The biggest bodybuilders in the world: ranking of the best athletes in history. The most famous bodybuilders The most titled bodybuilder in the world

The world of bodybuilding and fitness is full of talented athletes, businessmen and other personalities influencing the bodybuilding, fitness and healthy lifestyle industry. GENERATION IRON & GASPARI NUTRITION has unveiled a list of the most influential people in global bodybuilding - Power 30 honors thirty unique and influential individuals who have left their mark on the bodybuilding and fitness industry this year.

The Power 30 is our annual effort through the discussions of our editors to create a ranking of the 30 athletes, leaders and personalities who influenced bodybuilding this year.

30. Sheru Angrish

Sheru Angrish has proven his entrepreneurial prowess in recent times. He not only created the Sheru Classic bodybuilding show, but also continued to leverage his entrepreneurial clout by teaming up with some of the most influential companies in the international market.

29. Felipe Franco

In addition to his work with the Generation Iron team, Felipe Franco continues to impress on the professional bodybuilding circuit. His victories at the Grand Prix Championships further demonstrated his incredible abilities and punched his ticket to the 2018 Olympia. He is also a top fitness industry influencer with over 5 million followers across multiple platforms. We're looking forward to seeing what form he'll show at the 2018 show, with months of preparation under his belt.

28. Paige Hathaway.

An influencer in the fitness community, Paige Hathaway is one of the most recognizable female fitness ambassadors online with over 10 million social media followers. Global Ambassador for F45 Training, who creates her own fitness program called “Fit in 5,” Paige Hathaway is one of the most influential women in the industry.

27. Kevin Levrone

For Kevin Levrone, 2018, the year of his return to the stage, was successful. Bringing back into excellent form after a long break from his competitive career, Kevin performed admirably at the Arnold Classic Australia, as featured in the film “Born to Overcome.”

26. Regan Grimes

Successfully transitioning into a classical physicist, Regan Grimes has transformed himself from a lighter openweight bodybuilder into a powerful classicist. Securing her ticket to the 2018 Olympia after a big win at the New York Pro, Regan Grimes is looking to make a success of her move up to a new division and challenge the top 5 classic competitors.

25. Edwin Mejia Jr.

Edwin Mejia Jr. remains a powerful force in the bodybuilding and fitness community. He continues to produce films like “Generation Iron 3” and “Ronnie Coleman: The King”, as well as about leading figures in fitness and bodybuilding. It helps support the careers of some talented and aspiring athletes. With the guidance of athletes like Calum von Moger, Edwin Mejia Jr. is a reference point for talented individuals looking to make a big splash in the fitness industry.

24. Jeremy Buendia

Four-time Olympia champion in the men's category, physicist Jeremy Buendia has been working hard all last year. After suffering a pectoral injury and surgery, Jeremy Buendia is back on track and looking in great shape to defend his title at the 2018 Olympia.

23. Angelica Teixeira

Angelica Teixeira rose to fame last year when she won the 2017 Olympia. After becoming Miss Bikini Olympia, Teixeira continued to assert her dominance with a stellar performance at the 2018 Arnold Classic.

22. Bradley Martin

Having worked hard in both the bodybuilding industry and business, Bradley Martin has become a strong figure in the industry thanks to his entrepreneurial mindset and strong execution. Having opened his own gym in 2017 and teamed up with popular fitness personalities and trainers such as Honey Ramboud, Bradley Martin is proving his influence in the business.

21. Stacy Kaufman

The man behind Pro Tan, Stacy Kaufman (left), has been a very important figure in the bodybuilding industry since the late eighties. With Pro Tan providing makeup products to the entire bodybuilding community, Stacy Kaufman's role has proven pivotal in the careers of many IFBB athletes. Constantly striving for innovation, Kaufman and

Pro Tan released brand new products this year, including the new Super Dark Competition Color. There seems to be no limit to what a brand CEO can achieve.

20. Rich Gaspari

A 30-year bodybuilding veteran, Rich Gaspari has made a name for himself both on stage and in the business. The new and improved Gaspari Nutrition continues to thrive in the fitness industry, as does its bodybuilding line, Vintage Muscle. Having become a star in the GI series Hunt For Hardcore, Rich Gaspari looks set to continue innovating and thriving for years to come.

19. PJ Brown

Businessman and bodybuilder PJ Brown is a revered titan in the sports nutrition industry. PJ Brown has his finger on the pulse of modern bodybuilding, has a keen understanding of what the market demands, and has provided it with quality products from his sports nutrition company, Blackstone Labs. Get ready to see something cool from Brown as he stars in his GI series The Muscle Mogul later this year.

18. Breon Ansley

Before 2016, few people knew the name Breon Ansley. Since then, the young bodybuilder was able to win the best competition in the “classic physicist” category, winning the valuable title of Olympia champion. Having subsequently won the 2018 Arnold Classic, the reigning champion “classic physicist” looks set to continue to assert his dominance at the 2018 Olympia. If you look at it this way, he could hold the championship in this category for many years.

17. Charles Glass

Known for training some of the best bodybuilders in the business, Charles Glass has proven to be one of the top trainers in the fitness industry. Accurately understanding the desires and needs of his clients, Charles Glass has always been a storehouse of knowledge and passed on this experience to his wards.

16. Martin Ford

It looks like Martin Ford has a knack for everything from bodybuilding to business to acting. After the sudden death of Rich Piana, Martin became the head of 5% Nutrition and kept the company thriving. Having suffered life-threatening illnesses, the British native, despite everything, recovered well. Ford has also appeared in a number of films as he has recently made great strides in the entertainment industry.

