Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Schwarzenegger was the face of bodybuilding, and even now when you mention the word “bodybuilding”, most people will still think about Arnold. Arnold was ahead of his time and promoted bodybuilding not only through the competitive stage, but his massive physique gave him unique roles in action movies. Arnold won 7 Mr. Olympia titles. He is most notable for his Chest, Biceps, and Calves. His legs were not horrible, as they were good for their time, but do not match up to the current expectations of bodybuilders. Arnold stood 6’1 and competed usually around 240 pounds. He is full blooded Austrian.

Ronnie Coleman If Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman stood head to head both in their prime, how big would the difference be? Of course it is unfair to compare the two, since sports supplementation, training, and much more has advanced in the many years between the bodybuilders competitive career, but it is undeniable that Ronnie Coleman was superior. Ronnie stood as high as 290+ pounds on the competitive stage and every body part was considered a strong one. His back is considered to be the best in all of bodybuilding. Huge arms with incredible bicep peaks, a wide chest and back and tree-trunk legs.

Lou Ferrigno Lou never won the Mr. Olympia title (the biggest accomplishment a bodybuilder can achieve). However, he came in second place two times. Lou played a MAJOR impact in promoting bodybuilding in the industry today. Similarly to Arnold Schwarzenegger, if you mentioned bodybuilding, a picture of the Incredible Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) will most likely come to mind. This Italian-American was a very tall bodybuilder but made up for it with incredible size. He even made Arnold Schwarzenegger look small many times. To many, he may be known mostly for his role in the Incredible Hulk series and the Pumping Iron film.

Franco Columbu Franco was often seen training with Arnold in the Pumping Iron film. He is one of the most popular shorter bodybuilders and has won the Mr. Olympia competition during his prime. Along with his popularity as a short bodybuilder, Franco was known for his incredible strength. Most people would be surprised to know that Franco could bench, deadlift, and squat more than Arnold could. He was born and raised in Italy.

Charles Atlas The man who started the great sport of bodybuilding. Remember those ads in magazines and comic books about the guy who got sand kicked in his face and then lifted weights? It was an advertisement about Charles Atlas' work out program. His real last name was Siciliano and he was Italian-American.

Frank Zane Frank Zane had the physique that most people want to have. He wasn’t a monster like Ronnie Coleman is, but he focused more on his conditioning, muscle symmetry, and he of course had a pleasing structure which enabled him to win the Mr. Olympia competition. A thin waist and wide shoulders made him one of the best bodybuilders of all time.

Jack LaLanne A very early professional bodybuilder who later had his own television show. He also was popular for his juice machine commercials. LaLanne came in 3rd place in the Mr. America competition in 1949.

Jay Cutler Jay Cutler has won the Mr. Olympia competition 4 times and has placed second to the legendary Ronnie Coleman numerous times, sometimes giving him a good run for his money. Jay has been an incredible ambassador of the sport and has promoted bodybuilding extremely well as the representative of the sport. Jay is known for his incredible size, wide back, huge legs, and consistency. Although he does not always nail his condition, Jay has not placed out of the top two for many years.

Flex Wheeler Kenneth Wheeler, also known as flex Wheeler, is one of the most popular bodybuilders of all time and came very close to winning the Mr. Olympia competition (the highest achievement a bodybuilder can achieve). He began training for martial arts but eventually stepped on the bodybuilding stage. Wheeler was known for his confidence. Wheeler had just about everything it took to become an Olympia champion. Incredible symmetry, round muscle bellies, and great conditioning. He came in second place in the Mr. Olympia competition three times.

Rich Gaspari A very influential and successful bodybuilder that now runs Gaspari Nutrition. Gaspari was able to come in second place in the Mr. Olympia competition three times. He is most noticeable for his EXTREME vascularity, and he had pretty good legs as well. His short arms and structure couldn’t give him the sandow, but Gaspari is one of the most popular bodybuilders of all time. He's also another Italian-American.

Sergio Oliva Sergio was another bodybuilder that was way ahead of his time. This Afro-Cuban had incredibly massive arms and unmatched legs for his time. Bodybuilders have only been able to match the leg size proportions in the more recent years of bodybuilding where most people in that era didn’t have much leg development at all. He had an incredibly small physique and has won the Mr. Olympia competition three times.

Dorian Yates This six-time Mr. Olympia winner set a new standard for size. Dorian is an English bodybuilder that is most known for his extreme work ethic and intense training. Although Dorian never had the genetic advantage that most bodybuilders have, he made up for it by training intense with very heavy weight. He also was one of the first bodybuilders to create a personal training video that showcased what he put into the gym. Even with a torn bicep, Dorian was able to win the Mr. Olympia competition.

Lee Haney Haney is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder most famous for being the current joint record holder, along with Ronnie Coleman, for winning the most Mr. Olympia titles (eight times from 1984 to 1991).

Kevin Levrone Levrone is known as one of the genetic freaks of bodybuilding. He never won the Mr. Olympia competition, but came in second place four times and was a top contender for many years. His huge delts and arms were a notable strong point. The Maryland Muscle Machine is a very inspirational bodybuilder that now runs his own website where he completes transformations and inspires others to complete their goals. He is the son of an Italian father and African-American mother.

