“Greatest Mr. Olympia Ever. Period”: Started Bodybuilding in Prison, 6x Mr. Olympia Gets an Ultimate Title for Turning a Horrific Injury Into Victory in 1994

Bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates took the bodybuilding world by storm in 1991. During that year’s Olympia, the Englishman impressed everyone as he gave the great Lee Haney a run for his money. In 1992, Yates dominated the Olympia stage and lifted the coveted Sandow trophy. However, the bodybuilding icon suffered an injury that nearly derailed his career even before he hit his stride. 

The defending champion suffered a horrific injury while going through his final prep for the 1994 Mr. Olympia. The Shadow tore his bicep with just six weeks left for the show. However, in a situation where many might have given up, Yates persevered. In his most recent post, the bodybuilding icon explained how he pulled through and left his fans in awe.

Dorian Yates finally explains the first major injury of his Mr. Olympia career

Yates posted an image on Instagram taken “just four days after I tore my bicep!” wrote Yates. Since Dorian Yates competed and won Mr. Olympia, many people didn’t know how severely the injury impacted the then-reigning champion. The photograph showed how inflamed and bruised the English champion’s entire arm became.

“It happened when I was performing a set of underhand barbell rows,” said Yates. Although he had performed that variation for a decade, 1994 was the first time it resulted in an injury. “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,” he clarified.

Since Yates practiced the High-Intensity Training (HIT) philosophy, he would lift insanely heavy weights. However, doing so while in a caloric deficit results in injury. Fortunately for Yates, the tear was partial. While he could’ve rested and recovered, Yates pushed through. He trained other parts of his body and on stage realized his strengths. While Yates knew he would lose poses like the front double biceps, he also knew he would win triceps and “back-focused” poses.

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Dorian Yates defended his Olympia title, despite feeling bloated and not fully recovered on the contest day. Fans who read Yate’s story were left in awe of the six-time Mr. Olympia’s resilience.

Bodybuilding fans bowed down to The Shadow’s indomitable drive

“Mentally and physically, the greatest Mr. Olympia ever. Period,” wrote a fan, bowing down to Yates’ mindset. Another fan said others would’ve given up. “Wow. everyone would have given up. Inspirational championship mindset,” the fan commented. Another fan who didn’t know the extent of the former champion’s ordeal thanked him for explaining everything.

‘Thanks for the info that a lot of us have wondered about. You are the man!” wrote the fan. Another fan remembers seeing the image in Flex Magazine in 1994. “I remember seeing this in Flex, back in the day,” he wrote. Another fan simply complimented Yates. “One of the greatest of all time,” the user commented.

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How did you react to the image and the six-time Mr. Olympia’s explanation? Let us know in the comments.