Unlike many of those who made waves in bodybuilding, Dorian Yates never set out to become number one in the industry. Instead, the 6 consecutive times Mr. Olympia title winner Yates made his decision to join the sport because of something pure yet simple. Years after retiring from his profession, the bodybuilder has now reflected on how the sport made him feel.

Dorian Yates’s interest in bodybuilding started during his time in prison. Shocking as it may sound, Yates got hooked on fitness after it was pointed out to him that he had a physique for the sport itself. Yates revealed how right before his very first contest, he got an illness. However, as its effects faded away, he thought he should step into the world of competitive bodybuilding.

Dorian Yates’ initial expectations from the sport

In an Instagram post recalling his journey in the sport, Yates wrote in the caption about how his surroundings and his circumstances were extremely negative in the beginning. “At the time, I had many reasons to feel negative, so I guess it was time to strive for some happiness, bodybuilding was that happiness for me.” The bodybuilder then went on to explain that 1983 was when he first saw a bodybuilding competition as a viewer and he was mesmerized by what he saw.

Moreover, the bodybuilder recalled, “My intentions when I first started out with bodybuilding, was never to be number 1 or have fame and money, I just knew that deep down this decision I made to build a great physique was positive – pure and simple. Bodybuilding made me feel good about myself.” Then he briefly talked about the instance that led him to his first event. When he came down with an illness right before his very first competition, he realized that it had made him extremely lean and shredded. And almost as if it’s a work of fate, the bodybuilder who was reluctant to participate in the event ended up not just participating, but winning it.

Yates, therefore, started competing with less than a year’s training but ended up having one of the best techniques the sport boasts, helping him lift the Sandow trophy six times. But what was this approach that Yates followed?

Dorian Yates’ training mantra

On several occasions, the bodybuilder has made it clear that he believes in intense training instead of long hours of grinding at the gym. Throughout his career and even after his retirement, he is still preaching, “Train Harder… Not Longer!”. He firmly believes that instead of working out for two hours at the gym, one can be much more productive with only 50 minutes of work using his regime.

READ MORE: 6XMr. Olympia Dorian Yates Explains the Alternate Exercise to “Triceps” That Helped Him Build His Monster Physique

Dorian Yates’ intense workout techniques have proved extremely useful for him. So much so that the initially not-so-dedicated participant in bodybuilding made his career in that very sport and ended up winning the most prestigious titles in the industry. What do you think about Yates’s journey? Let us know in the comments below.

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