15. Big Ramy

Despite finishing second at the 2017 Olympia, it was clear to everyone that Mamdou “Big Ramy” Ellsbyay was clearly one to watch. Taking on current Olympia champion Phil Heath, Big Ramy has proven himself to be a serious contender and has been working for years to once again demonstrate his dominance on the show in 2018. Given the amount of improvement he has made over the past year, see what form Big Ramy will be in in September, it will definitely be interesting.

14. James “Flex” Lewis

Defending his title at the 212 Olympia for the last time, James "Flex" Lewis has established himself as a powerful force in the category since its inception. Flex Lewis is hoping to win the 2018 Olympia and move up to the Open weight category, making him the first reigning champion to move up to the new category.

13. Tamer El Guindi

IFBB Pro and two-time Mr. USA, Tamer El Guindi has taken his bodybuilding talents to important roles behind the scenes. Not only is he an Olympia judge, but he is also the Chairman of NPC SoCal and the Brazilian Executive Director of IFBB Pro. You can expect something more from Tamer, since his new achievement in bodybuilding will be the Musclecontest 2018 show.

12. CT Fletcher

CT Fletcher has been through a lot in the past year, but the former powerlifting champion never gave up. After undergoing a heart transplant, Fletcher returned to the stage, showing that the fiery spirit of Compton's Superman has not faded. Such a demonstration of unwavering strength and will is a true inspiration to everyone.

11. Honey Rambod

Head coach to many of the world's top athletes, Hani Rambod is a wealth of knowledge in the field of fitness and bodybuilding. Having trained numerous bodybuilding champions, including seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath and Olympia champion men's physicist Jeremy Buendia, Honey Rambod is certainly a leading trainer in the industry. Now that he has joined forces with Hadi Choupan, Rambod has added another champion to his already impressive resume.

10. Calum von Moger

Having endured an extremely difficult year, Calum von Moger has shown that his spirit cannot be broken by unfortunate injuries. Karum von Moger, having torn his biceps and quadriceps twice, has recovered well and is already planning his comeback. Meanwhile, Calum has also been able to delve into the world of cinema as he plays Arnold Schwarzenegger in the upcoming film Bigger.

9. Ronnie Coleman

One of the greatest bodybuilders in history, Ronnie Coleman has risen to the top and fallen to rock bottom. However, despite his injuries, Ronnie Coleman remains positive. Being an optimist and always striving to improve, Ronnie Coleman is still striving to regain some of his public fame. This is reflected in the documentary Ronnie Coleman: The King.

8. Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler, a gem in the bodybuilding community, has become one of the most successful Olympians, also leading the Cutler Nutrition and Cutler Athletics brands. Jay Cutler has managed to keep himself in such incredible shape since leaving the stage that people are still wondering if the former Mr. Olympia could one day make a big comeback.

7. Phil Heath

After winning seven Olympias in a row, Phil Heath is now somewhere in the upper reaches of the atmosphere with the great Arnold Schwarzenegger. Looking to combine the records of Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman, Phil Heath could be the one to achieve what no other bodybuilder has achieved: ten Olympia wins in a row. Having overcome a hernia, Heath is able to perform impressively at the 2018 show.

6. Kai Green

Continuing his activities outside of bodybuilding, Kai Greene is beginning to make waves in the entertainment industry. With appearances on the hit series Stranger Things, a role in Crazy Fist, and taking his new Dynamik Muscle line to new heights, it's clear that Kai Greene will continue to rise in both the fitness and entertainment industries.

5. Steve Weinberger

Arguably the second most powerful man in the IFBB Pro, Steve Weinberger has a major influence on the outcome of every major event in the professional bodybuilding organization. As head judge, Steve Weinberger sets the criteria for who truly deserves championship status, and he must be convinced that the athlete is the best of the best. What an influence!

4. Jim and Bob Lorimer

The men behind the entire Arnold Classic, Jim and Bob Lorimer, have made their mark on the bodybuilding world with their incredibly varied events around the world. Having brought the Arnold Classic to several different continents, the Lorimer brothers continue to push the brand forward and prove that their footwear, led by the legendary bodybuilder, is one of the best in the world.

3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

A major brand ambassador and big fan of bodybuilding, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been a major figure in the fitness industry for many years. With the official announcement that his own Seven Bucks Productions would be helping promote the 2017 Olympics, it was clear that The Rock would be firmly entrenched in the bodybuilding community for years to come. We can definitely expect more from the professional wrestler, actor, and producer in the coming years.

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger

A man who needs no introduction. Arnold Schwarzenegger is still an influential figure in the fitness and bodybuilding community to this day. He inspires and motivates with his presence in social media, his Arnold Classic shows showcase his international reach, and by returning to his most iconic role as the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger remains at the top of the bodybuilding world and will be remembered as the most influential figure in the history of the sport.

With his inspiring and motivating social media presence, his internationally acclaimed Arnold Classic show, and his upcoming return to his most iconic role - The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger remains at the top of the bodybuilding world and will certainly be remembered as the most influential figure in the history of the sport. .

1. Jim Manion

Let's be honest, despite the fact that bodybuilding has long been firmly established in public life as a professional sport, many people still look at bodybuilders as something incredible. But let's try to look at them with an open mind, to evaluate them objectively, and not guided by many years of prejudice. Chances are you will find many of them quite attractive. It is for this reason that we decided to present to you today the 15 all-time favorites.

15. Flex Lewis

Flex could easily pass for the guy next door. He has a rather attractive boyish face, which contrasts sharply with his massive torso. The result is a pretty hot combo. Flex could easily move old women across the road, simply throwing cars to the sides.

14. Victor Martinez

Victor became the second Dominican bodybuilder to achieve the highest success in his professional career. Among his achievements are second place at the 2007 Mr. Olympia competition, as well as a victory at the Arnold Classic in the same year. His sweet smile is truly disarming and turns him from a huge hunk into a sweet and damn sexy guy.

