The bodybuilding Giant Dorian Yates has eternally etched his name into the annals of the history of bodybuilding with an exceptional display of resilience and determination for the sport. Having won the title of Mr. Olympia 6 times in his entire career despite going through thick and thin, has helped him in solidifying his legendary status in the realms.
However, the journey to becoming one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time was filled with obstacles for him to cross. Dorian Yates often uses his Instagram to share snippets from his journey with his followers. In a recent post, he shared the story behind winning the title of Mr. Olympia in 1994.
Dorian Yates recalling the horrific injury from the 1994 Mr. Olympia prep days
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Also known as the Mass Monster, Dorian Yates recently took to his Instagram and shared a throwback picture of himself 4 days after he had torn his biceps in 1994. The horrific injury happened 6 weeks prior to the Mr. Olympia championship, while he was performing a set of the underhand barbell row. In the caption, he said, “I’d performed this exercise for nearly 10 years without any issues. But when you’re so depleted and in such a severe caloric deficit, it’s near impossible to lift the same amount of weight and carry the same amount of intensity as when you’re in the off-season.”
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After going to his physiotherapist, he discovered that it was not a complete rupture and that it would heal by itself. The moment he had injured his biceps, his first thought was what would happen at the Olympia? Despite having thoughts of dropping out that year, he did not wish to let all the hard work go in vain, and despite the tear, he still has a chance of winning the show.
He further wrote, “Mathematically speaking, there was no way I’d lose on the back focus poses and side triceps too. I believed I could still compete and win!” And so he decided to go for the show and compete. However, things started taking a rapid turn for him on show day, but he still took a leap of faith.
Dorian Yates went against all odds to defend the title for himself!
Dorian Yates gave his all for the show. However, because of the injury, he could not completely be himself. He said, “On the day of the contest, I felt sick and bloated when I woke up. Just a small stomach big or even a cold can make a noticeable difference in a physique that is super lean as the inflammation causes water retention.”
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He went on to say that even his tan started wearing off due to the long pre-judging. However, despite all of these, by the show time, he managed to sweat out a lot of water and brought about a rather significant improvement in his physique. He finally with all the pride wrote, “The title was defended and I gained my third Olympia crown.” And that is the legendary Mass Monster for you! What are your takes on the journey of Dorian Yates? Let us know in the comments section below!
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