King Kamali vs. Gunter Schlierkamp 2001.

[Matt]

I put King on the "A" side in the title because King did place 10th to Gunter's 15th, at the 2001 Mr. Olympia.

I am a fan of King - and he did look very good in 2001, possibly his best physique [he was at his best between 1999 and 2001] - but is there a reason he beat Gunter here?

Gunter, from what I heard, was himself given special invites to the Mr. Olympia on at least one occasion. I believe he was invited to the 1998 Mr. Olympia without qualifying.

So why did King place so far ahead of Gunter here? Is there something that the pictures don't show? Or did King Kamali's media self-promotion and smack talk help him move up in the placings?

Photos from backstage at the 2001 Mr. Olympia taken by Getbig overlord Ron Avidan:

[Matt]

While on this topic, does anyone have a [medical?] explanation for King Kamali's current physique regression? Someone said he had Synthol removed from his arms. Could that be what happened?



EDIT:
I was partially inspired by the thread below, but felt the Gunter comparison was worth talking about, and I'm curious to know how physiques can change so much for some retiree IFBB pros.

https://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=544139.0

[falco]

I believe it's spinal compression. Less signal goes to the muscles, less stimuli, less growth.

[Rambone]

Starts with a “p” and ends with an “ism”

[Royalty]

Starts with a “p” and ends with an “ism”

Priapism ? ? ?

[Matt]

I believe it's spinal compression. Less signal goes to the muscles, less stimuli, less growth.

Is that what they people are referring to when they talk about "nerve damage"?

More shots of King Kamali at the 2001 Mr. Olympia contest taken by Ron:

https://ronavidan.com/pics/olympia/2001/pre/kamali.htm

One additional photo of Gunter from the same contest - he was always a wee bit blocky in the waste, but that's an incredible physique at 6'1.5" and 290-lb:

https://ronavidan.com/pics/olympia/2001/pre/schlierkamp.htm

[Matt]

Priapism ? ? ?

LOL!!!!

Can most pro bodybuilders get that condition?

Also, did King Kamali have a biceps injury? Or is he just an extreme example of having short biceps muscle bellies?:

[falco]

Is that what they people are referring to when they talk about "nerve damage"?

More shots of King Kamali at the 2001 Mr. Olympia contest taken by Ron:

https://ronavidan.com/pics/olympia/2001/pre/kamali.htm

One additional photo of Gunter from the same contest - he was always a wee bit blocky in the waste, but that's an incredible physique at 6'1.5" and 290-lb:

https://ronavidan.com/pics/olympia/2001/pre/schlierkamp.htm

Well, yes. Nerves get damaged from inflamation caused by being compressed.

[affeman]

While on this topic, does anyone have a [medical?] explanation for King Kamali's current physique regression? Someone said he had Synthol removed from his arms. Could that be what happened?

Both of em lost their triceps by 2023

[Rambone]

Both of em lost their triceps by 2023

You’ve got to have them to lose them. Gunter won in the end with that piece of ass wife of his

[wazhazbin]

Priapism ? ? ?

thats hard

[Matt]

thats hard

LOL!!!!

I was hoping you would see that post! 

[GymnJuice]

While on this topic, does anyone have a [medical?] explanation for King Kamali's current physique regression? Someone said he had Synthol removed from his arms. Could that be what happened?



EDIT:
I was partially inspired by the thread below, but felt the Gunter comparison was worth talking about, and I'm curious to know how physiques can change so much for some retiree IFBB pros.

https://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=544139.0

I don't see any scar to show synthol removal or other surgery. I'd guess either nerve damage or elbow issues that keep him from working out his tricep.

[wazhazbin]

say you have a 19 inch arm.

adding synthol can take that arm up to 21.

everything is great until the necrosis kicks in and the
base muscle starts dying and shrinking.

now you've got a 19 inch arm with synthol

 eventually you run into more issues because of the
continuous injections and you have to quit injecting
the synthol. 

so you lose the 2 inches of synthol, and the 2 inches of dead
muscle does not come back.

now you have an arm that is 17 max but looks odd because of all the scar
tissue.