but smooth and underdeveloped by today's standards, Atlas (Real name Angelo Siciliano) became immensely popular and, through his standing as an expert on physical development, acquired the rights to a mail-order course called dynamic tension, an exercise system developed by Macfadden 20 years earlier.
The advertisements featuring the young man getting sand kicked into his face, only to retreat into a world of physical self-development, and eventually turn the tables on his bullying perpetrator, served as inspiration for many who took up bodybuilding upon seeing them. This advertisement is thought to be part of the most successful advertising campaign in history.
By the end of the 1920s, barbells, dumbbells and various other exercise devices were sold the world over as the general public grew to acknowledge the importance of becoming fit and strong. Famous bodybuilders were becoming household names and bodybuilding contests were being held frequently. Bodybuilding finally broke free of the association with weight-lifting for the purposes of getting strong, and became, for many, a worthwhile pursuit in its own right.
The Culture Solidifies: 1930-1970s
As the bodybuilding movement progressed into the 1930s, adherents were becoming more interested in developing balanced physiques and losing body-fat as training techniques and new developments in exercise equipment advanced. The 30s were the beginning of what is affectionately know as the golden age of bodybuilding, where gyms and the associated practices of training in groups and posing in front of mirrors become commonplace among followers.
On the California Coast, weight-lifting on the beach front became very popular among both amateur and professional bodybuilders. The most famous of these hang-outs was situated in Santa Monica and called Muscle Beach.
Bodybuilding competition intensified when the AAU (the Amateur Athletic Union) established the Mr America in 1939, where participants, although not strictly bodybuilders, were required to demonstrate athletic skills. These competitors were advised to get into the best possible shape to increase their chances of winning, and the more they trained specifically to improve their bodies, the bigger the weight-training emphasis became.
By 1940, the first modern bodybuilding event had arrived, the Mr America, which was won by John Grimek, who won it the following year also. Grimek, unparalleled in muscular development up until that point, became the catalyst for a new direction in physical improvement. As bodybuilding became more popular the quality of physique improved.
With physiques arguably more impressive than Grimek, Clancy Ross and Steve Reeves made their mark in the 40s. Ross won the America in 1945 and many believe him to have been the first modern bodybuilder, although at this time bodybuilding was still regarded with scepticism by many.
However, Steve Reeves came along and further popularised bodybuilding due to his movie star looks and perfectly proportioned physique. Reeves eventually became revered as the greatest bodybuilder of all time after winning the Mr America and the Mr Universe (the other big contest to have sprung up in light of the success of the America). He went on to become one of the first heroic movie stars gaining a fan base of thousands.
Other bodybuilders, such as Reg Park, followed Reeves example and became great champions. Bodybuilding was truly developing at an exponential rate with the IFBB (the International Federation of Bodybuilders) being formed by Ben Weider in 1946 and NABBA (the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association) being formed in England in 1950.
The first large-scale bodybuilding competitions were held by these organisations: the Mr. Olympia in 1965 by the IFBB and the Mr Universe in 1950 by NABBA. The 1960s marked the period the most influential bodybuilder of all time would make his mark. Arnold Schwarzenegger beat Dennis Tinereno for the Mr America title in 1967 and immediately began dominating the international competition. He would go on to win the Universe on five occasions and Mr. Olympia seven times.
The Great Frank Zane, Bill Pearl & Sergio Oliva.
The Mr. Olympia had been won first by Larry Scott in 1965, who went on to win again in 66. Sergio Oliva won in 1967, 68 and 69. Arnold cemented his spot as the number one bodybuilder in the world by winning the Olympia for the next five years straight and again in 1980. He would also conquer the movie world, earning a Hollywood star.
As bodybuilding increased in popularity into the 1970s, Arnold and other superstars such as three-time Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane, Dave Draper and Mike Mentzer became household names. The movie industry often specifically targeted muscular actors such was the marketability of this type of physique. As the muscular body became more desirable, the gym industry gained momentum and the industry as a whole became lucrative.
The One, The Only - Larry Scott.
In the 1970s, the IFBB rose to prominence as the dominant bodybuilding organisation. Toward the end of this period, the IFBB consisted of more than 100 member countries and had become the sixth largest sporting federation in the world.
Bodybuilding was regarded as a legitimate sport, had become a multi-billion-dollar-industry and had adherents in all major countries.
Bodybuilding's Recent History: 1980-Present Time
By the 1980s, bodybuilding had become a very popular sport with great cross-over appeal. Film stars and athletes from many sports were increasingly using bodybuilding to improve their marketability and performance. Actors like Sylvester Stallone (Editor's Note: Check back soon for an inteview with Stallone!) and Chuck Norris had become noticeably more muscular as had athletes Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis, for example.
The practices of weight-training and dieting, so central to the bodybuilding ethos, had clearly been adopted by mainstream society to increase profile and enhance performance.
Competitive bodybuilders were also becoming more muscular as an increasing emphasis on size dictated a more extreme approach to physical development. Anabolic steroids had been used during the 60s, and their use correspondingly increased as bodybuilding grew in popularity.
Prize money, sponsorships and endorsements had increased due to the growth of the bodybuilding industry and had become a major motivating factor for many entering the sport.
A general trend in aesthetics and balance gave way to a mass at all costs approach and top place getters generally were those carrying the most size, especially into the 90s and beyond 2000.
Although steroids were used prior to the 80s, the stacking of various types of steroid (using more than one at any one time) and use of dangerous growth hormones and insulin were becoming commonplace as the 80s drew to a close.
Amateurs and professionals alike engaged in this disturbing trend with the intention of making a name for themselves and increasing their earning potential.
Indeed, with the increase in competing bodybuilders came increased competition among these athletes.
This would mean a great bodybuilder would have to become greater to distance themselves from the closest rival, who would be taking the same extreme approach to developing their physique.
As the 90s approached, the quality of physique improved due to advances in training techniques, dietary strategies and, yes, drugs. The 80s witnessed the rise of Lee Haney, who won eight Mr. Olympia's. His physique at around 240lbs had surpassed any other bodybuilder up until that point.
When he retired, Haney had beaten Arnolds record of seven Olympia's and, in the eyes of many, surpassed him in terms of muscular development.
Other notable bodybuilders of this period were Lee Labrada, (one of the few successful under 200lb professional bodybuilders due to his classical symmetry and presentation skills), Vince Taylor, Shawn Ray and Mike Quinn. Shawn Ray would go on to compete throughout the 90s, placing highly in every Olympia he entered.
The 90s could truly be defined as the era where competitors demonstrated a leap forward in terms of muscle mass. Dorian Yates won six Mr. Olympia's (between 1992 and 1997) and heralded a new benchmark in mass at 265lbs ripped.
In fact, all professional bodybuilders of this era demonstrated a distinctly different, more massively defined, physique to that of the 80s, as extreme practices prevailed. And just when everyone thought that Yates had redefined the massive physique, along came a man who would surpass him by at least 20lbs.
Current Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman routinely competes at around 290lbs and has taken the competition physique beyond what was, up until 10-years-ago, thought possible. Co-competitors Jay Cutler and Dexter Jackson also compete light years ahead of anything seen throughout the 80s and 90s.
Legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger played an active role in bodybuilding's development throughout the 90s and beyond. He began promoting the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic bodybuilding championships in 1989, a contest that gradually incorporated other fitness-related events to become one of the most popular athletic events in the world.
In the 90s, Arnold became the Chairman for the Presidents Council on Fitness and used bodybuilding-related practices to inspire the American public to get fit and active.
Bodybuilding also became popularised through various media publications, most notably Muscle and Fitness (spawned from 60s publication Muscle Builder and Power) which hit the stands in 1980 and its offshoot Flex magazine, released in 1983. Originally owned by Weider Publications, these magazines are now under the ownership of America Media Inc (AMI), who also publish the National enquire and Star (Read the full story here).
The fact that a media company the size of AMI have bought these publications underscores the monumental impact bodybuilding has made since its inception. These publications continue to promulgate the bodybuilding lifestyle while promoting the current crop of champions who continue to inspire many to begin the quest for physical perfection.
In 2004, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the executive editor of both Muscle and Fitness and Flex Magazine, magazines he appeared on the cover of 30 and 20 times respectively.
Media across the board have seized the opportunity to capitalize on bodybuilding's success. Pay-per-view have broadcast the Mr. Olympia while programs promoting the bodybuilding lifestyle such as Cory Everson's show on ESPN gained momentum.
The Internet has also exploded with thousand of bodybuilding sites, many very professionally done, with worldwide followings. Bodybuilding.com ranks as probably the biggest and best of these, with thousand of articles and information on all aspects of the sport.