13. Stan McQuay

Despite his actual height of 1 meter 70 centimeters, Stan looks so huge that it seems as if he is all 2 meters tall. It combines strength and suave in ideal proportions. This guy is handsome in every way. The secret of his success can be called genes - his Irish father and Japanese mother played an important role in giving him such a striking appearance.

12. Jeremy Buendia

Super broad shoulders, huge chest, narrow waist and killer face - all this can be attributed to Jeremy. In 2013, he made his debut at the Mr. Olympia competition, immediately taking second place there, and is currently actively preparing for the next competition in this series.

11. Mark Alvisi

Mark's beauty is simply amazing. It would be a real crime if he was forced to hide his perfect body under a regular office shirt. With such an impeccable appearance, he was simply obliged to show himself to the world in all his glory.

10. Joe Weider

Joe is a bodybuilding icon and mentor to many famous bodybuilders, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. But at the beginning of his career, Joe could boast of no less attractive appearance than the other guys on our list. It was thanks to him that bodybuilding came to us as a full-fledged sport, and not a circus show. Along with his brother, he is one of the founders of the International Federation of Bodybuilders.

9. Shawn Rhoden

Shawn Rhoden, aka "Flexatron", deservedly lands at number 9 on our list. His impossibly perfect appearance brought Sean many victories, both professionally and in love. While most bodybuilders on stage look like they're in pain, Sean's face always remains beautiful without showing even a fraction of the stress of it all.

8. Ben Pakulski

Despite his impressive size, Ben is actually a very nice person, reminiscent of Superman. You won't be surprised if he suddenly comes to the rescue in an emergency.

7. Mike O'Hearn

You can't take your eyes off Mike. His attractive appearance simply will not allow you to do this. It is not surprising that during his career he has appeared on the covers of more than 500 magazines, and has been awarded the title of Fitness Model seven times.

6. Brandon Curry

Brandon is truly huge, and besides this, nature has blessed him with an incredibly sweet face. You can bet that few girls can resist his charms.

5. Mark Dugdale

This guy's natural beauty is largely due to his infectious smile that can work wonders. Mark's sexy quotient is off the charts.

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Did you think we'd leave Arnie out? When it comes to bodybuilding, one cannot fail to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold is one of those people whom bodybuilders all over the planet look up to. In addition to his handsome face and foreign accent, he created a truly ideal body in terms of proportions.

3. Frank Zane

You'll be hard-pressed to find a photo of Frank on the Internet that isn't sexy. It's all about his appearance, reflecting the ideals of the 70s, which you will not find anywhere today.

2. Steve Reeves

Steve Reeves, also known as the hottest actor to play Hercules, can give any bodybuilder on this list a run for his money. At one time, Steve served as a role model for guys, as well as an object of desire for girls.

1. Bill Pearl

Bill's physique is perfect, this is not discussed. At the height of his powers, Bill was so sexy that many would start raising money on Kickstarter to build a time machine just to get the chance to see him in person.

Opinions about these athletes are divided. Some people consider them handsome, while others consider them ugly. Bodybuilders are commonly called bodybuilders. These people pay special attention to the beauty of their body. Bodybuilding is not a sport in the traditional sense. This activity involves harmony with yourself and understanding your own body.

People learn to improve it, and with the help of physical exercises with weights they build and develop their muscles. High-energy nutrition with a high content of nutrients and proteins is also used. This allows muscle fibers to grow quickly. Today, lifting weights to improve your body has become quite a popular activity. And the whole world knows the best bodybuilders.

Gregg Valentino. For all bodybuilding fans, this athlete is undoubtedly among the main contenders for the title of the very best. Gregg Valentino became famous for his huge biceps, becoming a true icon for bodybuilders. This man is quite shocking. His sports career is very controversial. After all, he never intended to engage in bodybuilding professionally. Valentino did not qualify for the Mr. Olympia title, and did not participate in other title competitions.

Valentino's fate is very multifaceted. This man managed to serve in the army and take part in hostilities, killing people. Valentino later went to prison, serving a sentence for drug distribution. This dark side of his life almost destroyed him - during one of the street showdowns, Gregg was almost killed. Due to drug addiction, Valentino lost not only his own gym, but also his wife and children. Now everything has changed - Gregg writes his own column in the magazine "Muscular Development". Hundreds of aspiring bodybuilders, soldiers and prisoners write to him every day. Valentino has a lot to tell, because he has seen a lot in life.

And his bodybuilding career began at the age of 13. It is noteworthy that over 23 years of hard training, he was able to achieve impressive results without taking any stimulants. The athlete's arm volume was 53.3 centimeters. And with the use of synthol, the biceps increased to an impressive 71 centimeters. Valentino became like a mountain of muscles, looking rather unnatural. It is not surprising that in modern bodybuilding Gregg is referred to as “Mr. Synthol.”

This drug belongs to intermuscular fatty acid. This synthetic oil is injected into the muscle in order to enlarge it. Synthol spreads between muscle fibers, increasing muscle volume. However, years of constant use of steroids led to the fact that the body simply resisted such abuse of itself. Valentino's biceps exploded.

Markus Ruhl.

This man calls himself the owner of the largest shoulders in the world. In the history of bodybuilding, this particular bodybuilder has the most impressive body part. And Marcus came to this sport quite late - at 19 years old. There was no talk about a career then, there was just interest. After 4 years of intensive training, Marcus won gold at his first competition in Babenhaus. Two years later, the young athlete wins the Hessian Championship and the German National Championship.

But at the Mr. Olympia competition the results were inexpressive. Marcus even decided to leave the sport, because the results did not correspond to the efforts he put in. However, natural ambition and the support of loved ones helped to maintain motivation. In 2002, Rule won the Night of Champions. Fans said that the very appearance of the “German Beast” on stage determined the winner in advance.

