“I Had No Carpet on the Floor…basically Had No Money”: 6X MR. Olympia Revisits His Struggles Despite Being a British Champion in 1986

Numerous legends have graced the world of bodybuilding since its beginning. Following a high intense training method throughout his career, this English bodybuilder went on to win the Mr. Olympia competition six times in a row. Reigning bodybuilding stages in the 1990s he even earned the nickname of the “Mass Monster.”

Now, at 61, Dorian Yates looks to impart the knowledge that made him a bodybuilding great, to his followers on social media. While most of the time, he reveals fitness tips, Yates also reveals snippets from his journey, that also sometimes double as life lessons. In a recent Instagram post, the Shadow revealed certain aspects of the tough journey he had during his earlier days.

Dorian Yates’ life-changing journey

Sharing a video on Instagram from 1986, Yates gave social media a peek into the early days of his incredible career. In the caption for the video, he asks, “Did my life change much in 1986?” This was a significant year for him as he was 24 years old and making waves in British bodybuilding.

Despite the victories that Yates had in his kitty, including the EFBB Championships in London, his living conditions were far from glamorous. “I had no carpet on the floor, didn’t even have a proper bed; just a mattress on the floor. I didn’t have a car either, because every penny I earned from my jobs went on food, training, and catching the bus to and from work and the gym… I basically had no money,” he said.

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He further added, “But, this was more motivation. I kept myself grounded and analyzed the situation. I knew I clearly had what it took to get my IFBB Pro Card so put everything I had into achieving this goal.” In the post, he had also talked about how he became the British champion while detailing the run-up towards the title.

An IFBB judge believed in Yates’s talent

In 1986, Yates had already gained recognition after competing in the World Games and winning the EFBB Novice West Coast Championships in Morecambe. He then talked about the push that he received from an IFBB judge, “The encourage I had from Ron Davis who was the head of the EFBB and an IFBB judge was incredible, he really believed that I could go very far in this sport. So I entered the EFBB Championships 1986 in London and managed to win my class.”

He decided to enter the EFBB Championships in London and won, becoming the British Champion. Yates is not the only bodybuilder who had to deal with major struggles in their path to glory. Legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, and Jay Cutler also have in the past recollected tales littered with difficulties. Do you think struggle and success go hand in hand? Share your views in the comments.

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