Phil Heath Phil “The Gift” Heath is considered to be the new age Ronnie Coleman in terms of potential to retain the Olympia crown with sheer dominance. All of his Mr. Olympia placings have been in the top five, and he has just recently been crowned the 2011 Mr. Olympia, beating his friend Jay Cutler. The gift’s round muscles and cartoon character structure makes him to appear much larger on stage.







The End

NJ, Are you into body building, I mean do you do it yourself? I'm quite interested in this, I would have to say Arnie stands out because of his film career, I agree about Lou Ferrigno too.

Yes, I'm a lifter who once trained as a bodybuilder until messing up my right shoulder. I love the sport.

Man would be good to get your opinions on some things!

First question, what do you think about my list? Second question, what do you want to know?

Yeah man it's a good list, I like how you got Yates on there (I'm English). I would like to know about supplements, I take Creatine and Protein shakes should I take other supps? I'm not a body builder but trying to add some more mass, thanks.

My grandfather had a storefront gym that he opened in Brownsville, Brooklyn in the late 1930s for the neighborhood kids to work out in. One of the locals who came in was Dan Lurie, who later went on to become a world known bodybuilder in the late '40s/'50s.

I think for a person just starting to hit the iron, the best thing is pure creatine, but make sure you take it for 2 months and then cycle off it for 2 months, so go 2 and 2. After 8 months I'd start taking the harder stuff like NO Xplode or Superpump 250, which are great pre workout supplements. You should always take regular vitamins. Never take illegal steroids, but if you want to later there's legal steroids you can buy in the pill form that has some of the great stuff inside the illegal dope taken out, but it still is good.

Wow, he had some huge arms. Thanks SC!

Thanks for the advice, no I would never take steroids or anything close, Creatine is as far as I would go. I will check out those other supps too, at the moment I take Myotein Protein which has got rave reviews as did my Creatine Decacor, I did some research before buying to make sure I got decent stuff.

That is a good protein supp, the best by far is Whey protien. Just about any kind of Whey from the cheaper ones to the more expensive ones is good, It's all the same. You should always take protein powder at least once a day, but no more than three times a day. Stick with it and best of luck.

Thanks man for your help

Not a problem. U should get on the bodybuilding.com forum.

Lurie's story is a good one, SC. He's 88 now. This picture was taken only 3 years ago when he was 85. Amazing!

I keep in touch with him through email. He lives out here on the Island (Valley Stream).

Short funny story.... Lurie is a few years younger than my father was. I was about 14 and decided I wanted to start working out. My dad took me to Lurie's store (on Springfield Blvd. just off the Belt Pkwy) and introduced us. As soon as he did, Lurie remembered both my grandfather and my dad. They talked for a few minutes and then Lurie gave us a weight set that was suitable for me. I think there was about 140 pounds in weights plus a barbell. I carried the barbell (probably 20 pounds) and my dad took the big cardboard box with the weights (again about 140 pounds) and we left the store. My dad, at one time in his life, was in really good shape, but this was a few years after that ... . He was carrying the weights high up on his chest, almost as if they weighed nothing. By the time we got back to the car, across Springfield Blvd, the weights were down near the ground.... he was huffing and puffing but I realized later that he was determined not to let Dan Lurie see him like that.

I think I used the weights for about three months before they started to just collect dust.

BTW - Another of the Brownsville kids who wandered in to the gym was Hal Kanner who went on to become a professional wrestler in the '50s. He is Kim Kanner's father (she became a somewhat famous pro wrestler herself in the '80s).

Great story, SC .

Did you tell me a few years back that your Dad also knew (or at least had friends in common with) Bummy Davis?

Tis's question about Rocky Graziano brought this to mind. As you probably know, one of Davis's last fights was against Graziano. The Rock knocked him out in four.

From what I remember, Davis was closer in age to my dad, than was Lurie, but Dan Lurie remembered Davis, as well. My dad knew of him, from the neighborhood, but that was about it. I don't remember if we talked about Davis' book. Did you read it?

Pumping iron at 85??????

Wow!! Seriously impressed

Oh yeah, I read it, and I loved it. And we did discuss it about 5 years ago. Time flies .

Davis was one tough SOB. He didn't have to die, either. He was literally shot to death running forward, not away.

Wow.... was it that long ago?

Yup.

http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthr...true#Post360042

4 years, 11 months .... not 5 years!!

I told you 100 million times not to exaggerate.



Time really does fly!

Pumping anything at 85 impresses me.

Remember those little ads in magazines or match book covers about the guy who got sand kicked in his face and then lifted weights?

Yes! They were also advertised in many comic books back in the day! It was Charles Atlas' Dynamic Tension work out program. I remember writing to them and I received some free info/pamphlets (1975's version of an infomercial!). I never ordered the full "program" but I remembered being very disappointed to read in one of the leaflets that the real Charles Atlas was already dead but his proven successful program lived on!

Charles Atlas was a legend!

A great video of Lou Ferrigno. He is the MAN!

Good video of Lou, Iv'e always liked him, do you know his measurements? I love how he was on King of Queens!

His Height is 6'5" and his weight was between 300 and 310 pounds. At his top condition, Lou had a 58" chest, 23" arms and a 34" waist. The most he bench pressed was 565 lbs.