To this day, Marcus continues to perform. True, he never won the title “Mr. Olympia”. The best achievement there was 5th place in 2004. But the athlete does not despair, especially since his wife Simone is next to him, sharing her husband’s hobby and visiting the gym with him.

Ronnie Coleman.

This man literally breaks all stereotypes in bodybuilding. For example, he won the Mr. Olympia competition 8 times. But no one could exceed this result. Even the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger won there “only” 7 times. Coleman was born in Louisiana in 1964. As a teenager, he was quite active - he was fond of basketball, football and baseball. The genetics of the future champion also played a role - the boy had a strong physique, and his athletic results were high.

At the age of 12, Ronnie joined the gym, just out of curiosity. Soon Coleman joined the ranks of local bodybuilders. But the training soon stopped - upon entering college, Coleman became interested in football. Success in this field did not inspire the athlete. After receiving an accounting degree, he worked for 2 years as a manager in a pizzeria. But this was not what I wanted either.

Coleman enrolls in police school. There his bodybuilding skills came in handy. In 1990, Ronnie, at the request of the owner of the hall, took part in the Mr. Texas competition and won there. A year later, Coleman becomes the amateur world champion and turns professional. Results in professional sports came only after 4 years of training. Coleman wins the Canada Cup in 1995, in 1996 he is second in the Night of Champions, and in 1997 he wins the Russian Grand Prix.

In the morning, Ronnie goes to training, then patrols the streets, in the evening - cardio training that burns fat. There is only time left for sleep. The only thing that worries the athlete is the issue of nutrition. After all, it’s awkward for a police officer to eat a whole chicken while on duty in a patrol car. But there are no problems in his personal life - the bodybuilder has a wife and two daughters. In life, the bodybuilder is very calm and balanced. He believes in God and reads the Bible.

Jason Cutler.

This athlete was born in 1973 in Worcester. As a child, Jason showed himself to be an active person. He worked a lot on his father's farm and helped his brother in his business. This taught him perseverance and perseverance in work. In addition, constant physical exercise developed his body, laying the foundation for his future career.

While studying at school, Jay traveled a lot. After all, he had to study in five cities. But everywhere Cutler was a popular person, not suffering from a lack of attention. The reason is his passion for football. Jay was one of the best players on his teams. In 1991, Cutler graduated from high school and entered college, where he received an education in criminal law. Jay did not participate in sports competitions, but in order to curb his energy, he decided to take up bodybuilding.

The athlete's height is 176 centimeters. According to bodybuilding fashion, his weight during the competition is 125 kilograms. But in the off-season the weight can reach 145 kilograms. But regardless of this, Cutler has a great body and properly developed muscles. This led him to numerous victories. Jay can be seen in numerous videos about preparing for the Mr. Olympia competition. Yes, they themselves started releasing films with their own training methods. He also wrote a book about the art of successful bodybuilding. There anyone can learn the secrets of bodybuilding.

While Colman won the Olympia year after year, Jay remained in the background. They even said that due to his age he would never be able to win this prestigious competition. Nevertheless, it was Cutler who interrupted the hegemony of his rival in 2006. The following year, Cutler won the title again. Even at school, as a boy, he played various sports. In high school, athletics and running captured his heart. Jackson performed well and was preparing to enter college. However, Dexter's girlfriend became pregnant, which changed his plans. Now it was necessary to take care of the family, especially since the girl’s parents, having learned about what had happened, kicked her out of the house. The bad streak finally ended - the couple got an apartment, and Dexter got a job as a cook.

Nevertheless, Jackson did not abandon his passion for sports. When he turned 20, on the advice of his friends, he decided to compete in bodybuilding competitions. The preparation took only 3 weeks, and the result was victory. In 1994, Dexter became the absolute champion of the Southern States in lightweight weight. A year later he wins the national championship. And in 1998 he won the North American Championship. After this, Dexter turns professional.

The athlete starred in many films in the “Battle for Olympia” series; he released his own video disc “Titans”. There, Dexter talks about his path to success through grueling daily training. The second victory took place in 2003 at the GNC Power Show. In 2004, Dexter wins the Iron Man, takes third place at the Arnold Classic, and wins the Grand Prix in San Francisco and Australia. Fourth place was achieved at Olympia. Jackson's performances at this competition always attract attention.

After all, according to experts, he is the bodybuilder of the future, who should oust the masters of the past with their enormous mass from the stage. Dexter's height is 168 centimeters and his weight is only 99 kilograms. The long and hard preparation was not in vain - in 2008, Dexter won two elite competitions: Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. Since then, he has consistently ranked among the top 6 bodybuilders at Olympia.

Arnold Schwarzenegger. In America, the popular definition is “self-made man”, a person who has made himself. This term perfectly suits Arnold Schwarzenegger. The story of his life and career is a significant example not only for bodybuilders, but for all people. He became a legendary bodybuilder, a cult actor, and today is involved in politics, having worked as the governor of California.

But Arnold was quite weak from birth. Everyone paid much more attention to his older brother, Meinhard. He was a good athlete. The brothers had to work a lot around the house, and there was also school. At the age of 14, Arnold went to the gym, admiring the muscular handsome men from movies. I had to learn bodybuilding on my own, from magazines. While serving in the Army, Arnold won the title of the junior Mr. Europe competition. At the age of 19, Schwarzenegger took second place at Mr. Universe, and the very next year he won the title. This is the youngest winner of the prestigious competition.

In 1968, when the athlete was only 21 years old, he moved to the USA. There he continues to train and in 1970 wins his first Mr. Olympia title. Since 1969, Schwarzenegger began acting in films, earning his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Among his many victories in sports, Arnold himself singles out the Mr. Olympia title in 1980. After all, the bodybuilder returned after a five-year absence and discovered that the number of real competitors had increased noticeably.

