English | 2021 | ISBN: N/A | ASIN: B08V2441SS | 791 Pages | EPUB | 34 MB
Has it really been 10 years since I published the first MuscleMag International Encyclopedia
of Bodybuilding? Perhaps Einstein was right after all – time is relative. But one thing is for
sure – it’s been quite the 10 years!
It seemed that no sooner had the massive Brit, Dorian Yates, headed back to England with
his sixth Mr. Olympia title when a relative unknown, Ronnie Coleman, started his record-tying
run of eight Mr. Olympia wins. The big Texan was to continue the trend of ever-increasing
physique size, carrying 290 pounds of ultra-striated beef into battle. With 2006 and 2007
winner Jay Cutler also tipping the scales in the 280+ pound range, the time seems near that the
first 300 pounder will walk away with the sport’s most coveted title.
Besides the escalating size, another revolution to come about during this time was in the
training styles of most bodybuilders. Although a few bodybuilders still follow the traditional
high-volume style of training made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the 1970s, most
now follow the shorter, more intense form of training advocated by Dorian Yates.
And speaking of bodybuilding’s most famous alumni, the lad from Austria has done quite
well for himself since the first edition of this book. Not content to be the sport’s No. 1 star and
world’s most successful actor, Arnold decided to throw his hat into the political arena. In
typical Schwarzenegger fashion, he won the governorship of California in 2003. Many feel that
with an amendment to the constitution (to allow those not born in the USA to run for the
presidency) it’s only a matter of time before Arnold flexes his way into the Oval Office.
While the popularity of both Arnold and male bodybuilding continues to climb, the same
cannot be said for the female side of the sport. After starting with such promise in the early
’80s and reaching very respectable heights, thanks in part to the great Cory Everson in the late
’80s, the sport took a nosedive in the 1990s. Although numerous theories have been put forward
as to why, the most prevalent is that bodybuilding fans – male and female – are just not
interested in female physiques that would have won the Mr. America 40 or 50 years ago. Even
the sport’s top female title – the Ms. Olympia – is not immune, having nearly been canceled on
numerous occasions.
As female bodybuilding began its tumble, the new sports of women’s fitness and figure
took off. Displaying physiques hard and athletic yet still feminine, fitness and figure
contestants have far exceeded their female bodybuilding counterparts in both popularity and
prize money. Unless there’s a change in the judging standards, this trend will no doubt
continue.
One area that hasn’t changed over the last 10 years is the popularity of food supplements.
Creatine and whey protein are still the biggest sellers, but nipping at their heels are a whole
host of others including nitric oxide, glutamine and the latest generation of fat-burners.
Related to the topic of supplements is the topic of performance-enhancing drugs. While at
one time there was a definite distinction between the two, the supplement companies muddied
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