As you know I rarely if ever give space to our bodybuilding brethren but with the 2012 Mr Olympia done and dusted I thought I should pay respects to the 'sport' that got me started in the iron.
No obviously I have no desire to throw on the trunks, oil up and hit the posing platform, hell if you saw my physique you would be grateful of that fact. But even spectating is hard for me. Generally bodybuilding leaves me cold these days, I just can't get into it. The natural shows are shit and if they are truly natural then the guys look emaciated, while the pro shows just have lumbering fat fuckers that only resemble an athletic physique in certain still pics. Notwithstanding Ronnie Coleman's classic training videos are still some of my favourite training motivational material.
However back in the dark ages (1980's) for the Y Gen amongst you, Muscle and Fitness introduced me to bodybuilding. Lee Haney was dominating the platform against guys like Rich Gaspari and my favourite bodybuilder Lee Labrada (Check out the 1988 cover below). Now despite a mustache that would make a 70's porn star proud guys like Labrada epitomized the classic physique.
Part of the appeal of those days was that while guys juiced their doses were so small compared to today that you felt their look was still attainable by the average guy. Similarly the absence of the internet meant the governing body (IFBB) could tightly control the flow of information regarding the sport and its athletes. Consequently every athlete appeared to be an articulate wholesome representative of the sport.
So for an emaciated road cyclist the lure of weights was slowly fanned by regular doses of Muscle and Fitness and training sessions at the old Curtin University Dome Gymnasium. Fast forward 20 years and here I am baby, mortgage and trying to compete in GPC masters next year! So those of you studying now with relatively free schedules and commitments (big Mike and Shanks I am talking to you!) enjoy because it changes in the blink of an eye!
Till next time.....
Stay Stong
Thomo!
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