It’s hard to objectively choose the best bodybuilder in the world and unconditionally give him the palm, because each of them trained hard. They gained fame thanks to victories in international competitions and recording of achievements in the Guinness Book of Records. If society supports men when they choose a career in bodybuilding, then it is more difficult for women. They are often criticized, citing the fact that girls are delicate creatures and their figures must comply with other canons and standards. But the ladies don't give up. They manage to pump up their body and become stronger without losing their grace and attractiveness.
8th position - Ronnie Coleman "America's Strongest Cop"
Ronnie Coleman (about whose fate you can learn more here) is an American, originally from Louisiana. The strongman was born in 1964, was fond of American football, simultaneously graduated from the University with a degree in accounting and finance, and then fulfilled his old dream by studying at the Police Academy. The athlete devoted the lion's share of his biography to maintaining order on the streets of Arlington. The villains were apparently shocked by the cop's anthropometry:
- height - 1 m 80 cm;
- weight - 138 and between seasons 149 kg;
- biceps size - 61 cm;
- sternum volume - 1 m 48 cm;
- waist circumference - 78 cm;
- hip - 87 cm.
The passion for bodybuilding came only as a desire to set an example to everyone of exactly what an American “policeman” should look like. And I got to the first competition in my life thanks to the light hand of the gym director. Already in 1988, Ronnie won the Olympia, and was so carried away that he lasted another 8 years on the first step, duplicating Lee Haney’s record. An interesting fact is that the champion treats bodybuilding as a hobby, believing that only official work can feed him.
Tom Prince
Genetics itself pushed Tom Prince to success in this field: already in his school years, he bench pressed twice as much as his peers - 158 kg. Tom Prince's competitive career began in 1995 and was immediately successful: he became second in the tournament in the heavy weight category.
Just imagine: in the off-season the guy’s weight reached 130 kg! Tom trained with huge weights and had already acquired a whole bunch of injuries: pain in his knees, shoulders and right elbow became his constant companions. To alleviate his suffering, Prince took large amounts of painkillers. The dosages of drugs were gradually increased, and the use of diuretics also made itself felt.
The trick of one of them, Demadex, played a cruel joke on him. The drug did not show up in tests at the time but is highly toxic to the kidneys. Many famous bodybuilders have become victims of this drug. And then, shortly before the 2003 Night of Champions tournament, Tom Prince's kidneys failed.
After undergoing a course of treatment, Tom managed to restore his kidneys to only 90% of their capacity, and he received a transplant. This ended his competitive career. Now Tom works in his specialty, teaching philology and medieval poetry. Together with his wife Rebecca, they are raising two children – daughter Danielle and son Nick.
1st place - Founder of bodybuilding Evgeniy Sandov
From birth his name was Friedrich Müller, but for his career he took his mother’s surname. The athlete was born in 1867. There were no competitions at that time, but the whole neighborhood came running to see the famous strongman.
- Height - 1 m 70 cm;
- body weight - 88 kg;
- jars - 43 cm;
- hip - 63 cm;
- each shin is 40 cm.
The athlete earned money by wrestling with lions in the circus, actively advocated a healthy lifestyle, and in 1911 he was awarded the title of “professor” of physical education. It was he who is considered the founder of bodybuilding, and it was from his photo that the Mr. Olympia figurine was cast from his figure. This is, without a doubt, the most natural bodybuilder of all those listed, since during the life of Friedrich Müller the world did not yet know about any anabolic steroids.
Interesting! Today, the largest female bodybuilder is the Russian bodybuilder Natalya Kuznetsova, whose parameters any weightlifter will envy:
- height - 170 cm;
- weight - 93 kg;
- biceps - 48 cm;
- waist - 76 cm;
- hips - 72 cm.
We have already written about Natasha’s other achievements earlier.
Each of the listed bodybuilders has already found their niche in the sport and entered the history of bodybuilding for centuries. Who do you think deserves a place on the list of the best? Share your opinion in the comments.
Famous hunks of the 80s
After Arnold Schwarzenegger retired from competitive bodybuilding, the title of Mr. Olympia passed from one bodybuilder to another, never staying for more than a year. But everything changed in 1984 when Lee Haney .
This bodybuilder was able to break Schwarzenegger's own record for the number of victories at the Olympia.
Lee Haney won the most prestigious title among bodybuilders for 8 years in a row.
All the other athletes of the 80s were simply lost against the background of the Black Butterfly. This is exactly the nickname Lee received due to the phenomenal development of his back.
Of the eternally second best of that time, we can mention the “kids” – Rich Gaspari and Lee Labrada. They didn't have as much muscle mass as Haney, but their figures were chiseled like figurines - just aesthetics and nothing extra.
In general, bodybuilding in the 1980s was characterized by harmony and aesthetics of the physique. Compared to the 70s, bodybuilders have become a little larger in volume (mainly due to their legs). But at the same time, the quality of the relief was already an order of magnitude higher.
Every second athlete of that time was given the flattering title “King of Aesthetics.” Among them are Bob Paris, Francis Benfatto, Berry de May.
Among the large, massive bodybuilders who tried to compete with big Lee, Mike Christian and Harry Strayed stood out. Although these names are already better known only to bodybuilding specialists.
Guys with big biceps from the 60s and 70s: list of top athletes
Best of the best:
- Larry Scott;
- Bill Pearl;
- Chet Yorton;
- Dave Draper;
- Reg Park;
- Harold Poole;
- Bob Gayda;
- Sergio Oliva.
The whole world admired the muscles of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Franco Colombo, Casey Viator, Ken Waller, Mike Katz. The leaders also include Jay Cutler, Frank Zane, Ronnie Coleman.
Zamyatin Andrey Viktorovich
The athlete was born in 1971. Andrey Viktorovich became an international master of sports, world champion in classical bodybuilding over 180 cm in 2009. In the same year, he became Russian champion in the same category, after which the federation sent the athlete to the World Championships, where he won. And this despite the fact that the athlete began his sports career only in the 2000s.
Tlyakodugov Ramses Arsenovich
The athlete was born in Nalchik in 1976. Ramses became the world heavyweight bodybuilding champion according to NABBA, and twice became Vice-Mr. Universe according to the NABBA and NAC federations.
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