Cool Bodybuilding Photos

[nzmusclemonster]

Dorian is the messiah.

Dorian was a more carismatic champ

I have to disagree with this. Any idea why Dorian was called "The Shadow"? Because he would do a show and then dissapear back into the shadows until his next show. He did nothing to promote bodybuilding or raise its profile. He was lucky his reign was at a time when there was many charasmatic bodybuilders looking to knock him off his perch. Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Kevin Levrone, Lee Labrada, Vince Taylor.... Dorian had a cult following because of his dedication, work ethic and hardcore mentality. He was often descibed as aloof, arrogant, shy and low in confidence. Peter McGough talks about this in his book about Dorian: 'A warriors story'

MichaelK.... I know there are a few quotes out there from early in Ronnies Mr O reign, where he says he Dorian is superior to him. Its called modesty! And with 8 Mr O titles compared to Dorians 6 he might think differently now...

And Ronnie wasn't the only one with a bit of a gut....

Great calves and lat spread I will give him that though..

[Matrix]

When Dorian was on, he was dominant, no question. But in 94 and 96 with the terrible training injuries he had sustained he IMO was not deserving of the Olympia.

I don't know if i'd describe Dorian as having that much "Charisma", in fact he has spoken many times of his preference for the training side of the sport and not the showcase side. He always came across as a down to earth hard worker.

What he did have was an extreme confidence and belief in himself and his ability to push himself harder than most/all from his era in training and dieting etc. Thats why when he was "on" his skin looked tissue paper/onion skin thin, which few of his contempories had.

His confidence definately helped in 94 when he spoke to Frank Zane backstage after his free posing routine referring to how "this victory for me has been extra special" Using the past tense, as though he knew he had already won. I suppose that is the sign of a champ.

There was also an amuzing incident in 95 where Wayne Demilla said :Thanks Gentlemen, you may leave the stage" during a callout with Dorian,Shawn Kevin etc. All bar Dorian left, he just stayed up there(like Arnie v Sergio) and kept hitting shots/winning the crowd over and it was several seconds before the others realized this and came back out.

By that stage, it was already too late for the others as the big man had won the crowd and judges over.

I do agree that being a low key Brit mean't that he had to work extra hard to get placed as very few had heard of him when he first came to the states and usually Americans dominate the pro shows. I suppose after his close second to Haney in his first Olympia that wasn't a problem anymore!

[nzmusclemonster]

'94 and '96 were ridiculous. How can you win a mr O when you are missing a bicep??

[nzmusclemonster]

Dorian would be number 2 on my list though...

Looked freaky when he wasn't injured.

[michaelk]

I have to disagree with this. Any idea why Dorian was called "The Shadow"? Because he would do a show and then dissapear back into the shadows until his next show. He did nothing to promote bodybuilding or raise its profile.

Dorian was nicknamed the Shadow during his amateur days, he did a lot to promote bodybuilding during his reign, from being on damm near every cover and filling most pages in between, to appearing on Spanish TV as a guest to a young kid who dreamed of meeting him to appearing at FIBO and other similar events.

He just wasn't as quick on the microphone as Arnold. How many people have changed their training systems to Ronnie style compared with how many people went "heavy duty" in the 90's

My reason for picking Dorian is based on one thing- those famous black n white shots. When they showed them to a bunch of top bodybuilders at the time the awe of the progress was well measured when Paul DeMayo suggested he(Paul) may as well go back to flippin burgers at Burger King now!

[Optimass]

when Paul DeMayo suggested he(Paul) may as well go back to flippin burgers at Burger King now!

Paul de Mayo ---- now there was raw talent and promise! RIP Quadzilla!

[Dragon]

It's a tough ask to have both a competition winning physique and the personality and speaking ability to lift the profie of the sport. Coaching to be media savy (and friendly) was limited to politicians until fairly recently. :nod: Dorian did well, but Arnold casts a big shadow!

