We survived the Olympia and what stands out is the extremes that many go to in an attempt to win or place well in contests. It doesn't matter if it is the Olympia or the Mountaineer. Guys are using and abusing and many are getting injured for their trouble. Ronnie looks like he is tearing up all over. That really is sad to see. At the other end of the spectrum Goodrum is suffering for the sport. You really have to wonder what motivates so many to do such extreme practices and/or heavy training. I have had the misfortune to have torn a biceps and so I try to warn others not to mess with really heavy weights in dangerous exercises such as deadlifts. Why would a Mr Olympia use anything over 500 pounds in his training? 800 pound deadlifts are lunacy. Sooner or later you will damage something. Ditto for heavy squats. Arthur Jones told us not to demonstrate strength and therefore not to do any set for less than about 5 reps.
I have no idea what the champs are taking to be competitive on stage. The lineup at the Olympia was the best ever and most presented with a combination of outstanding size with definition. Never before have so many incredible backs been on the one stage. The standard they set filters down to the rank and file who might overdo drugs in an attempt to win local contests. When virtual beginners present with gynecomastia it is a sad sight. I have witnessed that in my own gym when a junior had that problem. I asked him who advised him on drugs because I tell anyone even thinking about it to go to a sports doctor who knows something about this. Well, the young fella said he followed the advice of the guy who sold him the steroids! At the time this young fellow was training with a former Mr Australia and I assumed that is where he got his information from. Nope, he got it from a pusher.
The desire to transcend oneself and become a mister someone is strong in many men and bodybuilding can help us achieve that goal. However, it appears the price may be too high. Side effects and now injuries are commonplace in the sport. When the novices and juniors present with these problems what does that say about the sport? I know this has been said many times before on Getbig but I do worry about everyone who has to use extreme measures in the hope they can win a contest someday. I doubt many of us would want to be a professional and have to endure what is required by that level.
This is very interesting - when Garrett Downing used to post here he said some similar things reguarding pushing heavy weight on certain exercises. He suffered a ham tear that basically ended his career, he made a very good come back but his legs were never the same. Adrise El Ward had some of the best biceps peaks ever and he now sports a torn right bicep, Ronnie has done something to his lat, quad, and tricep, and now it looks like Ruhl has torn his inner chest some how, and of cource there's Freeman who accually won a show with 1.5 pec - and that's the short list. It really looks like allot of these guys are tearing their bodies apart these days!! Personally, I think the IFBB made a mistake by giving the Mr.O to Cutler, all that shyt they said about taking it back to pleasing and sysmetrical shapes they just threw out the window this year - they should have given it to Dexter, now that would have been making a real statement to the PDI and fans. BTW, what is the main cause for someone tearing a muscle - does it have to do with lack of a decent warm up, getting enough blood into the muscle to be worked? This is really scares me!!