Bodybuilding clearly has come a long way since its primitive beginnings, back in the early 1890s. It popularity can not be denied and it will continue to grow if its current rate of growth is anything to go by. However, with the number of professional shows increasing coupled with the availability of an increasing array of sophisticated performance enhancing drugs (and other substances such as synthanol and implants (Lou Feriggno) the actual sport of bodybuilding will probably continue to be characterized as a curiosity of physical extremes.
On the other hand, bodybuilding also has a growing natural movement where competitors compete free of potentially harmful substances and enjoy corresponding health benefits.
Ultimately, the practices of weight-training and eating a balanced diet, central to bodybuilding success at all levels, will enhance the lives of many. In this respect, bodybuilding can be seen in a positive light, as a beneficial sport.
On the competitive side, many bodybuilders will continue to use drugs to enhance their chances of winning. As to the future of the sport, time will tell.
Schwarzenegger, (1999).The New Encyclopaedia of Modern Bodybuilding. Fireside, NY.
History of Bodybuilding. (2004). Bodybuilding History. [Online]
Oldenburg, A.(2004). Editor Arnold: He's nothing if not flexible. USA Today. Gannett Co INC.
Last edited by tsiparlanaeht; 03-20-2012 at 11:42 PM.
The History of Bodybuilding - Eugen Sandow
By Kerry Dulin
Greek Influence:
Perhaps the earliest exhibition of human musculature for esthetic purposes dates back to the ancient Greeks who believed that the human body could reflect the beauty of the gods. This belief was evidenced in Greek statuary in which the perfection of the gods was represented through their ideal physical proportions. The ideal of physical esthetics was artistically maintained through sculptor and paintings of the Renaissance in a style known as Greek Revivalism.
Eugen Sandow
While the above represents that artistic expressions of physical estheticism, the tangible expression which today became competitive bodybuilding owes its origins to Eugen Sandow (1867- 1925). Sandow first gained notoriety after winning the "Worlds Strongest Man" competition in England in 1889.Capitalizing on his new fame, Sandow toured various parts of the globe performing acts of strength which included bending steel rods, lifting heavy weights and wrestling a lion. Sandow latter introduced an element to his performances in which he would enter a glass booth and perform a series of muscular poses which were choreographed to music. After observing one of Sandow's performances in the glass booth, prominent promoter of the time, Florenz Ziegfeld, was so impressed that he signed Sandow to perform for 10 weeks at the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893 followed by a four year contract. In return for his investment, Ziegfeld netted a quarter of a million dollars from Sandow's appearances throughout the world.
Due to the popularity of Sandow's performance in the glass booth, Ziegfeld changed his promotion strategy from "The Worlds Strongest Man", to "The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World" (Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 6 October 1902). Mimicking early Greek art, one point in Sandow's performance included Sandow's naked physique, concealed only by an imitation fig leaf, dusted with white powder looking every bit a living Greek statue.
As Sandow's celebrity grew, he expanded his influence into publishing as he launched his magazine "Physical Culture" (latter known as "Sandow's Physical Culture") in 1898. Largely due to the success of his magazine, as well as subsequent books on physical culture and ultimately a book titled "Body Buliding, Man in the Making" (Gale & Polden, London, 1904), rival magazines began to appear. By the time of his death in 1925, Sandow had pioneered much of what has become modern bodybuilding including the dynamics which have made it a profitable enterprise.
In 1901, after three years of planning, Sandow held a competitive physique event which was billed as "The Great Competition". Preparation for "The Great Competition" began in July of 1898 as the first issue of Sandow's magazine announced a contest that would be open to all Sandow students in the United Kingdom. The purpose of this event was to promote the spread of physical culture and to "afford encouragement to those who are anxious to perfect their physiques". The prize was a tempting 1,000 guineas (over $5,000 at the time). In addition to the cash prize, the man judged to have the most perfectly developed physique would be awarded a gold statuette of Sandow himself. In preparation for the event, Sandow organized a series of local bodybuilding competitions, the winners of which became eligible to compete in The Great Competition.
Due to the subjective nature of esthetic critique, Sandow developed a system of judging which considered general development, equality or balance of development, the condition and tone of the tissues, the general health, and finally, the condition of the skin. The day of "The Great Competition", Saturday, September 14, 1901, had been publicized in notices which appeared throughout London. A large building which had been constructed as a memorial to Queen Victoria's late husband was chosen for the contest site. In spite of the size of the venue, the building was not able to contain the crowds which had flocked to witness this spectacle. Though the seating capacity of this enormous hall was 15,000, hundreds of eager spectators had to be turned away at the door.
As the show began promptly at 8:00pm, Sandow treated the crowd to a masterfully orchestrated series of music and athletic events. From gymnastics to wrestling and sheer acts of strength, Sandow wanted to ensure that no one would be disappointed. Finally, the band played a composition by Sandow himself titled "March of the Athletes", during which 60 well developed men took the stage. Regional dignitaries had been selected to act as judges for the event, among which was Sir Author Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. After carefully inspecting the ranks of well muscled contenders, 12 finalists were chosen, the winner of which would not be chosen until after an intermission and a performance by Sandow for which he was rewarded a 5 minute ovation. With the final judging, each of the remaining 12 men stood on a pedestal while performing a series of compulsory poses specifically designed to display the various muscle groups. It was said that Sandow "fairly went on his hands and knees to examine the neither limbs of men" (Sandow Museum.com).
After several anxious minuets, three winners were selected. Bronze and silver medals were awarded to the third and second place winners and finally, as the band played "See the Conquering Hero", William L. Murray was award the golden Sandow statue as the best developed man in Great Britain and Ireland. All proceeds from the event were donated to the "Mansion House Transvaal War Relief Fund" (Sandow Museum.com), and the sport of bodybuilding had been born.
For more History of Bodybuilding please see following links:
For a list of Pro Bodybuilders please see the following links:
If you want to contribute please visit links, find name/picture/info about individual and post away!
This website is amazing
Go to it for names and thousands of pics, stats/info etc
I'll start us off with all the Mr Olympia winners:
Larry Scott - The 1st Mr Olympia, Mr. Olympia - 1965,1966
His Appreciation Thread :
His Website: http://larryscott.com/
His Wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Scott_(bodybuilder)
About: Larry Scott, nicknamed "the Legend", born on October 12, 1938 in Blackfoot, Idaho is an American former IFBB professional bodybuilder. He won 1965 Mr. Olympia and the 1966 Mr. Olympia competition.
Scott was the winner of the IFBB's Mr. Olympia title the first two years of the competition in 1965 and 1966. Scott went to the California Air College to study electronics and is known to be a devout Mormon.[1] He is married to Rachel Ichikawa.
His Bio: http://www.bodybuilders.com/scott.htm
Last edited by tsiparlanaeht; 03-21-2012 at 02:02 AM.
Sergio Oliva Mr Olympia 1967-1969
His Appreciation Thread:
His Website: http://www.sergiooliva.com/
His Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Oliva
About:Sergio Oliva is a bodybuilder known as "The Myth". This sobriquet was given to him by bodybuilder/writer Rick Wayne. Wayne had begun calling Oliva "The Myth" "(because everyone who saw him at the 1967 Montreal World's Fair said he was "Just unbelievable")"
His Bio: http://www.sergiooliva.com/bio.html
Arnold Schwarzenegger Mr. Olympia - 1970-1975, 1980
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website: http://www.schwarzenegger.com/ and http://www.schwarzenegger.it
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000216/
His Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger
About:Growing up in a small, isolated village in Austria, he turned to bodybuilding as his ticket to a better life. Prior to that he served a mandatory one year in the Austrian military (beginning in 1965). After conquering the world as arguably the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived, he went to America to make his name in motion pictures. Hampered by his impossible name and thick accent, success eluded him for many years. It wasn't until he found the tailor-made role of Conan that he truly came into his own as a performer. A succession of over-the-top action films made him an international box office star. By alternating violent action films with lighter, comedic fare, he has solidified his position as one of the most popular - if not the most popular - movie stars in the world. After his long, and successful movie career, he ran in the California recall. He is now the Governor of California, yet another celebrity to be elected to the position.
His Bio: http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/schwarzenegger.html
Arnold Schwarzenegger, "The Austrian Oak", was a bodybuilding prodigy who won the 1967 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe title at the age of 20.
He went on to take the professional version of that championship in 1968, 1969 and 1970. Under the guidance and sponsorship of Joe Weider, he relocated to Santa Monica, California, in 1968 and within a year, became the most popular and charismatic bodybuilder in the sport. Arnold won the 1969 IFBB Mr. Universe and, in his IFBB Mr. Olympia debut that same year, placed second to Sergio Oliva, but Arnold never lost again.