In addition, age also made itself felt, requiring more careful nutrition. Today Schwarzenegger returns to cinema. His net worth exceeds $200 million. In 1988, the legendary bodybuilder founded his own competition, the Arnold Classic.

Lou Ferrino.

This athlete is considered the strongest opponent of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ferrino's fame came from his numerous appearances on television. He became a famous actor, appearing numerous times in both feature films and documentaries. And his position is deputy county sheriff.

Since 1971, Ferrino begins to compete in youth bodybuilding competitions. In 1973 and 1974, the absolute champion of Mr. Universe and Mr. America. However, after a series of successes in 1975, his career slowly began to decline. Ferrino also took part in the competition for the strongest man on the planet in 1977, where he took 4th place. That's when Lou's film career began. In the early 90s, Lou tried to return to bodybuilding, but quickly became disillusioned and finally ended his career in 1994.

Lee Haney.

This man has won the Mr. Olympia title more than anyone else. Haney was born in 1959 in South Carolina. He first attended training while still at school. At the age of 19, he won the title of "Mr. America" among teenagers. In 1984, Haney won his first Mr. Olympia title. The bodybuilder won his last, eighth such title in 1991. That same year he won the Arnold Classic.

Today, Lee has not participated in active competitions for a long time. But his business is inextricably linked with bodybuilding. Haney owns several gyms, trains and teaches. During the Bill Clinton administration, Haney served as chairman of the Council on Physical Culture and Sports. Lee has a wife and two children. He publishes books and nutritional supplements and is involved in charity work.

Reg Park.

This athlete is rightfully one of the very best. He was born in 1928 in Leeds, England. At 21, Park won the Mr. Britain title. They learned about him in the USA, where the name of the young bodybuilder began to spread. Park won the Mr. Universe competition both as an amateur and as a professional. In 1952, the athlete moved to South Africa, where he opened a chain of fitness centers.

Steve Reeves.

This legendary bodybuilder was born in 1926 in Montana. Steve began lifting weights at the age of 14, having come up with his own program for this. In 1944, Reeves entered the army and managed to fight in the Philippines. After leaving the service in 1946, Reeves immediately resumed his training. Three months later he becomes "Mr. Western America", having simultaneously won prizes for the best arms, legs and chest. Another month later, Reeves becomes the youngest Mr. America winner in history, beating 35 competitors.

Since then, for almost 20 years, Reeves has become the main star of the Muscle Coast in Venice, California. On the beaches, he simply stuns people who are not accustomed to such a pumped-up body. Crowds of fans follow him. Reeves takes part in the most prestigious competitions, he becomes “Mr. World”, and in 1950 “Mr. Universe”, beating Schwarzenegger’s idol, Reg Park. After this, Reeves decided to switch to cinema.

This bodybuilder paved the way for representatives of his sport on the big screens. Thanks to the Hercules films, many people learned about the existence of bodybuilding. While filming, Reeves was injured and gave up further active sports career. In the late 50s, the bodybuilder and actor moved to Europe, starring mainly in Italian films.

And in 1968, Reeves left the cinema, taking up horse breeding and business. Thanks to the work of this legendary athlete, the whole world learned about bodybuilding. After all, in those days this sport was new and unknown to the general public. The name Steve Reeves became synonymous with a strong man for a long time, eventually being replaced by Arnold.

Larry Scott a year after his triumphant victory at the first Mr. Olympia, 1966 Larry Scott

Nickname: Legend

Mr. Olympia: 1965, 1966

Years of life: 10/12/1938 - 03/8/2014

“Why be weak when you can become strong?” - the pumped-up author of the training course, Charles Atlas, asked young readers, smiling from the picture like Superman. Larry read comic books with all his might, and at the age of 16 he first showed up to the gym. Then it would never have occurred to anyone to call him either “Legend” or even “Atomic Thunderbolt” - he was a canonical brute with a biceps 28 cm in diameter. In 1965, when Larry took the first Mr. Olympia in history, a man had already flown into space, and Larry became prettier - his biceps grew to 50 cm. The superhero of this note died in 2014 at the age of 75, when the next one was being prepared for release a story about Superman - the cartoon "Justice League: War".

Nickname: Arnie

Mr. Olympia: 1970–1975

Years of life: 07/30/1947 - present. vr.

Height: 188 cm Competition parameters: weight - 107 kg / biceps - 55 cm / chest - 140 cm The most famous

Oh, how much coal little Arnold had as a child! Imagine: the Austrian village of Tal, near Graz. Another autumn. Smeared with coal, Arnie stands on a hillock and mindlessly stares at the ruins of an ancient castle, which is located right here, in front of the dusty house of the future bodybuilder. “Let’s go haul coal to the basement, there won’t be anything to heat it with in the winter!” - his father yells at him and knocks on the old car with a heavy police boot. They carry on until lunch, and then, sitting at the table, the father talks about his everyday life - the work of a law enforcement officer. “On a dark, harsh night, this bastard rushes at us with a knife,” the head of the family passionately shouts something like that and, most likely, spills soup on the tablecloth.

What should Arnold do after lunch? There is an idea - to carry coal. What would you, reader, do if you got dirty in something black all week? Shower, bath? Schwarzenegger would like with all his heart to wash himself more often, but this procedure was difficult for him. First, it was necessary to fetch water from a well, which stood two kilometers from the house. When the bathtub was filled (Arnold was pretty sweaty and out of breath by that time), his father washed first, then his mother, and then, in exactly the same muddy water, the future star of the covers of bodybuilding magazines cleaned her body. Well, thanks to coal and water, Schwartz grew up resilient and accustomed to difficulties: he won all sorts of competitions, became a movie star, then a politician (governor of California in 2003-2011), then again a movie star...

