Rare 1981 Mr. Olympia pics

[Natural_O]

Check out the amazing 1981 Mr. Olympia pictures from photographer Garry Bartlett on the Bodybuilding Legends Show website - http://bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/photos/
Thanks to Garry for sharing these awesome photos!

[NelsonMuntz]

I think bartlett was probably the all time longest contributor to musclemag next to Bob K.

[beakdoctor]

Thanks O. 80,81,82,83 are my favorite Olympians especially 81 because Roy, Danny and Tom  brought the best physique ever to the stage. I don't think that level of size and conditioning were seen on stage prior to that show. but those 3 guys nailed it.

[Natural_O]

Thanks O. 80,81,82,83 are my favorite Olympians especially 81 because Roy, Danny and Tom  brought the best physique ever to the stage. I don't think that level of size and conditioning were seen on stage prior to that show. but those 3 guys nailed it.

That was such a great show because those three guys reached their all time best on that night and no one expected any of them to look that good. I think each of them felt like they had a chance to win it that year. Can you imagine if Zane, Mentzer and Coe would have competed too?

[Coach is Back!]

Roy Callender was such an underrated bodybuilder. Shame.

[JAGO]

Roy Callender was such an underrated bodybuilder. Shame.

Certainly not by me . . .

[Dan-O]

Rick Wayne described Platz's upper body at the '81 O as "a scream away from otherworldly."  I mean, Columbu was known for his back and chest--but who would you give this shot to?

[NarcissisticDeity]

Rick Wayne described Platz's upper body at the '81 O as "a scream away from otherworldly."  I mean, Columbu was known for his back and chest--but who would you give this shot to?

Dickerson

[Dan-O]

Dickerson

LOL.  Actually, I agree.  Really, you could say that from 1981 up to the present day, Olympias were won from the back.

[FREAKgeek]

81 Franco might be the weakest Mr 0 ever.

[Nether Animal]

Roy Callender was such an underrated bodybuilder. Shame.

This. X2

[Bosch]

Nice pics. Amazing side chest on Roy Callender.

[Natural_O]

The pics of Padilla and Platz were awesome. Really clear and detailed.

[beakdoctor]

I have to say Platz should've been Mr O that year. it's splitting hairs between Roy Tom and Danny but Platz and Danny are just a fraction more detailed. Tom and Danny are just about even but Danny is perfectly proportioned with no weak spots while Tom has the freak factor.

[NotMrAverage]

Danny Padilla was just awesome at this show! He did not look that short standing to himself. Robbery of peace

[Natural_O]

Great rare pics! As great as Platz, Padilla and Callender are, Franco is holding his own, especially in these HQ scans. Apart from his thighs not being as great as the other three and his gyno, Franco holds his own in pretty much every department. That isn't to say I'd give him the win but in the back department for example he is soundly beating Platz in that back lat spread. Tom Platz probably had the second best back apart from Franco "The Bat" in this contest. Tom was really very complete.

Yes, as I've mentioned before, I was at the contest (prejudging and night show) and I had real good seats so I had a good perspective of the contest. Franco was in awesome shape. He was super thick and his upper body looked great and he was really hard and dense. His only problem was his legs. They were not skinny and they had some size and his calves looked good. However, he had ZERO separation in his quads and, in comparison to Dickerson, Platz, Callendar and Padilla, you had to put him in fifth. By the early '80's, the leg development of the top pros had really advanced from the '70's.

[Simple Simon]

Yes, as I've mentioned before, I was at the contest (prejudging and night show) and I had real good seats so I had a good perspective of the contest. Franco was in awesome shape. He was super thick and his upper body looked great and he was really hard and dense. His only problem was his legs. They were not skinny and they had some size and his calves looked good. However, he had ZERO separation in his quads and, in comparison to Dickerson, Platz, Callendar and Padilla, you had to put him in fifth. By the early '80's, the leg development of the top pros had really advanced from the '70's.

always best to turn photos upside down to find lack of balance and flaws

[Griffith]

always best to turn photos upside down to find lack of balance and flaws

Interesting.

He did injure his leg quite badly in 1977 in a strongman contest.

[Simple Simon]

Interesting.

He did injure his leg quite badly in 1977 in a strongman contest.

there are not many bodybuilders who look balanced upside down, its a real test of symettry.

[Dan-O]

Look at how Padilla, Callender and Platz are hitting this shot--THAT is how you hit a side chest.  Where you could balance a glass of water on the pecs.  Not the crunched-in bullshit that today's pros do.  When did people start doing the side chest differently?  Is it because they can't expand their ribcage due to their bloated guts?

[Natural_O]

Look at how Padilla, Callender and Platz are hitting this shot--THAT is how you hit a side chest.  Where you could balance a glass of water on the pecs.  Not the crunched-in bullshit that today's pros do.  When did people start doing the side chest differently?  Is it because they can't expand their ribcage due to their bloated guts?

Good question. I think it started around the time when Robby won the 1979 Night of the Champions and he was crunching down on his intercostals and abs instead of doing a lifted ribcage pose. Now it's all monkey see, monkey do. When I teach posing, I try to get guys to suck in their guts and do the side chest the traditional way but they mostly laugh and end up going back to doing it by crunching down on the side.

[Natural_O]

Interesting.

He did injure his leg quite badly in 1977 in a strongman contest.

Franco's comeback was really amazing and it was kind of overlooked because of his controversial win. He tore up his knee so bad in that accident that the doctors told him he would probably never walk again let alone ever compete again. He worked so hard to get his knee back in shape, walking up stairs sideways, backwards, etc. It was one of the best comebacks ever.

[BSN]

Franco's legs after.. ^^

[Simple Simon]

Franco's legs after.. ^^

regardless of the improvement his legs didn't deserve an Olympia title, why don't we give Genova an Olympia title based on the fact he's a numpty.

[JAGO]

This 79 NOC may have been Robbie's best shape ever and one of the best physiques is history.

J