He proceeded to dominate the IFBB Mr. Olympia with six consecutive wins, 1970 to 1975, before briefly retiring to pursue a film career. He was the focus of attention in the ground-breaking movie Pumping Iron, which documented the 1975 IFBB Mr. Olympia.
The film was released in 1977 and became a cult hit. In 1980, he returned to the contest stage to controversially win that year's IFBB Mr. Olympia in Sydney, Australia. After finally retiring, Arnold had other fields to plow, including movies, restaurants, investments, books, and heading the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport.
He became an America citizen in 1983 and, in 1986, married Maria Shriver, niece of slain president John F. Kennedy. In the early '90s, his film career took him to the heights of Hollywood, but Arnold also busied himself with charitable undertakings, such as the Special Olympics and many inner-city projects.
His umbilical link with bodybuilding remains through his Arnold Fitness Expo, held annually the first week of March in Columbus, Ohio. It is true to say that no other bodybuilder took the sport to a wider audience that the seven-time IFBB Mr. Olympia. Arnold is without a doubt the most famous bodybuilder ever
Franco Columbu Mr. Olympia 1976, 1981
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:http://www.columbu.com/
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Columbu
About:Franco Columbu (born August 7, 1941) is an Italian actor, former champion bodybuilder and World's Strongest Man competitor.
His Bio:http://www.columbu.com/bio.html
It is a long way from Sardinia to Southern California, and no one knows this better than Franco Columbu, who arose from humble beginnings on the Italian island of Sardinia where people live in much the same way as they have for centuries. His successes as a boxing champion, international bodybuilding superstar, entrepreneur, author, Doctor of Chiropractic, and most recently actor and film producer, are deeply rooted in his Catholic upbringing and the strong work ethic which he learned as a young shepherd and farmer in Ollalai, in the primitive inland mountain region of Sardinia.
Franco has won every important title in bodybuilding and power lifting, an extraordinary achievement. He is a two-time Mr. Olympia, the most prestigious and lucrative title in bodybuilding, and has been Mr. Universe and Mr. World, among others. Even more amazing is the fact that he won his second Mr. Olympia at the age of 40, while completing his studies to become a chiropractor and five years after he had completely dislocated his knee in competition.
His power lifting World Records include: Bench Press 525 lbs., Squat 655 lbs., and Dead Lift 750 lbs. In April 1979, Franco even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest lung power. He was able to blow up a hot water bottle until it burst in just 55 seconds using only sheer lung power (that is 28.5 lbs/square inch)!
Franco's film appearances include the documentary "Pumping Iron", "Stay Hungry", "Conan the Barbarian" and "Terminator." On television, he was technical advisor for and appeared in the CBS-TV movie "Getting Physical." He has also been featured in several national TV and print commercials, as well as numerous guest appearances and television shows.
The most recent films under Franco Columbu Productions are: "Beretta's Island," which is a great success in many countries; "Doublecross," which has been released in many foreign countries, and "Ancient Warriors," a feature film that reveals historical, spiritual and contemporary places never seen before on the Island of Sardinia. He also produced and directed "Sardinia, The Greatest Isle of the Sea," an award-winning documentary about his homeland. A series of other documentaries about Sardinia are also in production.
Franco graduated from Chiropractic College in 1977. He has been the recipient of several honors and awards throughout the years including:
Induction into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1983
Received a Certificate of Merit from the IFBB in 1985
Awarded the highest civilian honor of merit - the merit of Ufficiale - by Francesco Cossiga, the President of Italy, on August 25, 1988
Received the FBB Achievement Medal Award in October 2004
Inducted into the Worlds Gym Hall of Fame in 2006
Received the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame Award in 2007
Received an award from the ICA for "Special service to the chiropractic profession and the world of fitness" in 2009
Awarded Arnold's Classic Lifetime Achievement Award on March 7, 2009
Titles Won in Bodybuilding:
Mr. Italy
Mr. Europe
Mr. International
Mr. World
Mr. Universe
Mr. Olympia
Titles Won in Powerlifting:
Champion of Italy
Champion of Germany
Champion of Europe
World Champion
World Records in Powerlifting:
Bench Press 525 lbs.
Squat 655 lbs.
Deadlift 750 lbs.
Records in Weightlifting:
Olympic Press 325 lbs.
Snatch 270 lbs.
Clean and Jerk 400 lbs.
Boxing: Amateur Boxing Champion
Last edited by tsiparlanaeht; 03-21-2012 at 12:00 AM.
Frank Zane Mr. Olympia 1977 - 1979
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:http://www.frankzane.com/ and http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/zane.html
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zane
About:Frank Zane (born June 28, 1942 in Kingston, Pennsylvania) is an American former professional bodybuilder and teacher.
His Bio:Frank & Christine Zane - Biography
"To be in love demands that the lover shall divine the wishes of the beloved long before they have come into the beloved's own consciousness. He knows her better than she knows herself; and loves her more than she loves herself; so that she becomes her perfect self without her own conscious effort. Her conscious effort, when the love is mutual, is for him. Thus each delightfully works perfection in the other." A.R. Orage, "On Love"
Frank grew up in a tough Pennsylvania coal-mining town. A shy quiet guy when young, he often found himself trying to finish a fight his younger brother had started, only to get beat up. At age 14 Frank discovered bodybuilding when he walked into his high school math class and spotted a muscle building magazine in the wastebasket. Studying the magazine, he soon started training at the local Wilkes-Barre YMCA weight room. He also bought a 30 pound set of dumbbells and began training at home. His father was angry at him for devoting time to training when he should have been doing work around the house. "Build yourself up by cutting the grass" he was told. This only made Frank all the more determined to succeed and he worked out with weights for three years in high school, with two four month lapses during football season. He grew from 130 pounds at age 14 to 160 pounds at age 17 and felt great because he could actually see the visible results from his workouts.
During his junior and senior years in high school Frank spent his summers as an archery instructor at a Boys Scout camp in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, working out hard and drinking lots of milk. He would hitchhike home 20 miles on weekends and since his weights were all at camp, Frank would carry 55 pounds of weights along with him so he could train. This way he made sure never to miss a workout. His parents' attitude about bodybuilding began changing as they realized his dedication. Frank's mother especially encouraged him in his training.
Frank graduated first in his high school class and won his first two trophies ever--for academic achievement, along with a partial scholarship to Wilkes College, earning a BS in secondary education in 1964. All this time he continued to train and began entering bodybuilding physique competition. By now Frank had won over two dozen trophies and weighed 185 pounds. Spending the next two years teaching math in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, he moved to Tampa, Florida in 1966. Being very serious about competitive training and winning every contest around and now felt he was destined for bigger things. Frank wanted to move to California, but it would mean severing East Coast ties so he moved to Florida instead.
In the meantime, Christine was growing up in Florida with her three sisters. They were a close family, and enjoyed outdoor activities such as swimming and boating on the Gulf Coast and Sunday picnics and outings with the family. There was hardly a day she did not spend in the warm tropical Florida sunshine playing and soaking up the sun. Christine was born with a natural artistic talent for drawing and painting. She had entered many local art contests as a child and had won recognition for he talents. In her high school years she began selling some of her paintings, usually to friends and acquaintance. Her artistic talents seemed to come from her father, who did much to encourage and inspire. Christine became very popular in high school, always maintaining a B average, but she liked to socialize more than study being active in civic organizations and was head pep-squad lead, marching in parades and at sporting events.
When Frank and Christine met in Florida in September 1966 she had just begun junior college and he was teaching at a local junior high school where Christine's younger sister, Pat, was a student. Pat thought it might be nice to have a bodybuilding champion for a brother-in-law and decided to ask Frank home to meet Christine. Frank had been bodybuilding for almost ten years before he moved to Florida in search of a better climate and training conditions. When Christine met Frank, this was her first encounter with anyone had developed his body so completely. She had seen all the Hercules movies when she was younger but had just assumed these men grew that way naturally. She soon learned otherwise and took up bodybuilding as a means to improve her own figure. She had always had a good figure but found it a challenge to keep her weight under control. With weight training, she found her bodyweight easier to control and felt a lot more energetic from her daily training sessions.
Frank was training for the Mr. America Contest and Christine became interested in competing for beauty titles. She won all of the local competitions she entered in Florida and then decided to compete for the Miss Americana crown in New York City in 1967. Frank had initially shown Christine how he trained and the results bodybuilding exercises produced. Christine then took what Frank had shown her and modified it into a program that gave her the type of figure she wanted to develop. It worked! Christine won her contest, but Frank came in second in his. They were married a few months later. Frank continued teaching junior high school mathematics and Christine managed a nearby women's health studio. They both continued bodybuilding: Christine exercised hard to set an example for the women in the studio and Frank started serious training for the 1968 Mr. America competition, which he won. One week after winning the Mr. America title in New York City, Frank defeated Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Mr. Universe title in Miami, Florida.