But Arnold Gustavovich does not feel any gratitude to the main tormentor of his childhood - fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants. Having become a politician, Schwartz took all his huge hands to support the Kyoto Protocol. Countries that have acceded to this international agreement undertake to reduce harmful environmental emissions into the atmosphere. How would you do this? Well, for example, reducing coal consumption is what is written in this important document.

Nickname: none Mr. Olympia: 1984–1991

Years of life: 11/11/1959 - present. vr.

Height: 180 cm Competition parameters: weight - 112 kg / biceps - 52 cm / chest - 137 cm The most titled

A passenger plane is flying over the Atlantic Ocean, its destination is Spain. The cabin is dimly lit, and a huge passenger, a mobile Mount Elbrus, a grizzly bear in an official suit - American Lee Haney, eight-time Mr. Olympia champion, could barely fit into the chair. Now, as a member of the World Bodybuilding Federation, he routinely flies to the IFBB headquarters in Madrid. Haney is no stranger to bureaucratic work, because under Bill Clinton he was the chairman of the US Presidential Council on Physical Culture and Sports for several years.

What else do giants do when they no longer step out into the spotlight covered in oil? Lee Haney has written two books (on bodybuilding, of course) and is currently working on another; starred in several documentaries; hosts a show on Christian radio; owns a chain of fitness clubs; He also built and maintains at his own expense an orphanage-village (with a zoo, by the way).

What do mountain rangers think about in retirement? Haney, 55, looks out the window as cirrus clouds fly by, clearly visible in the deltoids of his competitors at his first Mr. Olympia in 1981. Here, at an altitude of 10,000 kilometers, the silhouettes of the Egyptian Mohammed Makkawi and the German Yusup Wilkosz, who took second and third places, are clearly visible: Haney beat them then with ease, and later another 7 years (the last one in 1991) became the winner of Olympia . This is a record that no athlete has yet broken. Roni Coleman (MN wrote about him in February 2009) will only repeat the same result in 2005, 14 years after Haney.

Lee Haney helps boxer Evander Holyfield prepare for his next fight, 1997 Backward In the 1980s, Lee Haney invented the “Haney Row,” an exercise for working the posterior shoulder deltoids, which many athletes still use today.

Stand with your back to the barbell, grab the bar shoulder-width apart.

Pull upward, bending around your buttocks, but without moving the bar more than five centimeters from your body. Keep your head straight. Raise the barbell just above your lower back and lower it down. Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

How it's buttered

Professional competition Mr. Olympia has been taking place since 1965 and is organized by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB, www.ifbb.com). Now the main venue for Mr. Olympia is Las Vegas (USA). The judges evaluate not only the size of the athlete, but also the development of each muscle and the overall harmony of the competitor’s body. In order for you to become a participant in Mr. Olympia, you need to win several significant amateur competitions (here you will be given a professional ID - IFBB Pro Card), and then win at professional shows (for example, the Arnold Classic or New York Pro). Participants of the previous Mr. Olympia who took places from 1st to 5th are also allowed to participate.

But there is a shorter way. The Amateur Mr. Olympia is an amateur tournament, but a special one. They are distinguished by more lenient requirements for muscle development and the size of athletes. The Amateur takes place several times a year, each time in a new location. The absolute winner immediately receives a cash prize, an IFBB Pro Card, and a ticket to the professional Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas.

The most addicted Dorian Yates prepares for the competition, 1993 Dorian Yates

Nickname: Shadow

Mr. Olympia: 1992–1997

Years of life: 04/19/1962 - present. vr.

Height: 178 cm Competition parameters: weight - 121 kg / biceps - 54 cm / chest - 148 cm The most advanced

Look, someone is being beaten in a narrow street. Who works the hardest? Yes, this is our Dorian, here he is walking the poor fellow with his feet. Hey, passer-by, you narrowed your eyes somehow strangely - you'll get a fist in the nose. Woman, wait, I need to call you a name. 1976, the first skinheads proudly walk along the streets of England, they listen to reggae and ska and carry knives in their pockets. When Dorian moved with his mother to live in Birmingham, he was 14 years old - he immediately fit into the local skinhead company. While other children were sweating over their homework, Dorian hung around clubs with friends and started fights. In April 1981, riots occur in England. Oh yes, this is a real holiday for a young and aggressive person.

Years of life: 12/18/1979 - present. vr.

Height: 175 cm Competition parameters: weight - 111 kg / biceps - 56 cm / chest - 138 cm Latest

Phil, the last Mr. Olympia to date, actually wanted to become a basketball player. At first, he didn’t even think about growing his neck like a bull’s and swaying his hips to the thickness of a lamppost. 15-year-old Phil, having put his short body from birth to bed, pictured in his imagination: he is Michael Jordan, he throws the winning basketball into the hoop... Heath looked with envy at the long television towers, looked with wet eyes at the endless trunks of pine trees, could not tear himself away from three-meter fishing rods. Heath asked higher powers to give him the best future in the world - to grow up a little and play on one of the NBA teams. But Phil only managed to get into the student team of the Denver Institute.

Our hero is 23 years old, his studies are completed, and the measuring bar remains frozen at 175 centimeters. And instead of growing in length, Phil decides to grow in breadth. He suddenly reveals great talent for this. He leans on dumbbells and barbells, grows by leaps and bounds (this is where Phil is given the nickname Dar), and begins to win all bodybuilding competitions in a row. And look: today Heath is still not the most brilliant basketball player, but his neck is 47 centimeters in circumference (another question is who needs this and why, but we will take the discussion of this issue beyond the scope of this article). In September 2014, in the huge Las Vegas Convention Center (in Las Vegas), Phil was hung on his chest with the Mr. Olympia medal for the fourth time. Stepping down from the pedestal, he told reporters: “I’m still growing. You haven’t seen my real muscles yet - look closely next year.”

