What was it about Dorian Yates that made him a champion?

[Deicide]

He lacked Flex Wheeler genetics among other things; hard work? I was always curious; size?

[Figo]

Not as much a hard-gainer as he has been depicted...more like an over-achiever(much like Gaspari). Not blessed with great shape ala Flex, but made up for it with granite-hardness, pushing the size game, and making HIT fashionable again, not many trained as hard as Dorian.

Also the only man to win the mr O with one arm, that says a lot for the rest of his physique...

[slaveboy1980]

He lacked Flex Wheeler genetics among other things; hard work? I was always curious; size?

bareback

[GR]

Smart and new for that time drug use and lots of work combined with perfect diet and dedication.Perfect back,calves and hardness...

[donrhummy]

Bad judging.

[jetcity]

being white?  lol... i don't know, thick back?

[powerpack]

Hard work.
Body wise his back was unbeatable, he had good thickness from all angles, his conditioning was almost always spot on for every comp he entered and I liked his stage presentation.
Straight on from the front guys like Nasser had him till they turned sideways...

Bad judging.

I think he was one of the best Mr Os we had for the time, he brought a sanity to the sport with his style of training, relying on hard work and a perfect diet (that of course included chemicals) instead of the miracle voodoo that most BBs run around chasing the whole time.
He definitely was not the "prettiest build" around but I think he deserved his wins.

[GoneAway]

thick back?

bingo.

[JasonH]

It was his unbeatable back and his overall conditioning that made him a champion. His drive, work ethic and discipline was greater than any other bodybuilder he competed with in that era. Haney saw it coming and got out the way - he knew Dorian would eclipse him if he continued and had to retire to preserve his legacy.

[Moosejay]

Consistency and thickness that was non-pareil at the time.

Mike

[MadJimF]

Weider contract?

[RZA]

The first guy to bring such mass combined with such conditioning. Guys like Benaziza for example brought a lot of mass in the game but always had problems with conditioning (he actually died because of this). Even when Yates was declining (which happened pretty soon in his career as a matter of fact) his conditioning had that extreme quality- the granite-like look everybody mentions. Of course, he changed the standards for back development , his legs which are rarely mentioned were some of the best at that time, calves were unreal and though his biceps were always criticized, his triceps were excellent. And he's one of the few people to bring a real methodology whether you are "pro" or "anti". Smarter than 99,9999% of his competitors. Which made up for the "lack" of genetics compared to a guy as gifted (and lazy) as Flex.

[Slintowin4424]

He was the first to master gh and slin 

[gzhout]

He was the first to master gh and slin 

resulting in the freakiest look of that time 

[njflex]

The first guy to bring such mass combined with such conditioning. Guys like Benaziza for example brought a lot of mass in the game but always had problems with conditioning (he actually died because of this). Even when Yates was declining (which happened pretty soon in his career as a matter of fact) his conditioning had that extreme quality- the granite-like look everybody mentions. Of course, he changed the standards for back development , his legs which are rarely mentioned were some of the best at that time, calves were unreal and though his biceps were always criticized, his triceps were excellent. And he's one of the few people to bring a real methodology whether you are "pro" or "anti". Smarter than 99,9999% of his competitors. Which made up for the "lack" of genetics compared to a guy as gifted (and lazy) as Flex.

GOOD POST...if you see his haney runnerup and 1st olympia win his 93 body literally morphed into someting else ,mullet gone and just a beast from there on.after the tears came and the thickening stomach it lost its luster and yes he was still the freakiest by then but not as deserving.

[YoungBlood]

He was the first to master gh and slin 

And AMBITION.

[johnny1]

Warriors mentality...everyone always talks about Dorians ripped bicep,triceps etc...not to many people mention the fact he gritted it out making no excuses and STILL SHOWED UP @ THE OLYMPIA and found a way to win..forget the crap going around about Dorian being given his last couple OLYMPIAS ..the guys a absolute CHAMPION.