“If I Had Their Bodies, I Would Win”: 81-Year-Old Legend Once Hailed as God of Aesthetics Makes a Staggering Confession on Modern Bodybuilders

The sport of bodybuilding is not for the faint-hearted. Apart from daily workouts and strict dieting, what separates a champion from the rest of the lineup is his mentality on how he perceives things, and how he learns from his failures and works on himself. There is no denying that winning on the Mr. Olympia stage requires a lot of sacrifice and a strong will and mindset. Shedding light on the same, 3X Mr. Olympia Frank Zane recently gave his take on the champion mentality. 

In a recent episode of ‘Transparent with Nyle Nayga’ podcast with IFBB Pro and social media sensation Nyle Nayga, Frank Zane was invited as the guest. Amidst many other topics, the duo discussed about modern bodybuilders. Zane gave his two cents on the current athletes while confessing he could still beat them as he has a weapon in his arsenal that they probably don’t have. 

Frank Zane’s shocking confession 

Apart from being a bodybuilding legend, the 81-year-old is also a renowned author who has several famous books published under his name related to optimum training and nutrition approaches. He also actively uses his social media to educate his audience about tips and tricks related to bodybuilding and general well-being. Lifting the Sandow trophy thrice, Zane surely has what it takes to become a champion. During his conversation with Nyle, he quoted his then-rival Arnold Schwarzenegger as he explained the importance of having a positive mindset. 

Zane stated, “Arnold had a saying, “If I had that body, I would win everything. If I had your body I would win.”” Explaining this in detail, Zane pointed out, “Because he had the mindset…so I think I have the mindset for winning. So I think with a lot of these people, they have really good genetics. I think if I had their bodies, I would win…if that was my intention.”

Read More: Despite Winning 3 Mr. Olympia Titles, 80-Year-Old Frank Zane Once Admitted to Having Done Some ‘Stupid Stuff’ During His Career

Zane continued further by giving the example of Mike O’Hearn as he listed a few genetic freaks of modern times. He also admitted that he is good friends with the ‘Titan.’ Quite recently, the duo sat for a podcast too which was hosted by O’Hearn. 

O’Hearn quotes his mentor while explaining the concept of longevity

Mike O’Hearn is known in the bodybuilding sphere for his amazing physique despite being 54 years old. With several bodybuilding titles under his belt, Mike has the required knowledge and experience of more than three decades. One thing that he constantly preaches is to train for longevity. This is something that his mentor Zane also believes in. 

Remembering his past interaction with Zane, Mike recited what Zane said to him previously. “They are gonna hurt themselves, I’m not. You are so factual about that,” said O’Hearn. Replying to this, Zane stated, “I know how to do it, I have been doing it for a long time…I have been training for 60 years…from the age 14 up to now.” 

WATCH THIS STORY | “Time Does Not Wait”: Carrying a Super Jacked Physique for Over 30 Years, 54-YO Mike O’Hearn Drops a Harsh Reality Check About Aging

What are your views on Zane’s comparison with modern athletes? Let us know in the comments.