[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I’ve always liked O’Hearn. I remember reading profiles of the guy when I first started lifting, and hearing about his dyslexia, and then how he went on to excel at Judo, Powerlifting, and Bodybuilding made quite an impression on me. He’s also done quite well makaing a living for himself in a sport where most people can’t. Of course for someone who has never stepped onstage as an IFBB pro, that’s even more remarkable.
Having seen a good number of videos on the guy, you can tell that he is very passionate about his training, seems like a relatively fun dude, and has no doubt inspired a good number of people over the years. He also does a lot of charity stuff, which I will add, always earns respect from me.
Do I think he’s clean? Nope. Of course that’s MY opinion I’m expressing, and others can either agree or disagree with me. Someone can train any way they want, and it’s certainly no skin off my back.
What I believe triggered this thread, and of course the “is he clean?” issue, is the man’s recent FB status about how:
(typos and spelling mistakes are his, not mine)
“Steroids are now just a word that the lazy and ignorant use to describe any guy or girl that has more muscle or stength and dedicated then them - MIchael O’Hearn (4x natural Mr. universe, National powerlifting champion and world record holder, California Judo Champion American gladiator.”
I call bullshit on all these guys as well, the problem I have with Mike Ohearn in this regard is when you look at his career as a whole it almost becomes plausable that he’s natural. he was winning teen Pling, and BBing shows 20+ years ago, tested events. He won the Natural Mr Universe I think 3 Xs in his 20s, looking almost how he looks now. He grew up in a PLing gym, his parents and brother’s trained at, and so at a young age he started PLing. he was winning tested events into his late 20s. His parents are both professional athlete’s.
I don’t know one way or the other, but when you look at his career as a whole, and his parents, and genetic’s, if there’s one guy out there that could get to this level whithout steroids he might be the guy. His build as well is strange in that he dosen’t carry the kind of size in his shoulder’s and arms, as most juiced up BBer’s do, and he dosen’t have a gut. Another thing is how long he’s been around 20+ years, guys that do steroids seem to come and go, not keep the same build for 20+ years, he’s had the same build for pretty much 20 years, without improving much.
I don’t know what I believe with this guy, he also has the respect of alot of other lifter’s, from Mark Bell to Layne Norton These guys are from different spectrums, and they both brag the guy up. I’ve been around this game along time, and I understand how it works, but on this one guy I can’t be sure one way or the other, with the right genetic’s, and 20yrs of injury free training, this would for sure be on the outer limits of whats possible. That’s my 2cents
[quote]AnytimeJake wrote:
I call bullshit on all these guys as well, the problem I have with Mike Ohearn in this regard is when you look at his career as a whole it almost becomes plausable that he’s natural. he was winning teen Pling, and BBing shows 20+ years ago, tested events. He won the Natural Mr Universe I think 3 Xs in his 20s, looking almost how he looks now. He grew up in a PLing gym, his parents and brother’s trained at, and so at a young age he started PLing. he was winning tested events into his late 20s. His parents are both professional athlete’s.
I don’t know one way or the other, but when you look at his career as a whole, and his parents, and genetic’s, if there’s one guy out there that could get to this level whithout steroids he might be the guy. His build as well is strange in that he dosen’t carry the kind of size in his shoulder’s and arms, as most juiced up BBer’s do, and he dosen’t have a gut. Another thing is how long he’s been around 20+ years, guys that do steroids seem to come and go, not keep the same build for 20+ years, he’s had the same build for pretty much 20 years, without improving much.
I don’t know what I believe with this guy, he also has the respect of alot of other lifter’s, from Mark Bell to Layne Norton These guys are from different spectrums, and they both brag the guy up. I’ve been around this game along time, and I understand how it works, but on this one guy I can’t be sure one way or the other, with the right genetic’s, and 20yrs of injury free training, this would for sure be on the outer limits of whats possible. That’s my 2cents[/quote]
I agree with this. There is a good amount of the evidence pointing to him being natural (no explosion in physique and powerlifting numbers that you would expect from AAS use). It is just hard to wrap my mind that a human is genetically capable of reaching that level.
I’ve been doing this along time, and this guy stumps me, trains like Jonnie jackson, but dosen’t look like Jonnie Jackson. I’ve heard a conversation with Mike and Stan Efferding, and Stan was going on about how strong he was. I think people jump to conclusions to make them selves feel better about they’re own training. I don’t know either way, but for a guy that trains balls out, to be a BBer, he dosen’t have much size in his arms or shoulder’s. What ever I’m on the fence
Mike is a true champion and well-rounded athlete with a background in natural bodybuilding, strongman, power lifting, and mixed martial arts. Before winning his 4 Mr. (Natural) Universe titles, Mike was Mr. California, Mr. USA, Mr. American and Mr. International. He is also a 4-time Power Lifting Champion, and 2-time Iron Warrior: Decathlon of Strength Strongman Champion. Mike has graced the covers of over 500 magazines worldwide earning him the title of 7-time Fitness Male Model of the Year and putting that title in retirement. His 2008 magazine covers include Muscle Magazine International, REPS and Iron Man Magazine. Women around the world will recognize Mike as the cover model for Topaz romance novels.
Either way he seems to be a motivated mother fucker, if he works as hard in the gym, as he does at life haha, interesting never googled the guy before, just heard some pod casts, and stuff, if half this stuffs true, he kicks ass, juiced or not, still on the fence
ya I don’t care one way or the other, but I heard the podcast on Super training TV about a month ago, and he seemed like an interesting guy, then today when I saw this thread, I took the time, and spent an hour on the net checking the guy out. Pretty cool stuff really, he’s been working out at golds Venice for 20 years, he has the keys, because he’s the first one there evey morning, he gets up at 4 am every morning so he can train before his clients come.
If the guys a juicer, and he might be, or a genetic freak, he for sure has the drive and ambition that people can look up to, and I think thats the take home here. After 20yrs in the gym buisiness I’ve seen some genetic freaks, that can just look at a weights and grow, it’s hard for hard gainers to understand this, either way he’s on the outer limits of whats possible, and a good role model for kids to look up to, his life, and his training. Interesting guy, I’m done here, because it’s just a on going arguement that dosen’t matter really. latter
[quote]RATTLEHEAD wrote:
also look at how he dwarfs rob riches, a known juicer[/quote]
Didn’t rob pop for an amphetamine from craze? (Or some other PW?) I remember him posting the letter from the testing agency or some such?
[quote]AnytimeJake wrote:
Either way he seems to be a motivated mother fucker, if he works as hard in the gym, as he does at life haha, [/quote]
Anyone who would say otherwise is a complete clown, I heavy 'mire his physique but I know personally for me that I won’t look like that until I juice.[/quote]
I don’t look like him and I juice. What am I doing wrong? =P