Several months later the Zanes moved to Southern California. Frank began teaching mathematics in Los Angeles while Christine went to college and taught women's exercise classes in Santa Monica. After moving to California, Frank won the Mr. World title in Brugge, Belgium in 1969, the Mr. Universe title in 1970 and 1972 in London, England and the coveted Mr. Olympia title (world professional bodybuilding champion) in 1977, 1978, and 1979 after 21 years of training. He also earned a second bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University in Los Angeles in 1977, a California Life Teaching Credential in all subjects k through grades 14, and a Master's degree in experimental psychology in 1990 from California State University in San Bernardino.
Christine won the Miss Universe Bikini Crown in 1970 and then retired from competition to devote her time to her studies and art. She graduated from California State University in Los Angeles summa cum laude earning a Masters Degree in Fine Arts with skills in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and jewelry. She also earned a California Life Teaching Credential in elementary education and obtained a teaching position with Santa Monica City Schools where she taught from 1973 to 1977. In 1990, Christine earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University in San Bernardino.
In 1980, Frank and Christine opened Zane Haven in Palm Springs, a bodybuilding learning center where people could learn the bodybuilding lifestyle in weekend programs. By 1987 they had outgrown the Zane Haven facility and purchased the former Cary Grant estate in Old Palm Springs Movie Colony, moving from Santa Monica in the process. Frank was awarded a U.S. patent for his Leg Blaster invention and began a weight training, nutrition, stress management and deep relaxation program called the Zane Experience in their new location. In October 1998, Frank and Christine sold their Palm Springs estate and relocated to San Diego, California. Frank operates a thriving fitness mail order business -- visit his website www.frankzane.com -- and teaches the Zane Experience to clients from all over the world wishing to learn how to be successful at weight training and nutrition. Christine spends her free time creating beautiful jewelry from gemstones and precious metals.
Chris Dickerson - Mr. Olympia 1982
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:www.chrisdickerson.net
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_D..._(bodybuilder)
About:Chris Dickerson (born Henri Christophe Dickerson on August 25, 1939 in Montgomery, Alabama), is a former American bodybuilder.
His Bio:
Born August 25, 1939
Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Chris Dickerson's career spanned 30 years and included approximately 50 contests. Over the decades, he built a dense and symmetrical physique augmented by a dramatic style of posing. Dickerson earned third place at the 1965 Mr. Long Beach (California), his first contest; he placed fourth at the 1994 IFBB Masters Olympia, his last contest.
Two particular achievements stand out in Dickerson's long career. He became the first African American AAU Mr. America in 1970 and by winning the IFBB Mr. Olympia in 1982, at the age of 43, he became the oldest winner of the sport's most prestigious title.
Chris was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2000. Aiding Dickerson throughout his career was another IFBB Hall of Famer, Bill Pearl.
In addition to the 1982 IFBB Mr. Olympia, Dickerson won nine other IFBB pro shows in the late '70s and early '80s, making him one of the most successful competitors of all time.
Something of a Renaissance man, Dickerson studied music and is an accomplished opera singer. Widely considered one of the best posers the sport has ever know, his routines were always pure theater.
Dickerson was born to Mahala Ashley Dickerson as the youngest of triplets. He studied music and is an accomplished opera singer in addition to his career in athletics.
Dickerson first entered bodybuilding competition in 1965 by taking third place at that year's Mr. Long Beach competition. He was not only the first African-American Mr. America, but also the oldest winner, at age 43, of the IFBB Mr. Olympia contest, which he won in 1982.
One of the world's most titled bodybuilders, Dickerson's competitive career spanned thirty years; he was known for both his heavily muscled, symmetrical physique and for his skills on the posing dais. He trained for many of his most important competitions in the 1980s with former Mr. Universe Bill Pearl. He retired in 1994. Dickerson was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2000.
Today, Dickerson lives in Florida where he continues to train, conduct seminars, and correspond with current athletes.
Samir Bannout - Mr. Olympia - 1983
(Thanks Neo for pic)
Thanks Neo for pic)
Thanks Neo for pic)
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:http://www.samirbannout.com/
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samir_Bannout
About:Known as "the Lion of Lebanon", Samir Bannout won the Mr. Olympia title in 1983.
His Bio:
My very first weight workout and I�d injured my back! It wasn�t a very propitious start to a bodybuilding career. But the pain soon went away and I set about learning correct exercise form so I wouldn�t injure myself again. Soon I was training regularly, growing stronger and progressively more muscular each passing week.
Because my brother-in-law was my role model, my first interest was in weight lifting. Whenever I couldn�t accompany him to the gym, I�d work out in a makeshift home gym that I installed on the roof of my parents� house. After about six months of training, I won the Lebanese Junior (under 20) Weight-lifting Championship in my weight class, which only made me more enthusiastic about pumping heavy iron.
Noting an improvement in my health and fitness, my parents soon allowed me to go to the gym by myself. It was the Strength and Health Gym, which was owned by Malieh Alywan, then the International Federation of Body Builders� (IFBB) Vice President for the Middle East. Malieh was a former bodybuilder and still very enthusiastic about that sport. When I was 16, he and his brother Mounir (the gym�s trainer) predicted a great future for me as a bodybuilder, because I had naturally good body proportions and muscularity. By then I weighed only 110 pounds, but they still recognized that I had the correct genetics for bodybuilding.
The Alywans also published a magazine called The Star of the Sport, which was the bodybuilding journal for Lebanon and the Arab countries. I was greatly inspired by the photos and stories of famous bodybuilders in their magazine, but was still interested only in competitive weight lifting. Bodybuilders, I felt, weren�t true athletes, a belief that was soon to be challenged.
In April 1973, I was killing time at a newsstand, waiting for the start of a film I wished to see. Just by chance I noticed the cover of Muscle Builder Power, the forerunner of Muscle & Fitness. Arnold Schwarzenegger was on the cover and I was totally awed by how huge and muscular he looked. The magazine was imported from America and extremely expensive, but I forgot about the movie and purchased it anyway.
Even though I couldn�t read the English text of the magazine, I was tremendously inspired by the photos of America�s greatest bodybuilders, men like Schwarzenegger (who soon became my lifelong hero in bodybuilding), Franco Columbu, Dave Draper, Frank Zane, Ken Waller, and all of the other greats who trained at Gold�s Gym in Venice, California. The magazine convinced me to forget about weight lifting and concentrate solely on bodybuilding, so I went back to the newsstand every month to purchase the new issue and reaffirm my love for bodybuilding.
I�d never seen a bodybuilder in Lebanon that compared with the Americans, and one glance through the magazine gave me incredible inspiration for each of my workouts. I progressed rapidly in my new sport. I even went to the magazine distributor�s warehouse to see if they had back issues of Muscle Builder & Power. I was such and enthusiastic and polite kid that they took pity on me and gave me about 20 old magazines. I was so excited by this gesture that I wouldn�t have taken a million dollars in exchange for my new hoard of muscle mags.
Gradually I added to my collection of magazines - still unable to read them - and purchased used weights and other equipment to upgrade my home gym. At first I trained totally incorrectly, though. I�d work out in the morning before school, again during my lunch break, and then again after school. By all rights I should have become overtrained, but I loved the sport so much that I actually continued to improve my physique.
In school I had learned French rather than English, and so decided to teach myself English so I could actually read the articles in my magazines. It didn�t make sense to look at the photos every day without being able to read the articles, so I bought an English dictionary and set to work, I was so fanatical about bodybuilding that I learned functional English in record time. Unfortunately, I ignored my school studies in the process.
My parents noticed my declining grades and my father tried to discourage me from spending so much time on bodybuilding. He encouraged me to keep up with my schoolwork so I�d have something to fall back on if I didn�t succeed as a competitive bodybuilder. I didn�t take his advice very gracefully at the time, but now I understand how right he was. There are thousands of bodybuilders who don�t have the genetic makeup to become successful professionals, but unwittingly throw away everything in life in their futile attempt to reach the top. When they fail, they have only hollow lives to sustain them. This is a good lesson to learn to avoid making the same mistake.
I was positive even at the age of 16 or 17 that I had the genetic potential to go all the way in bodybuilding. So I compromised with my father by studying more while still keeping up with my dedicated workouts. But I found it difficult to "hold two watermelons in one hand" and was thankful to finish school so I could devote all my energies to bodybuilding.
After a few months of serious bodybuilding, I had made dramatic progress and blew everyone off the stage at the Mr. Beirut competition. I then lost by one point to Toufik Saad at the Mr. Lebanon competition. Saad was much older and had been training for more than 10 years, however, so I felt no disgrace in losing to him. I did, however, resolve to defeat him the next time we met.
