“Go to Some Dark Places”: Lost His Father as a Teenager, 62-YO Bodybuilding Legend Shares Tried and Tested Bodybuilding Advice That Won Him 6 Mr. Olympia Titles

Life is full of ups and downs, and things can go downhill at any time. But there is mostly a silver lining present against the dark clouds. Similarly, 6X Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates was also a victim of harsh situations when his father passed away when he was only 13. However, he got back up and not only became mentally strong but also became physically fit. Yates fought all the struggles and gained recognition in the industry of bodybuilding.

On June 20, the 62-year-old shared a couple of throwback pictures along with a heartfelt letter and advice to everyone on his Instagram account. The Shadow posted about how life can get hard, but it is important to be mentally and physically strong.

Dorian Yates gives important advice to bodybuilding enthusiasts

The Instagram post had three pictures in black and white, reminiscing the glory days of Dorian’s life as a bodybuilder. It showed his training process and his herculean muscles. Beside the pictures, was a heartfelt letter to all fitness enthusiasts about intensity training and accomplishing exceptional results.

Yates penned, “The intensity level is through the roof with drop sets, rest pauses, forced and assisted reps, extra negatives with heavyweight…” Yates also reminded his fans that the workout was intense, so the mind had to be strong for it. He said, “And with this style of training, the mindset needed must be rock solid. You’re gonna go to some dark places, so you need to be prepared, both mentally and physically.”

Read More: “Complete Robbery at Its Best”: Enraged Bodybuilding World Raise Questions After 1994 Mr. Olympia Footage Resurfaces

He further dropped a piece of life advice for his fans, which also won him the Olympia titles, which read like this, “But by having this resolute mindset for your training, it means you truly can conquer anything in your day-to-day life.” After losing his father when he was young, The Shadow once shared how he was going through a rough phase of life until he turned his negative feelings into something productive.

Dorian Yates talks about his father’s demise

The Shadow once sat for an interview with Rob Lipsett, where the Englishman poured his heart out about his childhood and teenage years. According to the interview, Dorian Yates did not have an upbringing that was like any other regular child.

He explained his childhood and said, “It was a great environment to grow up in, but then there was a big shock in my life. At 13 years of age, my dad passed away very suddenly. He was only 42 years old, and he died of a heart attack. So, that just changed everything.”

Watch This Story:  Years After Career-Ending Injury, Bodybuilding Veteran Recalls a Close Member Responsible for ‘Any Niggling Injuries’

This incident changed Dorian Yates’s life forever, and he found a different form of motivation through it, which ultimately made him the successful bodybuilder he is today. Dorian Yates proved that with a strong mind and willpower, one can achieve anything.