Was GUNTER a victim of hype?

[Nether Animal]

In 2002, Gunter suddenly became a shoe-in contender by placing high at the Olympia and beating Ronnie at the GNC SOS. The magazines were suddenly putting him everywhere and building up his strengths, but at the 2003 Olympia (first pics) he missed the mark (legs were way down, for example), and he was never quite able to bring his A-game again.

By 2006 (last pic) he was pretty much done as a top-tier competitor. What happened? Did the mags and Weider push him into a spot he couldn't possibly come out of on top?

[Max]

Supposedly in 2003 he was going to be a better version than in 2002 however got a staph infection and nearly didn't manage to compete.
I think I had the bfto video from that year and he looked as big as a house.

[ratherbebig]

he had other business to attend.

[Royalty]

Supposedly in 2003 he was going to be a better version than in 2002 however got a staph infection and nearly didn't manage to compete.
I think I had the bfto video from that year and he looked as big as a house.

I remember the staph infection incident prior to the 03 Olympia.


I do think that he could've trained harder. Gunter was like Wheeler & Dillett. They all could've trained harder. But Venice CA seems to rob people of the hardcore attitude of Ronnie Coleman (Texas) and Michael Francois (Ohio).

[Irongrip400]

Not that I look anything close, but he looks pretty bad to be stepping on stage in that last pic. What did he place?

[Bevo]

In 2002, Gunter suddenly became a shoe-in contender by placing high at the Olympia and beating Ronnie at the GNC SOS. The magazines were suddenly putting him everywhere and building up his strengths, but at the 2003 Olympia (first pics) he missed the mark (legs were way down, for example), and he was never quite able to bring his A-game again.

By 2006 (last pic) he was pretty much done as a top-tier competitor. What happened? Did the mags and Weider push him into a spot he couldn't possibly come out of on top?

Levrone looks like shit in that shot

[Princess L]

I remember the staph infection incident prior to the 03 Olympia.


I do think that he could've trained harder. Gunter was like Wheeler & Dillett. They all could've trained harder. But Venice CA seems to rob people of the hardcore attitude of Ronnie Coleman (Texas) and Michael Francois (Ohio).

You may recall there were some major things going on in his personal life too in '03.

Had he been crowned in '02, I think he could've been a major force in changing the direction BB'g has gone.  If nothing else, he would've at least been a better spokesperson than any of the nitwits we've seen the past 14 years.

[youandme]

Everyone looked off in that Olympia.

[TSNWGS]

In the gym hunter was soft, he just walked around with his gym bag and didn't even break sweats while training, he was just a nice guy who was a bodybuilder and never trained with a chip on his shoulder!

[Danimal77]

Levrone looks like shit in that shot

He was a shadow of his former self in 2003. That said, his legs were still larger then than they were at the 2016 Mr. Olympia.

[Nether Animal]

Not that I look anything close, but he looks pretty bad to be stepping on stage in that last pic. What did he place?

10th

[MCWAY]

In 2002, Gunter suddenly became a shoe-in contender by placing high at the Olympia and beating Ronnie at the GNC SOS. The magazines were suddenly putting him everywhere and building up his strengths, but at the 2003 Olympia (first pics) he missed the mark (legs were way down, for example), and he was never quite able to bring his A-game again.

By 2006 (last pic) he was pretty much done as a top-tier competitor. What happened? Did the mags and Weider push him into a spot he couldn't possibly come out of on top?

How did the magazines push him into a spot? He got a staph infection and it threw him off his game, not to mention his divorce. Plus, who saw Ronnie Coleman's morphing into a ro-beast in 2003?

[jude2]

I rode on a plane with him to Ohio years ago. Dude bought 2 tickets. He was very massive and impressive in person. I have never seen anyone turn more heads while walking through a airport. It helped that he was not ugly.

[Coffeed]

Unfortunately he cared about his organs more than eternal IFBB glory.

[Bevo]

I rode on a plane with him to Ohio years ago. Dude bought 2 tickets. He was very massive and impressive in person. I have never seen anyone turn more heads while walking through a airport. It helped that he was not ugly.

Yes in person he was massive and impressive, pretty tall for a bber at 6'1, nice guy, nothing bad to say about him, helps he is a fellow German lol

[Macrofitter]

In 2002, Gunter suddenly became a shoe-in contender by placing high at the Olympia and beating Ronnie at the GNC SOS. The magazines were suddenly putting him everywhere and building up his strengths, but at the 2003 Olympia (first pics) he missed the mark (legs were way down, for example), and he was never quite able to bring his A-game again.

By 2006 (last pic) he was pretty much done as a top-tier competitor. What happened? Did the mags and Weider push him into a spot he couldn't possibly come out of on top?

He had another very strong showing in 2005 (placing 4th?) people tend to forget. But after that it was over for him, I agree.

[Simple Simon]

He had another very strong showing in 2005 (placing 4th?) people tend to forget. But after that it was over for him, I agree.

that is impressive conditioning...

[njflex]

that is impressive conditioning...

x2....

[viking1]

Impressive hair genetics.

[Danimal77]

x2....

X3

[Matt]

Impressive hair genetics.

x2.

[bigkid]

Dropped Chad after 2002.  All downhill from there.

[Simple Simon]

Dropped Chad after 2002.  All downhill from there.

[bigkid]

2002 was his best look ever and he won a major show.  Never duplicated either again.

[Simple Simon]

2002 was his best look ever and he won a major show.  Never duplicated either again.

apart from oil and lighting whats the difference in those two shots?