Was Arnold S really the greatest bodybuilder?

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A

Arkitech

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2000
8,356
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I've been reading a lot of articles and posts on bodybuilding lately and I noticed that the common thread in all of these sources is Arnold. He's practically praised as a god even though he has'nt competed in 20 something years. So for some of you guys who are bit a more knowledgable of the sport does Arnold really rank as number one or is that just over emphasized admiration of him?
 
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Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
5 Mr. O's , one of them after a 5 year absence. I think he is pretty good but the best ever.......... I don't know.......... every one has an opinion.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
Judgement

Judgement

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
3,815
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Well the fact that he is one of the only body builders to be able to cross over into movies and acting, despite his horrible acting ability should be a testament to how influential he was/is as a bodybuilder.
 
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screw3d

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2001
6,906
1
76
I once read an article once in Guiness Book of World Records website, about something that he had the best-developed muscles overall, and something to the effect that all most every muscle in his body that can be developed, is developed!

But I'm not sure if that is why he's called "the greatest" ?
 
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Arkitech

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2000
8,356
4
76
From some of the photos I've seen of his competition days its obvious he was genetically gifted. I'm just amazed at how many people still praise him as the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
 
EvilYoda

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
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81
Hmmmm.....a topic snapIT might be useful in...interesting.

I would like to know as well. :)
 
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LeeTJ

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2003
4,899
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wasn't part of it his height?? wasn't he unusually large for someone as tall as he is??

didn't he win his last Mr O at a late age?

i don't follow it these are just things i vaguely remember reading about him.
 
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BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
10,737
0
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History of Mr. Olympia

It's certainly possible a better body exists outside of bodybuilding. Sergio Oliva may have had the best genes. Lee Haney won more titles but Arnold probably would have surpassed him without the sabbatical. Ronnie Coleman dwarfs them all . . . so take your pick.
 
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Night201

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2001
3,697
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76
He used to have the biggest biceps in the world. I think they were like softball size or something.
 
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Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
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He definitely had the best symmetry. As a large bodybuilder, he didn't look grotesque. Nowadays you have BB that are just grosteque... look at people like Dorian Yates, who is absolutely out of proportion, and like Dorian Yates, more BBs are having Protruding Guts Syndrome from the growth hormones they're using.
 
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Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
The reason Arnie is the greatest bodybuilder of all time is that he legitimized the sport and brought an awareness of it to America that was never there before. Plus he just owned every competition he was in. It was his charisma as much as his physique that turned people on to bodybuilding and helped launch his movie career.

On pure muscle mass Arnie in his prime didn't come close to the freaks we have today, especially in the legs. Overall though he had a combination of mass, symmetry, posing ability, and stage presence that is probably the best ever.
 
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Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Awesome pics... my old gym use to have pics all over the gym of him. Look at his stomach. You won't find too many BBs with that kind of stomach these days, they're all using GH.
 
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JeffreyLebowski

Lifer
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
81
Arnold is concidered the greatest, cause like someone else said, he wasn't grotesque. He didn't have giant veins bulging out everywhere, when he flexed or posed he didn't strain as hard as he could. You can tell some of those guys are about to shoot there intestines out there ass their trying so hard.

Arnnie was a natural, kinda like Lou Ferigno.
 
LordMaul

LordMaul

Lifer
Nov 16, 2000
15,168
1
0
Arnold is not only great in his performances, but also his knowledge, techniques, etc. that surpass most of the "Duuuuuhhrr...yeah Rocky!" types of big guys who compete now and then. And while he might not have had, say, the biggest legs, they were RIGHT for the rest of him. For instance, one guy in Arnold's book whom he had pictures of had the most incredible legs I've ever seen. However, his upper body was almost pathetic compared to Arnold, since he looked all wrong with those HUGE legs. But Arnold's arms, chest, legs, etc. all were proportionate for the rest of him.
 
LordMaul

LordMaul

Lifer
Nov 16, 2000
15,168
1
0
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Arnold is concidered the greatest, cause like someone else said, he wasn't grotesque. He didn't have giant veins bulging out everywhere, when he flexed or posed he didn't strain as hard as he could. You can tell some of those guys are about to shoot there intestines out there ass their trying so hard.
Click to expand...

:D

 
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Codewiz

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2002
5,758
0
76
Originally posted by: zippy
Didn't he admit to using steroids for a time?
Click to expand...

Just so you don't go thinking otherwise.....they all now use roids. They all use roids but know how to stay clean in the tests.
 
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