I agree with this, they just dont seem to be at the same level of conditioning. They appear more watery than the 90’s.
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what we’re the top guys weights in the 90’s vs now?
Dorian wouldn’t look completely out of place against today’s guys at about 260lbs. Ronnie would monster him when he came in at 295 but Jay was about the same size (a bit bigger).
But on the other hand, you just don’t see guys like Shawn Ray and Flex Wheeler who came in at around 220lbs (probably being generous). The closest is Rhoden who is closer to 240lbs.
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Great breakdown by Shawn ray and Palumbo. They touch on certain competitors and how much their coaches take from them, on the inability of some athletes to take criticism despite the fact that the they are putting themselves out there in a sport that relies on criticism, and do a very good assessment of the top placings in open, classic, and also the 212’s where some of the classic competitors are thinking of switching over.
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One of my favorites that just didn’t fit in the Ronnie Coleman era of bodybuilding was Troy Alves. I rem ember seeing him in a MuscleMag article and thought his physique was excellent
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A year ago I asked myself, “is CP gonna turn into the new 212? And then when the standards for CP get higher, are they gonna make a new division to satisfy those who don’t want to go the distance with you-know-what?”
New standard: if you don’t look like a gargoyle who’s gonna keel over, you don’t count!
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Must be. Also, apparently you have to be under 6’ to win the Olympia. The only 6 footer plus I see looking back is Arnie.
Not that I want to get to that level of bodybuilding (I’m natural and my liver already has issues - stupid DNA), but any idea why there aren’t taller competitors that do well at this level? Maybe taller physiques work better in classic?
Edit to add: I am 6’3” and Arnold is supposedly 6’2” but I have heard that’s generous for him.
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Aaron Reed is 6’7". I think the problem taller guys have is muscle belly length. You’re spreading that tension across way more distance of muscle.
Also not an engineer, but you are. Doesn’t longer limbs mean more force on the fulcrum (joints) for a given weight? So a shorter guy can get more tension on the muscles with less weight and have his joints be safer, all other things being equal.
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I don’t know if this is truly the case but seems reasonable. What is true is that the amount of work being done (force*distance) by guys with short limbs is much less for a given volume (if your bench press is only 12 inches from bottom to top it’s half the work as someone whose rep is 24”). In that regard tall guys must do more work to achieve the same relative muscle activation.
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I don’t think the package flows for most tall people in bodybuilding. Paul Dilett came out alright. But he was a freak of nature who never used more than 225 on the bench according to him. I do believe him. Most people on T-mag use more weight that he did.
I can believe that. Bench has always been my weakest of the power 3 (I have a 73” reach). When i was at my strongest I was deadlifting over 500, squatting 425 but I could never push the bench past 365.
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Imagine if Cedric McMillan ever nailed his conditioning.. the guy would reset the judging criteria imo.
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This makes me sad, I’m 6ft but have a 74” wing span.
I had no idea Aron reed was 6’7! That’s HUGE
That bench number isn’t exactly completely out of what with the deadlift/squat numbers though.
Yeah,… and Dorian came in just as ripped when the checked for Diuretics, AND he blamed the Insulin for ruining his conditioning in his later years,… so think about that when you see today’s pros and wannabes using Lasix and Insulin and still looking nothing like they belong on stage.
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I feel your pain there. I had a 350 bench when my deadlift was 500. 675 deadlift now and my bench is still only 375.
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What I don’t understand is why none of the top pros have made this link and why none of them are seeing it as an opportunity to raise the bar on conditioning? Why are they all just accepting that they will get on stage with sup par conditioning all round? Surely someone sees potential for a competitive advantage?
If someone came in Dorian lean surely the visual impact would be so dramatic they could forgo a bit of ultimate mass?
This has probably crossed their minds a couple of times, but I think since Ronnie and Phil’s reigns, mass has become the ultimate goal, not conditioning. Judging in recent years reflects that (maybe this year started to turn - Roelly, though clearly bigger than some on stage, placed behind more conditioned competitors at the Olympia - but still ahead of a few others who I think came in better conditioned than him).
@BrickHead and I have complained about this before, about how the current state of things seems to focus more on a reliance of PEDs than intelligent training and nutrition. Sure there were guys pushing the envelope back during the 90’s with their gear use, but today you hear of middle of the pack amateur NPC competitors (some trying to earn a following online with their “brand”) using similar ranges with nowhere near the results. IMO its the mindset that has changed.
-What was once considered extreme is now minimum required
-What was actual HRT doses prescribed by MDs to achieve minimum HEALTHY T-levels is now a blanket excuse card for self-medicating gear usage
-What once scared even high level comptitors (GH, Insulin, prescription diuretics…) is advised by “coaches” with no actual medical background, but some ties to the sport because they started writing articles and posting blogs
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