[nzmusclemonster]

I have to disagree with this. Any idea why Dorian was called "The Shadow"? Because he would do a show and then dissapear back into the shadows until his next show. He did nothing to promote bodybuilding or raise its profile.

Dorian was nicknamed the Shadow during his amateur days, he did a lot to promote bodybuilding during his reign, from being on damm near every cover and filling most pages in between, to appearing on Spanish TV as a guest to a young kid who dreamed of meeting him to appearing at FIBO and other similar events.

He just wasn't as quick on the microphone as Arnold. How many people have changed their training systems to Ronnie style compared with how many people went "heavy duty" in the 90's

My reason for picking Dorian is based on one thing- those famous black n white shots. When they showed them to a bunch of top bodybuilders at the time the awe of the progress was well measured when Paul DeMayo suggested he(Paul) may as well go back to flippin burgers at Burger King now!

Those b & w photos are amazing... the grainy detail and paper thin skin on Dorian is just outrageous.

Interesting about his training style... sure he has influenced a lot of people with "heavy duty", Mentzer was a mentor of his so I'm sure he had a bit of influence in there where Dorian was creating a system a little bit varied from his own. But sure, Dorian did popularise it. Its a shame he didnt know when to back off though during pre contest, the sign of a good bodybuilder?

Genetically not many people can train how Ronnie trains. Hitting each muscle group twice a week would simply be over training for 90% of the population. Its not his fault he has amazing genetics that allow him to train that way!

And if we are talking promoting bodybuilding and getting out to fans all over the world. Olympia's aside, Dorian ventured out of England for 2 competitions during his entire Olympia reign. Ronnie did 7 competitions outside the states. And the competitions Dorian did were right in his back yard, Germany and Spain. Ronnie went to all parts, Russia, New Zealand, Holland and England.

[Agent]

A few Dorian shots

[nzmusclemonster]

Cool photos.... The last photo, the rear lat spread, is a pretty bad photoshop though...

[michaelk]

Dorian had a glorious mullet in 1991!

[Optimass]

Dorian had a glorious mullet in 1991!

LMAO! You should bring it back ... I'm sure it was a kiwi invention after all. May give you a physcological advantage ....

[biggurl27]

Hey! I'm sporting a mullet, they are very cool don't you know!

[Optimass]

Hey! I'm sporting a mullet, they are very cool don't you know!

Spoken like a true Kiwi ... :nod:

You don't own a pair of stubbies too ?

[Agent]

michaelk, the quality of the mullet is too hard to believe.

Nevertheless, he made some fairly decent gains in his time

[michaelk]

check out on youtube the video of him doing that black n white photo shoot, it's on my Promrnewzealand bebo page, his calves are like hummers, nothing photo shopped.

[Agent]

Damn, that's incredible, photos can often be deceiving but you can't hide the truth so much on video.

That photo of his back in your "favourite other pics" album is insane.

[rigger]

Cool bodybuilding photos,lets see some local ones as well.

Heres a good one from back in March in Melbourne.

Was a great day for us kiwis and the kids lost their voices from yelling so much.

[poos_n_wees]

Rigger, is there any way to make that pic bigger?

Cool bodybuilding photos,lets see some local ones as well.

One of my all time favourite local competitors.. Jimmy Sofele:

[biggurl27]

Wow amazing detail in his back

[michaelk]

Rigger, is there any way to make that pic bigger?

Cool bodybuilding photos,lets see some local ones as well.

Phil and I could probably eat more and traing harder?

One of my all time favourite local competitors.. Jimmy Sofele:

for those that don't know, Jimmy is probably about 50something in that shot too!!

...LEGEND

[rigger]

Yeah sorry about the size of the Photo, Mike if you have a bigger one of that shot post it up cause I can't seem to get it right.

[michaelk]

can't seem to make it bigger. Sorry

[poos_n_wees]

Awesome pic! Amazing vascularity :shock: :clap:

[SamWelly]

A big core/gut/stomach is kind of expected with the huge weights some of these big guys throw around. Squats and Deads over 300kg require a pretty massive amount of core strength.