At that point Malieh Alywan told me that if I kept improving he would place me on the Lebanese team for the IFBB Mr. Universe competition. That prospect inspired me so much that I lived, ate, slept, and dreamed of nothing but bodybuilding for the next month. As a result, I improved so much for the Mr. Universe team pose down that I defeated Toufik Saad and everyone else in Lebanon. I was elated, because I would be traveling to Verona, Italy, to compete in the Mr. Universe show, an event I hadn't even known existed a year before.
At Verona I placed seventh in my class, by far the youngest man in the competition at 18 years of age. Malieh Alywan began calling me the Teenage Mr. Universe after that, even writing a story about my success in his magazine.
The Verona competition left an indelible impression on me because it was the first time I was able to see a few of the greats of bodybuilding in the flesh. I met Lou Ferrigno, Ken Waller, Bob Birdsong, Paul Grant, and Ahmet Enunlu, each of whom who'd eventually go on to win at least one world title. Birdsong was in my own class and I was astonished by his muscle mass and extreme hardness. I could never have dreamed I would one day be able to defeat Bob, but eventually I did.
The Verona experience convinced me that I had to get to America. The standard of physiques was of the highest order in America, and everything else was first class. Many bodybuilders from other countries made it big internationally only after moving to California to train.
Americans had gone to the moon, had incredible technology, an incredible society, incredible everything. I concluded that I'd only make it to the top of bodybuilding by living and training in America and more specifically in Venice and Santa Monica, California, where most of the best pro bodybuilders were located.
I began to investigate the possibility of moving to America. I was determined to move to California and once I make up my mind to reach a goal I invariably do, regardless of the roadblocks impeding my progress. My first obstacle was the prohibitive cost of going to America, but I did have sufficient funds to travel to Europe and explore bodybuilding outside Lebanon for the first time.
I initially went to England and trained for a time at the London gym of Len Sell, who had won two NABBA Mr. Universe titles. Albert Beckles and Roy Duval, two other Mr. Universe winners, were training there at the time which gave me a chance to observe the training methods of bodybuilders who were far superior to anyone in my home country. As good as the British bodybuilders were, they still lagged behind the Americans, and I continued to harbor my dream of going to California to train.
On the way home I stopped in Spain and trained at the gyms of Baldo Lois and Salvador Ruiz in Madrid. I was beginning to see bodybuilding around the world, an odyssey that would eventually take me to compete or guest pose in more than 40 countries. But I still had a burning desire to get to America.
In 1975, I won the Mr. Lebanon title and qualified to compete at the IFBB Mr. Universe show in South Africa. Unfortunately, the political situation in South Africa kept the Lebanese team at home. The government wouldn't allow us to depart. I was stunned by the decision, initially feeling that I'd wasted a year of hard training. But I have developed an ability to turn adversity into a positive drive toward success, so I was soon back in heavy training for the next Mr. Universe title.
My chance to reach America finally came in 1976 after I competed in the IFBB Mr. Universe show in Montreal. I met some friends from Michigan and they invited me to visit them. I went to Detroit on my visitor's visa and immediately made plans to receive my green card for permanent residence in the United States; the land that I knew held great promise for me.
My first impulse in Michigan was to hop on an airplane for Los Angeles. My friends suggested I settle for a while in Detroit before moving to California. It was a good plan and I ended up living in Michigan for a little over two years, working in an auto assembly plant to support myself.
In 1977, I placed second in my class to the Austrian Walter Bubinicek in the IFBB Mr. International contest at Columbus, Ohio. The next year 1978 I won Mr. Michigan and returned to Columbus for the International. Again I placed second, this time to Californian Roger Callard, a former Mr. America. I felt I should have won, but accepted the judges' decision.
Bill felt I had the potential to one day become Mr. Olympia.
To continue Bio visit : http://www.samirbannout.com/biography-samir-bannout.php
Lee Haney - Mr. Olympia 1984-1991
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:http://www.leehaney.com/ and http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/haney.html
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Haney
About:Lee Haney (born November 11, 1959 in Spartanburg, South Carolina) is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder most famous for being the current joint record holder, along with Ronnie Coleman, for winning the most Mr. Olympia titles (eight times from 1984 to 1991).
His Bio:In 1991, I became the first eight time consecutive World BodyBuilding Champion to win the covenant MR. OLYMPIA Crown. The road getting there wasn't easy. It took hard work, delayed gratification, and above all a lot of prayer.
Over the years I've had the opportunity to be involved as a consultant with some of the best nutritional supplement companies in the world. Those associations, along with 20+ years of on-the-job experience, have given me a wealth of knowledge - knowledge that can be used in helping you reach your fitness goals. Whether the goal is to lower body fat, add muscle mass, or wanting to tone - I've been there, done that!
Why are nutritional supplements so important? Nutritional supplements assist in enhancing valuable nutrients that our bodies need. Nutrients that are lacking in today's "hurry up and grow it" society. With that being said, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the Lee Haney's Nutritional Supplement System, formulated with years of knowledge and know how.
Dorian Yates Mr. Olympia 1992-1997
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:http://www.dorianyates.net/dorian/site/index.php and http://www.dorianyatesnutrition.com/
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_Yates
About:Dorian Andrew Mientjez Yates (born April 19, 1962 in Hurley, Staffordshire, England), is an English professional bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Olympia title six consecutive times beginning in 1992.[1][2] He is fourth on the list of most Olympias won, and out of the seven in which he competed, he won six and placed second in his debut. Yates' supposed lack of elite genetics from birth and reputation for unique approaches and philosophies for training and nutrition have established his legendary status in IFBB history.
His Bio:
Dorian has won 6 Mr. Olympia's in a row. he set new standards in size as the the first Mr, OLYMPIA at 250 lbs to have a body condition with super low body fat and very high muscle density.
He is the biggest of the professional bodybuilders and when beside him makes all other bodybuilders look small. His nickname is the 'Shadow'.
Dorian Andrew Mientjez Yates was born April 19, 1962 in England. Dorian was raised in Hurley, in rural Staffordshire. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Birmingham, Britain's second largest city. During these times, Dorian got himself into trouble, and was sentenced to six months at Whatton Youth Detention Centre.
It was here that Dorian earned an instant reputation as the strongest and fittest of Whatton's 300 inmates. This gave him new respect for himself. Whatton was the wake up call for Dorian. If he did not do something, he would end up in and out of prison all of his life. Dorian resolved that he would not be back.
Born in Hurley, Staffordshire, near Birmingham, England, Yates started working out in 1983. The man dubbed "The Shadow" (by FLEX Editor-in-Chief Peter McGough) shone a new light of awareness onto training methods with his brief but very high-intensity workouts. After some muscle victories in England – 1985 Novice Championships and 1988 British Championships – Yates visited New York for the 1990 Night of Champions and, in his pro debut, he took second to Mohamed Benaziza. The next year, he returned to win the contest.
In 1991, Yates was the runner-up at the Olympia to Lee Haney, who duly won his eighth record-setting Sandow and the retired. From 1992 through 1997, Yates dominated the sport's highest title. In 1994, he overcame a torn biceps to win the crown. In 1997, his most valiant victory came when he tore a triceps three weeks prior to the contest, but still battled on to triumph. Due to the injury, Yates was forced to retire, with a pro record of 15 wins and two second-place finishes.
Yates may well be the bodybuilder that most aspiring trainees can best identify with because of his blue-collar roots, dogged determination and quiet confidence. His book, co-written by Peter McGough, is titled A Warrior's Story – a perfect appellation for his competitive days for the Brit with no quit. Today, Yates still lives in Birmingham, where he is part owner of the supplement company Dorian Yates Ultimate Formulas, and he is still seen regularly at the main stateside contests.
Dorian has two children Lewis and Tahnee
Dorian Bio - http://www.dorianyates.net/dorian/si...d=about_dorian
Ronnie Coleman Mr. Olympia 1998-2006
His Appreciation Threads:
Every Thread in the IFBB section - Please see Loctus law -
His Website:http://www.bigroncoleman.com/
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Coleman
About: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.[1]
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.
His Bio:
Birth date : May 13, 1964
Birth place : Monroe, Louisiana
Raised : Bastrop, Louisiana
Education : Bastrop High School 1982, Grambling State University, 1986 (BS in Accounting, Cum Laude)
Married: Christine Achkar Coleman
Children : Jamilleah and Valencia Daniel
Occupation : Reserve Police Officer for the Arlington Police Dept.