Four facts about bodybuilding

1959 The first athlete in the world begins to take anabolic steroids. His name is Bill March and he is a member of the American weightlifting team. The drug was given to him by the team's sports doctor, John Ziegler. These substances were banned en masse only in 2005, when representatives of 191 countries signed the World Anti-Doping Convention. Now, for example, in Russia, anabolic steroids are under special state control (their sales fall under Article 234 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, “illegal trafficking in potent or toxic substances”).

To the Japanese Tsutomu Tohsaka. At this age, he is still involved in bodybuilding and participates in competitions. In 2009, the Japanese was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

204 cm This is the height of the world's tallest professional bodybuilder, American Noah Steer (his weight is 160 kg).

Most men of all ages dream of a beautiful, pumped up body. And the desire to become the owner of muscles of maximum size intensifies when wonderful examples of bodybuilders who have achieved the highest results in bodybuilding appear before your eyes. Stunning achievements and rock-solid muscles have brought well-deserved fame to the biggest bodybuilders in the world. Each athlete from this rating achieved unsurpassed world results at different periods in the development of the sport.

The biggest bodybuilders in the world

The magnificent body of each athlete on this list is the result of many hours of training. Iron self-discipline, unwavering pursuit of a goal and faith in success helped all bodybuilders earn the fame of real giants.

Ronnie Coleman

Many experts give the palm in the world of bodybuilding to this athlete. Thanks to perseverance, Ronnie Coleman (Coleman) earned the title of king of bodybuilding. Its parameters:

Height – 180 cm;
Weight – 138–149 kg;
Biceps – 61 cm;
Chest – 148 cm;
Waist – 78 cm;
Thigh – 87 cm.

The athlete was born in 1964 in Monroe (USA). Already at birth, he amazed obstetricians with his size. At the beginning of his sports career, Ronnie became a member of the football team and earned the title of best player. Once he got to the school gym, the athlete decided to try himself in powerlifting and began to achieve good results using maximum weights.

Coleman got to his first bodybuilding competition by accident. In 1990, while working out in the gym, B. Dobson drew attention to him and offered him participation in the “Mr. Texas” bodybuilding tournament. After a well-deserved victory, Ronnie made his debut at Olympia, but was not successful. It was not in the nature of the giant to retreat, and in 1998 he climbed to the highest step of the Olympia podium.

Another 7 times in a row, Coleman became the champion of these prestigious bodybuilding competitions. During his career, the athlete achieved victories 26 times. He stopped participating in competitions in 2007 due to emerging health problems. In 2018, R. Coleman underwent another complex spinal surgery. However, even after the operations, the athlete does not stop training and says that he will do this in any condition until his death.

A well-known star in the world of professional bodybuilding, actor, TV show participant Louis Ferrigno remained behind the scenes for the mass public. He began weightlifting under the guidance of his father at the age of 5. According to the athlete, the Hulk became his idol. Later, the actor became famous in cinema precisely as the performer of his role.

Already at the age of 21, Lou won the title “Mr. Universe”. Such early results remain a bodybuilding record to this day. In 1974, Ferrigno consolidated his success and simultaneously became the holder of two titles: “Mr. Universe” and “Mr. America”.

The young athlete achieved such success thanks to impressive parameters:

Height – 194 cm;
Weight – 130 kg;
Chest – 145 cm;
Biceps – 58 cm;
Shin – 50 cm;
Thigh – 74 cm.

In 1975, after the fiasco at the Mr. Olympia tournament, Ferrigno decided to take a break from bodybuilding. A year later he returned and quickly regained his shape. But he did not participate in the competition due to filming the film “The Incredible Hulk.”

In the 90s, Ferrigno returned to the world of bodybuilding, but only participated in veterans' tournaments. The athlete finished his bodybuilding career in 1994. Currently, Louis Ferrigno is one of the most expensive bodybuilding trainers in all of America.

Greg Kovacs

Canadian colossus Greg Kovacs began his sports career as a hockey player. One day, having decided to pump up his arms, the young man went to the gym and became interested in powerlifting, and then switched to bodybuilding and gave up hockey for it.

The athlete achieved amazing results in a short time. Thanks to his outstanding genetics, the athlete had impressive parameters:

Height – 191 cm;
Weight – up to 200 kg;
Biceps – 63 cm;
Chest – 187 cm;
Thigh – 89 cm.

The professional debut in bodybuilding competitions was a failure for the athlete. The judges were interested in the ability to take beautiful poses and the proportionality of the figure, and not the gigantic size of the muscles. The square shape of Kovacs' figure was not recognized, and he decided to work on aesthetics and plasticity.

Greg rarely competed in tournaments, only 6 times in his career, taking places from 13th to 17th. When he realized that he would not see laurels in competitions, he began training young athletes.

During training in 2008, the giant lost consciousness and was on life support. The athlete died at the age of 44 from a heart attack. His heart simply could not withstand the increased stress.

The tallest American bodybuilder, Noah Steere, did not achieve outstanding victories in bodybuilding. However, it always aroused interest due to its unique parameters:

Height – 204 cm;
Weight – 160 kg;
Biceps – 66 cm.

Steer's most outstanding achievement was 5th place at the Nationals competition in 2001. The athlete keeps his body in excellent shape even now, but does not even participate in demonstration performances. The athlete did not want to subject his life to the strict rules of professional bodybuilding. Currently, he is the owner of a sports nutrition store and continues to train not to achieve outstanding results, but for himself.

