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The six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates recently shared a memorable story from 1997. He does not reduce the moment to winning the trophy, but he treasures the encouragement and support he found at Temple Gym, back in his home.

Yates took to his Instagram and shared a carousel of four pictures from the final moments of the competitive arena. Interestingly, the initial three pictures were taken on the stage; however, the last one showcased him working out. Surprisingly, the last picture of this carousel is more special because Yates had injured his hand, which was plastered, yet he was committed to his preparation.

Dorian Yates gives a shoutout to Temple Gym for following the ‘code of silence’

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Yates revealed in his post, that just three weeks before the Olympia contest, he faced a setback – a torn tricep. It was almost completely cut from the bone. Many athletes would have quit, but Yates always challenged his boundaries. He has always followed the mantra “No Surrender!” Even though it hurt a lot, he kept working hard and eating carefully. The Shadow, however, attributes his success not just to his strength but also to the unique environment at Temple Gym

 

There was a special code of honor and silence among the people there. Even when he faced injuries, the news never left the gym walls. “What I’m trying to get at is that if I had been anywhere else but Temple Gym, news of those injuries would have gotten out to the industry and would have left my competitors thinking there was a chink in my armour. It was not to be…..ever,” stated Yates. This code of silence protected him from competitors.

Yates emphasized that Temple Gym was more than just a place to work out. To him, it was a family. The support he received from his training partners and the atmosphere of trust made it unlike any other gym. This feeling was so special that he decided not to “move to the States.” He believed there was no other place on “earth” like Temple Gym. But this has been in his nature. Since the beginning, he has embraced the never-give-up mentality.

Yates’ determination to reach the peak

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The 61-year-old bodybuilder previously shared, how in the beginning, he faced problems but decided to solely focus on bodybuilding. He was passionate about seeing how strong and muscular he could become. He left behind a life that involved partying and eating unhealthy. Instead, he chose to work hard and did various jobs to support himself. He was determined to make something positive out of bodybuilding and leave behind his troubled past.

READ MORE: “Called an OG Hurts a Bit”: 4X Mr. Olympia Champion Makes a Painful Confession Weeks After Making His Bodybuilding Comeback

Yates valued his journey and the people who made it more special especially his gym buddies. His gratitude is always reflected in his posts. As he ended his latest post caption with “Somehow they knew; they knew that whatever was spoken about in the walls of Temple Gym remained in Temple Gym.”

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WATCH THIS STORY: 6X Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates Reveals Why He Once Turned Down A Life-Changing Offer from Bodybuilding Legend Tom Platz