Height : 5'11"
Weight : (Contest) 305lbs, (Off season) 330 lbs
Current Residence : Arlington, TX
1st Amateur Victory : Mr. Texas 1990
Pro Qualifying Event : 1991 World Amateur Championships
Career Highlight : Winning the 1998 Mr. Olympia
Ronnie Coleman graduated cum laude from Grambling State University (GSU) in 1986 with a B.S degree in accounting[citation needed]. While attending Grambling State University Coleman also played football as a middle linebacker with the GSU Tigers under coach Eddie Robinson. After graduation, Coleman became a police officer in Arlington, Texas.
Coleman's fellow officer Gustavo Arlotta suggested he attend the Metroflex gym, owned by amateur bodybuilder Brian Dobson. Dobson offered Coleman a free lifetime membership 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.
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 Brazil, China, and Australia. Coleman also makes many guest appearances at gym openings all around the United States.
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 four days per week, having cut down due to touring the world and cutting down on competitive events.
Coleman supports the Inner City Games, an organization that 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.
Ronnie Coleman was married for the first time at the age of 43 to Rouaida Christine Achkar in December 2007. He also has two daughters, Jamilleah and Valencia Daniel, and three young children from another relationship
Coleman is a Christian.
Coleman underwent surgery for a spinal issue in December 2011, and was recovering in January 2012.
Last edited by tsiparlanaeht; 03-21-2012 at 01:29 AM.
Jay Cutler Mr Olympia 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
His Appreciation Threads: Pm Mesopeaks or view every thread he has ever made
His Website:http://www.jaycutler.com/
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Cutler_(bodybuilder)
About:Jay Cutler (born Jason Isaac Cutler August 3, 1973 in Sterling, Massachusetts) is an IFBB professional bodybuilder. He has won the title Mr. Olympia four times.
His Bio:
IFBB Professional, Jay Cutler, is bodybuilding's most recognized and personable athlete. IFBB 2010, 2009, 2007 & 2006 Mr. Olympia, IFBB 2002, 2003, & 2004 Arnold Classic Champion and IFBB 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, & 2011 Mr. Olympia Runner Up.
I was born August 3, 1973 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Worcester is centrally located in Massachusetts. About 50 miles west of Boston. I grew up in a small town called Sterling, which is a suburb of Worcester County. I was born the youngest of seven, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. My dad was a superintendent of the highway department and my mother worked in finance at a military base.
My childhood was an active one. I enjoyed riding my bike and playing neighborhood games such as kick the can and hide and seek. I rode ATV's and worked on my family's farm which consisted of pigs, goats, chickens, and cows. I worked in my brother's concrete business from early on and developed quite a physique for myself. This physique was the foundation for my bodybuilding career.
In high school I played football. I had a vast group of friends and was popular with everyone. I did the usual high school party routine and really enjoyed my years at Wachusett Regional High School. My high school consisted of 5 towns: Paxton (Wachusett), Rutland, Holden, Sterling and Princeton.
When I graduated high school in 1991, I went to college at Quinsigamond Community College. I completed my Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Quinsigamond Community College in 1993. This is where I discovered bodybuilding. I began training actually on my 18th birthday in 1991.
In the beginning, I trained only to look better, but my training quickly led to competition. I competed at the age of 19. My first show was the Teen Nationals in Raleigh, NC. I placed first. This was the start of my bodybuilding career and love for competing.
My girlfriend Kerry and I moved in together in Worcester. I began training for pro status. The years went by quickly. I worked at different jobs, while Kerry was pursuing her nursing degree. In 1994, I met a person who gave me the guidance and support I needed to become the best bodybuilder and business man.
Bruce Vartanian was a local bodybuilder and business owner. Bruce took me under his wing and taught me the ins and outs of the business. He taught me what I needed to do to be the best. We trained together along with my diet mentor, Chris Aceto. We built a physique that would sweep the Nationals in 1996 to gain professional status. I was bombarded with contract offers and eventually signed on with Joe Weider.
I took 1997 off from competition and came back to debut in 1998 at the Night of Champions in NYC. I placed 11th- a little off from my best. I went back to old school dieting and training for the 1999 season. I placed 3rd at the Pro Ironman Invitational and 4th at the Arnold Classic. Later that year, I placed 15th at the Olympia.
On July 9, 1998, I married my girlfriend of seven years, Kerry. We got married in a small private ceremony at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. In 1999, Kerry and I moved to Aliso Viejo, CA. This was a great business move for both of us. Kerry began a job in nursing at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. I continued to train with the hunger to move up in the bodybuilding ranks.
In May of 2000, I became the Night of Champions Winner, putting myself further ahead in the rankings. Kerry and I purchased our first home in CA in June of 2000. This was a great step for us, as we always wanted to live in CA.
I competed next at the 2000 Olympia placing 8th. The week following the contest, I was runner up to Ronnie Coleman (three time Mr. Olympia) at the English Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix.
In November 2000, I made a crucial business decision and began a new relationship with ISS Research. ISS is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. They approached me with an offer that I could not refuse. ISS Research gave me the opportunity to take a whole year to prepare for the 2001 Mr. Olympia. I did many appearances through 2001 and really focused on preparing to do my best in October 2001. I went on to place a controversial 2nd place to Ronnie Coleman. The publicity launched my career even further and catapulted me to the next level.
After the "O" in 2001, I began preparing for the 2002 Arnold Classic, which I won unanimously over Chris Cormier. Many journalists have thus far declared 2003 as "The Year of Cutler". It was at the beginning of the year that I won three consecutive contests - the IronMan Pro Invitational, the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and the San Francisco Pro Invitational. I finished off the year with two more victories, the English and Dutch Grand Prix while landing runner up on three occasions: Mr. Olympia, Russian Grand Prix and the GNC Show of Strength. 2003 was a very busy year for me; eight contests, five victories, three 2nd's...not bad!!! I also began a new relationship with MuscleTech Research and Development in December 2003. I will now endorse the largest sports supplement line in the fitness industry. MuscleTech has many future plans for the release of the most breakthrough supplements on the market.
At the beginning of this year, 2006, I stated on my website that this would be the year that I would have my name etched into bodybuilding history by becoming Mr. Olympia. On September 30 I fulfilled my destiny. Kerry and I now live in Las Vegas, after spending many great years in California. I will continue to train here in Vegas and do all I can do to solidify my position as the #1 bodybuilder in the world.
Train Hard!
Dexter Jackson Mr Olympia 2008
Dexter clearly applause begging
His Appreciation Threads:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...n+appreciation (DPNZ thread)
His Website:http://www.dexterjackson.org/ and http://www.facebook.com/Dexter.DaBlade.Jackson
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_..._(bodybuilder)
About:Dexter Jackson was born in 1969 and he is a well known bodybuilder. He is well respected in the sport for his body, his accomplishments, and the attitude he has offered through all of it. His nickname is The Blade and it is the name that most in this professional sport know him by.
His Bio:
Dexter Jackson was always involved with athletics and was a top performer in track and football during his high school years in Jacksonville, Florida. His plans were to go to college on a sports scholarship but things didn't turn out that way for him. His girlfriend was pregnant and he got a job cooking to support the two of them.
He continued to spend time at the gym working out. His friends were after him to complete in a local body building competition. At first he didn't take them serious but then the though of winning it started to inspire him. He found that he loved the training and his passion for bodybuilding was fueled. He already had a very good physique so it was time for him to take it to the next level.
He first began competing in 1992 and did well, taking 3rd place in the NPC Southern States Championship. In 1999 though he took on his first professional championship with the Arnold Classic. In 2008 he won the prestigious Mr. Olympia. However, it was long road to get there that involved hard work and dedication.
Yet that year was one that was really spectacular for Jackson. He was on top of the game winning many different competitions. As a result he was featured in many different magazines for fitness. This allowed fans to see information about his workout regiment, his diet, and his commitment to the sport.
He also has an official website that offers information about his daily workout routine, the amount of protein he consumes, and offering a free calculator for those that need to know how much protein they should consume each day. It is possible for him to help with setting up workout routines as well that are customized for individuals.
He continues to be involved with the sport. He offers advice and information to others that want to do well in the world of bodybuilding. He has strong community ties and enjoys helping with training sessions of various athletes.
In 2009 a very in depth documentary was released called Unbreakable. This shows the day to day part of the world for Jackson that most people don't think about. It really helps to appreciate his efforts and to see how he has come so far over time. It also shows his passion for bodybuilding.
Jackson has been a great benefit to the sport and also offered inspiration to other athletes over several generations. He continues to contribute to the sport of bodybuilding with various appearances, fundraising efforts, and support for bodybuilding. The personal life and the professional career of Jackson have both been very giving and rewarding.
Phil "The Gift" Heath Mr Olympia 2011 - ???
His Appreciation Threads:
His Website:http://www.phillipheath.com/ - https://www.phillipheath.com/store/ Check out his store, if you didn't know Phil does occasionally post in the IFBB section.