Dorian Yates

Bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates won the Mr. Olympia title 6 times. At the peak of his sports career, the athlete had the physique of the mythological hero Hercules:

Height – 178 cm;
Weight – 121–131 kg;
Chest – 148 cm;
Waist – 86 cm;
Biceps – 54 cm;
Thigh – 86 cm;
Shin – 56 cm.

Dorian was born in the village of Staffordshire in 1962. Working out in an ordinary basement gym, by the age of 21 he had achieved good shape and began to participate in competitions. He won his first British Championship in 1986.

In 1987 he tore his thigh muscle, but after some time he returned to the ranks of bodybuilders. In 1990, at the American Night of Champions tournament, Yates took 2nd place and received a PRO card.

In 1991, at the Mr. Olympia tournament, Yates came second, which he was upset about. But from the next year to 1997 he became the constant winner of the highest title of this tournament. A few days before the last competition, the athlete tore his triceps, but did not interrupt training. This unfortunate injury later caused Dorian Yates to retire from bodybuilding at the peak of his career. The athlete is the owner of 15 victories and 2 second places over the entire professional period.

Three-time Arnold Classic winner and four-time Mr. Olympia title holder Jay Cutler began serious bodybuilding at the age of 18, but initially did not achieve outstanding results due to improper training. Jay began studying special literature and within 2 years he won the first bodybuilding competition in his career, the NPC Iron Bodies Invitational, and 2 years later he won the Night of Champions tournament. After these victories, Cutler became a professional bodybuilder.

The athlete received his professional card after winning the US Championship. Since 1999, Jay Cutler began his ascent to Olympus and entered into a confrontation with Ronnie Coleman. At the Mr. Olympia tournament, Jay Cutler took second positions 5 times. But after all the defeats, he still became the winner of this prestigious tournament 4 times.

Jay Cutler parameters:

Height – 176 cm;
Weight 114–130 kg;
Biceps – 58 cm;
Thigh – 81 cm;
Caviar – 51 cm;
Waist – 73.5 cm;
Neck – 47 cm.

Canadian Paul Dillett was seriously involved in football in his youth. His debut as a bodybuilder took place at the North American Championships in 1991. But the athlete’s impressive form did not help him become a champion. Paul decided to try his luck the following year and made a real splash. He considered this victory the most significant achievement in his life.

Paul Dillett did not receive the expected popularity. The ascetic regimen used by the athlete to lose fat was the cause of dehydration that occurred during the Arnold Classic tournament in 1994. Paul began to have seizures during a performance.

In 1994, Paul Dillett won the French Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix. The bodybuilder’s greatest achievement is the title of winner of the “Night of Champions” in 1999. Athlete parameters:

Height – 188 cm;
Biceps – 61 cm;
Thigh – 86 cm;
Weight – 130 kg;
Chest – 152 cm;
Waist – waist 81 cm.

The name of the German bodybuilder with the figure of Apollo is still widely known, although his sports career ended in 1990. R. Muller took up bodybuilding in 1978, and after 2 years he became the winner at a junior bodybuilding tournament. By 1982, his name took 4th place in the amateur championship table. In 1983, the aspiring athlete was invited to the Mr. Olympia tournament for guest posing.

Ralf Müller received his PRO card in 1986. After 2 years, Ralph took part in professional competitions, but did not rise above 20th place. Throughout his professional career, Ralph was able to win the Mr. Universe title once.

Realizing that he would not become a titled champion, the athlete decided to try his hand at films. A textured figure helped the bodybuilder make a career as an artist. R. Ringer parameters:

Height – 197 cm;
Weight – 125 kg;
Biceps – 51 cm;
Thigh – 69 cm.

In 1992, when the athlete emigrated from Germany to America, he received an offer to star in the film “Conan the Barbarian.” It is in this series that the athlete demonstrates his beautiful body especially well. While filming several seasons, Ralph continued to train to stay in shape. According to R. Müller himself, his most memorable role was Hagen in the film “Gladiator,” which won 5 Oscars.

Victor Richards

A little-known but outstanding black athlete, Victor Richards, is one of the unique bodybuilders in the history of this sport. With a height of 176 centimeters, this giant weighs 150 kg, and in the off-season 167 kg. Externally, it is huge and quite prominent. Athlete parameters:

Victor Richards

At the age of 17, Victor took part in the America's Cup and took second place. Then the athlete won several more tournaments, but suddenly stopped participating in competitions. Richards himself explained this step by a loss of interest in titles and awards. He believes that he has no equal and does not want to interfere with athletes dreaming of titles.

The idols of the future star Arnold Schwarzenegger were athletes Steve Reese and Reg Park - professional bodybuilders. Admiring their bodies, Arnold decides to become a bodybuilder and begins intensive training at the Liebernauer club. Natural abilities and regular intensive training helped the athlete quickly achieve the desired shape and in 1970 become the owner of the Mr. Olympia title. During his professional career, Schwarzenegger won the tournament 7 times.

In 1980, Arnold stopped participating in bodybuilding competitions, but did not stop playing his favorite sport. In 1988, the famous bodybuilder became the organizer of his own Arnold Classic tournament.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the personification of a real bodybuilder and the idol of thousands of young athletes. In 1969, Schwarzenegger won the title of “Mr. International” and “Mr. Universe.” Anthropometric data of “Iron” Arnie at the peak of his career:

Height – 187 cm;
Weight – 107–118 kg;
Biceps – 56 cm;
Chest – 145 cm;
Waist – 86 cm;
Thigh – 72 cm;
Shin – 51 cm.

The tournament successes and outstanding parameters of these athletes are not only natural data, but also the results of a large amount of hard, intense training, overcoming oneself and remarkable willpower. Each of them wrote their name in the history of bodybuilding and will remain in it for centuries.

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