I am a veteran writer for one of the leading fitness magazines, and I have been one of Doug Brignole´s closest friends over the years. I don´t believe that “MyDavid” (above) knew Doug Brignole “like a brother” – as he claims. His description of what happened to Doug is completely wrong.
Doug (besides having an excellent physique) was indeed an exceptionally nice guy – and still is. But when several other gyms starting opening up in Pasadena, offering lower priced memberships, his gym business starting suffering. He was originally in “Old Town Pasadena”, but found it necessary to move into a bigger building (nearby), which had its own parking lot, in order to keep up with the competition. He did not have his own parking at his original location, and the shared parking (structure and street) was $1.00 per hour. It was killing his business. The new “chain” gyms that had come into town were all larger, had more space and more equipment, had plenty of parking, and offered lower-priced memberships.
In order for Doug to move his gym into a bigger building (with parking), he needed to raise money from investors. Doug believed that once he moved into the bigger building, which would then be offering more equipment, and its own parking lot, that his gym business would once again become financially strong. However – to his surprise – after he moved, people wanted to pay less money for their membership for this “bigger, better” gym, than they used to pay for the smaller gym – because now they had other, lower-priced options in town.
Doug – who was usually very sociable – started spending more time in the office, dealing with administrative problems (…like the bills that he was having trouble paying). He was far less visible, and far more stressed out. Not only were people less willing to pay the usual membership rates, but there were not enough “gym-minded” people in the demographic to satisfy all the new gyms in town. I was one of the few people in whom Doug would confide. He was in financial trouble, but if he made it publicly known, there would be even fewer people joining his gym. So he kept to himself, and was less gregarious when he was out in public.
Finally, when it became clear to him that he would not be able to keep the gym open on his own, he began soliciting his gym business to potential buyers. It was important to him that whomever the prospective buyer was, that the gym be managed in the same manner in which his members were accustomed. He finally thought he had found a suitable buyer in “Frog´s Athletic Club” – a gym company based in the San Diego area. But ultimately, the deal fell through at the last minute, and he had no other option other than to close the gym – less than two years after opening the “bigger, better” facility. He simply ran out of time – mostly with the landlord, who had not been paid in months.
Doug was completely devastated – psychologically and financially. Several of his closest friends were concerned that he might be suicidal. He had spent his entire savings trying to keep the gym open long enough to transfer ownership to a stronger company, believing that whomever the buyer was, would hire him to manage it. Ideally, he would then have an income again, his members would not lose their gym, and his employees would not lose their jobs. But as it turned out, Doug was basically out on the street – broke. He literally had to borrow money from friends to move (to Venice Beach). I was one of the friends who loaned him some money. He lost everything – his home, his furniture and his car. He moved into a tiny, one-bedroom apartment, where he would live for the next eleven years.
He went to work as a trainer at the Sports Club LA. I remember him telling me how humiliating it was to find himself working right alongside a trainer there, whom he had once terminated from his own gym. He was very depressed and was simply trying to survive day to day. Little by little, over the course of the next few years, he began feeling better (….with the help of some anti-depressants). He eventually developed a thriving Personal Training business in West LA and Beverly Hills. His knowledge of exercise physiology, combined with his personality and credentials, allowed him to develop an elite clientele. He also hosted a Spanish market fitness TV show (seen in the Latin American countries), worked as an endorser for an infomercial product called “The AbSlide”, and also hosted QVC spots for the same product. However, he was critical of the fitness industry (although he loved the fitness lifestyle), and wanted to find an alternate career.
In the year 2000, after a nine year layoff from competition, he once again entered a bodybuilding competition – the NPC Los Angeles Championships, in Burbank, California. He got himself back into excellent shape, although it was apparent that he was slightly on the other side of his peak – a little balding, and skin that looked a little bit more “loose”. Nevertheless, he won first place in his division (the light-heavy weight division) – this despite having had a serious knee injury about five years earlier (in which he tore his left patella tendon, as well as the inner head of his left calf muscle). He was 40 years old at the time – the oldest competitor in the “open” division. His competitive career spanned from the age of 16 to 40 – 24 years (…assuming he has officially retired). One of the longest competitive careers that I´ve seen.
He´s about 46 now. The last time I spoke with him (which was a few months ago), he had been hired by a lumber company to export exotic lumber from Central America to the United States. Many people did not know that Doug´s parents were from Chile, so he is fluent in Spanish, and he is able to use his bi-lingual communication skills, as well as his entrepreneurial experience, in an entirely new industry. He spends most of his time in Central America now, and usually only comes into the LA area for one week every eight to ten weeks (or so).
In terms of his physique, Doug would be the first to admit that he never had the potential to enter the pro ranks. His ecto-morphic genetics (small frame) would not allow him to develop enough thickness throughout the chest, shoulders and back. He had amazing arms, legs and abs. And he had exceptional posing ability. His physique was very aesthetic – it was very well-balanced and had excellent shape, and he would always get really ripped. But he reached his pinnacle, as far as his genetics would allow. I understand that he continues to exercise with some regularity in Central America, and stays in fairly good shape.
In my opinion, I think Matt Mendenhall may be the best bodybuilder to never turn pro. He had outstanding symmetry and fullness. Another candidate for the title of “best to never turn pro” is Jeff King. I never thought Rory Leidelmyer had the right balance. He was narrow in the shoulder structure, and had a strange shape to his pectorals. And he also never achieved the level of leanness necessary to be in the pros.
In my mind, although Doug Brignole did not have enough thickness to make a successful pro showing, he will always be considered one of the best amateur bodybuilders of all time. And for those of us who “truly” knew him, he will always be regarded as an inspiration – as an athlete, and as a good person.
Incidentally, the photos at the top of this forum are very early pictures of Doug. I think they were taken when he was in his early twenties. Doug reached his peak condition in his early thirties. There are better pictures of him out there – somewhere. Also, the 1982 “guest posing”, to which ________ is referring, was not a “guest posing” – it was, in fact, the year and place that Doug won the Mr. California title (he was competing). I was there. And – yes – his music did get screwed up at first, but was quickly corrected. Doug was behind the curtain, waiting to go on stage. If he was “really pissed”, no one would have known it – because no one could see him. His posing was excellent. Kal Skalak was the emcee. Doug won the medium-height division, and then the over-all title, and the “most muscular” trophy.
Sorry for the long “article”. But I think it´s an interesting story, and one worth telling. Hope you all don´t mind.