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Heath
About:Phillip "Phil" Jerrod Heath (born December 18, 1979 in Seattle, WA) is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and current Mr. Olympia.
His Bio:
Prior To Bodybuilding, I participated on the University of Denver (Div.1-A) Men's Basketball team (1998-2002) as a point/shooting guard for the Pioneer's. This experience there taught me many key lessons such as hard work ethic, self-discipline, respect for others, humility and accountability. I found that even though my collegiate career wasn't as successful as my high school career, I could still achieve greatness through the many lessons I learned. Being a basketball player was every kid's dream growing up in my neighborhood and I happened to love it too. I enjoyed practicing for hours on end and because of that, I became better and better. I was rewarded for my hard work and discipline for basketball and academically by DU in being awarded a full student-athletic scholarship.
After my basketball career was over, I continued to train, but now with new guys who in fact where into bodybuilding. I never thought of myself as a bodybuilder, but did see myself quite muscular for a 'hoopster', so I gave it a try. I changed my whole workout program from basketball prep, to hardcore training. I actually liked training like this because of my new friends being so competitive. I immediately saw the correlation of hard work and discipline between these two sports, which made me extremely interested in the sport of bodybuilding. I soon learned the mechanics of training like a bodybuilder and loved seeing the pumps in my arms, legs, chest. My friends took notice also, which made me want more. They would push me to new limits every workout which I loved because of the new comraderie I had which was quite similar to the rapport I had with my basketball teammates.
Also, my eating habits took a dramatic turn too, from eating only 3 times, to now 6 to 7 times per day. I new I loved this sport when I would watch bodybuilding events in person or on television, mesmerized by the level of muscularity, balance, symmetry and conditioning.
I started training for my first contest (NPC Northern CO. 2003) on October 8, 2002. I purchased a digital camera and took my very own pre-contest photographs. I continued to do this because it allowed me to view my physique and make adjustments in my training according to my shape and proportion. I felt that the pictures would never lie and they would keep me motivated into being a better bodybuilder day after day. I started out at 185lbs and grew into a 215lbs machine with 6% bodyfat which I found amazing, but achieveable because of my family's genetics. I competed at the 'Northern' as a 192lbs light-heavyweight. I couldn't believe the sacrifice I had to go through in order to achieve this level of shape and conditioning. I took my novice and open classes, winning the overall men's title. After that huge win, I was hooked and began training harder and eating smarter.
I competed 8 weeks later at the NPC Colorado State show again as a light-heavy, weighing 196. I competed against many strong competitors and I was honored with straight 1st's. However, I didn't win the overall that year, I learned that I must take this sport a lot more serious because I totally relied on my genetics and that cost me to lose by 1 point. Once I enlisted myself into a hardcore gym, I began having a better focus on training. I began to grow and grow and grow gradually throughout the later part of '03. I had my eyes set on the NPC Junior Nationals, but failed to enter before the deadline. Again, I was reminded that I must take this sport more seriously, just as I did with basketball. I then entered the NPC Colorado State show and took the Mr. Colorado title, competing as a 200lbs heavyweight. I continued to train and that following year entered the NPC Junior Nationals and took the overall there too.
I was on a roll, I couldn't believe it. On June 20th, I signed with Weider Health and Fitness, which was a true blessing to me thanks to Jay Cutler and Peter McGough. Now with all of these shows under my belt, I felt it was necessary to compete for my pro-card at USA's. I went up against some of the best physiques in the country and I was very nervous. I knew that by keeping my faith along with my friends being close by, I would manage to take care of business. I spoke with my mentor/big-brother Jay Cutler and Peter McGough, along with others to keep focus on the show and proving to myself and the world that I am coming with my best package. I later that week, I won the USA's, weighing in at 215lbs and taking overall honors. I was so excited that I didn't know what to do.
Now, as an IFBB pro, I intend on representing the sport of bodybuilding in a way that many people can relate to and in a way that mainstream society will respect. I hope to be one the greatest of all-time, but even if I fall short of that dream, I want to have as much fun as I possibly can because of one's career in bodybuilding being so short. I will continue to bring my best package to every contest and also stay humble and personable.
Last edited by tsiparlanaeht; 03-21-2012 at 02:00 AM.
- Join Date: Jan 2010
- Location: United States,, Miami, FL NOT, Zimbabwe
- Age: 30
- Posts: 14,880
- Rep Power: 40959
Good stuff. I call flex wheeler
Kenneth "Flex" Wheeler
Appreciation threads:
Kenneth Wheeler (born August 23, 1965, Fresno, California, United States), better known as Flex Wheeler, is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder.
Flex Wheeler began training as a teenager, initially with martial arts in mind. However his natural development persuaded him to pursue bodybuilding. Despite this he is on record as regarding himself as a "martial artist first, a bodybuilder second." It also accounts for his remarkable flexibility in a physique so large. Even so, he has been described by Arnold Schwarzenegger as one of the greatest bodybuilders he ever saw.
After a short career as a police officer, Wheeler focused full time on becoming a professional bodybuilder, taking the nickname 'Flex'. He competed for the first time in 1983 but it was not until 1989 that he secured a first-place trophy at the NPC Mr California Championships. Since then, he has placed second at the 1993 Mr. Olympia, narrowly missing a win (something he was to repeat in 1998 and 1999). He is a 5 time Ironman Pro winner, 4 time Arnold Classic winner, and has enjoyed victories in the France Grand Prix, South Beach Pro Invitational, Night of Champions and Hungarian Grand Prix.
Flex has the best IFBB pro debut in the history of the sport of body building in 1993 with 4 wins Pro IronMan, Arnold Classic, German Grand Prix, French Grand Prix and 2nd in his first Mr. Olympia.
In 1994 he was involved in a near-fatal car accident that could have left him with lifelong paralysis. He started from scratch again, returning with remarkable speed to the top ranks of the sport.
In 1999 Wheeler discovered that he had Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a form of kidney disease. Despite press speculation as to the cause of the failure, Wheeler pointed out that the condition is hereditary, not self-inflicted. Wheeler announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding in 2000, but continued to compete until 2002. He received a kidney transplant in 2003.
Flex was added to the Guinness Book of Records in 2000.
Since retirement Wheeler has focused again on martial arts, his specialism being Kemp-Kwon-Do, a variant of Kempo and Tae Kwon Do. He participated in a championship match at the 2005 Arnold Classic.
In 2007, Flex was interviewed by freelance journalist Rod Labbe for Ironman Magazine's LEGENDS OF BODYBUILDING series. Entitled "Yesterday and Today," it covers his extensive career and reveals how a Legend can conquer adversity and triumph against incredible odds.
Flex is a partner with AAEFX currently serves in an executive position as the Director of Media and Public Relations for the Sports Nutrition Company All American EFX, based out of Bakersfield, California. Flex has his own product line with AAEFX called "Flex Wheeler Signature Series". Additionally, he manages their sponsored athletes and can be seen in numerous advertisements for the company.
Last edited by SammyJr; 03-21-2012 at 12:04 PM.
Great thread bro.Legends Of Bodybuilding!!! 1000's OF PICS OF YOUR FAVOURITE BODYBUILDERS!!!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lobofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lob_forever/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNy...CGkj1WuOBceyFA
Website: http://www.legendsofbodybuilding.com
Nice thread. Here is an article about one of the greatest bodybuilders and ass-kicking personalities of this sport: The Shadow. I can't find another long one about his teen years and the story from punker to Hall-of-Famer
Dorian Yates: "blood and guts" was only part of the story during the British legend's six-year sovereignty as Mr. Olympia
by Jeff O'Connell
A WEEK OUT FROM THE 1994 MR. OLYMPIA, Dorian Yates could barely lift his trousers, let alone the heavy weights expected of the world's best body-builder--260 pounds of muscle too hard for a buzz saw to cut. He had torn his left biceps eight weeks earlier doing bent-over rows; the day of the show, only a fake tan hid the discoloration. Still fresh in his memory was the muscle tear in his left quadriceps from April. In March, the same fate had befallen one of his rotator-cuff ligaments. [paragraph] His victory that year revealed two sides of the same coin: a warrior's ability to endure pain made essential by a ferocious training style, captured for posterity in all its raging glory on the aptly named video Blood and Guts. And they certainly became the hallmarks of Dorian's entire reign as Mr. Olympia, spanning 1992-1997.
Arguably of greater importance, however, was Dorian's monklike mental application to the craft he had chosen--preparing meals with an actuary's exactness, getting sufficient rest, treating workouts as seriously as religious rites, over and over and over. His nickname was The Shadow, and it referred not to his sun-blotting lattisimus dorsi but to a quiet demeanor and disdain for the limelight. He'd do a show and then, poof, he'd be gone again, disappearance following appearance as surely as night after day.
Consistent with his determination to focus, Zenlike, on the task at hand, no motion or effort was wasted. Dorian trained each bodypart once a week as part of a four-way split, each session lasting 40 minutes to an hour. So his training totaled 3 1/2 hours of work a week, an amount some of his competitors completed in a day. Dorian got away with it because he had honed his approach to a single incredibly intense set for each exercise. But each set was a tour de force, as Dorian infused the most banal act imaginable--pulling something toward you and then pushing the same thing away again--with all the drama it could possibly contain.
That down-to-the-dungeon diligence allowed Dorian to turn an unexceptional back into his trump card onstage. His dedication also earned some measure of awe even from those prevented from winning the Olympia title by Dorian's success. "I had the most incredible amount of respect for Dorian," says Mike Matarazzo, who shared many stages with him. "No. 1, he was such an incredible champion, but No. 2, he was such a gym warrior. He didn't win contests just by way of God's good graces. He went to the gym and kicked ass."
FLEX Editor in Chief Peter McGough says Dorian's ability to manage his intensity ultimately took him to the top. "I've never known anyone as dedicated as him," he remarks. "But he wasn't destroying himself with intensity like some guys do. Dorian thought, If I have these six meals, if I do this routine today, and I get this amount of rest, nobody else will be doing this."
Dorian once put it this way: "Each workout is like a brick in a building, and every time you go in there and do a half-ass workout, you're not laying a brick down. Somebody else is."
Perhaps Dorian was determined to succeed because success seemed so far-fetched in 1981, at age 19, when he was incarcerated at the Whatton Youth Detention Centre, the culmination of a drunk-and-disorderly youth of punk rock, defiance, gang membership and teen unemployment. His comeuppance came one night in a bizarre caper that involved him and a chum stepping into a storefront display that was already shattered from rioting and removing a cravat and bowler hat from a dummy to wear to a party. The riot police were considerably less amused than partygoers would have been at the sight of two punks spoofing the upper class, and the lads ended up at a reform school for juvenile offenders, where Dorian spent six months.
The weight room at Whatton was also his first exposure to body building, save for a brief flirtation several years earlier. Not surprisingly, Dorian adopted a rebellious badass as his early role model. "Robby Robinson was the guy [for me] at the time," Dorian recalls. "He was a bit of a rebel. He used to train in this ripped-up rag T-shirt and the cornrow hair-style that I would see in pictures, and his physique was like nothing I had ever seen before."
Soon people would be saying the same about Dorian, who by the middle of '83, a year and a half out of detention, had committed himself to becoming a serious bodybuilder. McGough saw him for the first time at a backwater contest in 1985 on the northwest coast of England. "I got to the show late and I was standing to the side with Frank Richards, an English bodybuilder who was making a comeback after a bad accident--he had just done fifth at the Night of Champions. He said, 'After all this time out, I'm gonna do a couple of years and then I'm gettin' out.'
"I said, 'Why?'
"And as if on cue in a movie, Dorian walked onstage, and Frank nodded toward him and said, 'Because of f--ers like that.'
"We were all like, 'What the hell is this?'"
By 1988, Dorian was winning in dominating fashion at the British Championships, followed in 1990 by his Stateside debut at the Night of Champions, where he came out of nowhere to storm second place. At the 1991 Mr. Olympia, Dorian lost a titanic battle with Lee Haney at his all-time best. The next year, Lee stepped aside and Dorian's reign began.
Dorian retired in late 1997 after winning the Mr. Olympia, his decision cemented by having endured a torn triceps on the road to victory. Since then he has been involved primarily with his supplement company, Dorian Yates Approved, although he recently opened a second gym and remains in demand for personal appearances.
Dorian is asked what he considers to be his bodybuilding legacy. "I think I was inspirational for a lot of people," he says. "I came from not an ideal background, but [my success] showed people that if you've got enough determination and drive, you can do it. I think people often make too many excuses for why they don't do well. The feedback I get is that regular guys relate to me because I'm like them."
And this is a movie I'd like to see
Last edited by spamy; 03-21-2012 at 11:12 AM.
Shawn Ray
His Appreciation Threads:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...y+appreciation (His own thread here on bb.com)
His Website:http://www.facebook.com/sugarshawnray and http://www.facebook.com/theshawnray
BB.com Profile:http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/shawnray.htm
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Ray
About:Shawn Ray (born September 9, 1965 in Placentia, California, U.S.) is a former professional bodybuilder and author. I have competed in over a dozen Mr. Olympia's in the last 13 years. The only two bodybuilders I have not beat are Lee Haney and Dorian Yates.
His Bio:
In over 30 major bodybuilding competitions, Ray only failed to place in the top five once. Signing his first professional bodybuilding sponsor contract in 1988, Ray has been featured in six video documentaries; Lifestyles of the Fit & Famous (Biopic), Final Countdown (Contest Prep for Olympia 1998), Inside & Out- Behind the Muscle, a look at his daily life on the Pro Circuit, To The Extreme (Training Video) Best of Shawn Ray ( History of Shawn Ray). "Fitness After 40" which is a biographical and documentary instyle, showcases Shawn's life after the competitive stage being married with his first child while getting back on the Horse and getting in shape.
He is mentioned in The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Bill Dobbins and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ray also wrote a book about how to become a bodybuilder, named The Shawn Ray Way. Ray has appeared on more Flex Magazine covers than any bodybuilder in history and has also featured in many fitness and bodybuilding magazines worldwide. Shawn was a co-host on Flex Magazine Workout on ESPN for 5 years as well as hosting bodybuilding competitions for ESPN as a commentator for 8 years.
Shawn was the Co-Master of Ceremonies for the 2006 and 2007 Mr. Olympia Competitions held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shawn is the creator of the only charity fundraiser for professional bodybuilding, Vyo Tech Nutritionals presents: Shawn Ray's CHOC Hospital Golf Invitational. Over the last two year's with the help of other pro fitness, figure and bodybuilding champions, as well as supplement companies and magazines, Shawn has helped raise and donate over $55,000.00 to the Children's Hospital of Orange County by hosting this event annually at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, Ca.
Shawn was the first professional bodybuilder to fail the drug testing at the Arnold Classic, which was when he first won the title in 1990. He went on to win the title again in 1991.
Ray retired from competitive bodybuilding in 2001 and is now working with a shaker manufacturer company from Sweden called SmartShake.com. [1] He placed in the top five at the Mr. Olympia competition for twelve consecutive years from 1990 to 2001, two of those being first runner-up finishes.
He promoted the Shawn Ray Colorado Pro/Am Classic Contest-Expo, held in Denver, Colorado in 2006 and 2007.[1] Shawn also produced a DVD titled 'Fitness after 40' in which Shawn tries to get back into shape. Shawn is now a Feature Writer for Muscular Development Magazine and the Host of MD Radio and MDTV as an Interviewer. He is also making a video documentary called Evolution of Bodybuilding - The Movie"
Kevin "Maryland Muscle Machine" Levrone
His Appreciation Threads:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...=kevin+levrone (His Transformation thread)
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...e+appreciation (Sammyjr thread with rare pics)
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...=kevin+levrone (Video's)
His Website:http://levronereport.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kevin-Levrone/38488984541
His Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Levrone
Kevin Levrone (born July 16, 1965) is a former IFBB professional bodybuilder, blogger, musician, actor and health club owner.
Born to an Italian father and African American mother he grew up quick, losing both parents to cancer at a very young age this devastating loss made Kevin more determined. After meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger and being Arnold's guest on the movie set End of Days, Kevin Levrone knew he had a bigger calling and it was acting, so he moved to Hollywood and landed a starring role in his first film Backlash after being in Hollywood only 6 months, then following up with Redline with a Nationwide release several month later.
His Bio:
Levrone was born to an Italian father and an African American mother on July 16, 1965 in Baltimore, Maryland, the youngest of six children. Aside from his career as a pro bodybuilder, Levrone has also worked as an actor and musician. Levrone first started training at Metro Fitness in Linthicum, Maryland. He won his first contest at 190 pounds. Over his career Levrone has earned 22 professional IFBB wins. He won the Arnold Classic two times (1994 and 1996), and came second at the Mr. Olympia competition four times over the span of a decade (1992, 1995, 2000 and 2002). He has not officially announced his retirement.
Levrone's first film as an actor was Backlash. Later films included Redline and I Am. On March 25, 2009, Levrone launched The Levrone Report , a training/fitness guru blog in which he resumes his training and provides tips and philosophies on a wide range of subjects. In May 2010, Levrone released Levrone Formula Extreme Nitric Pump Blend, a nutritional supplement.