“Just Need Some Muscle to Go”: Having Pioneered the Mass Monster Era, “Blinkered” 6x Mr. Olympia Once Gave an “Inauspicious” Welcome to Training Partner

Dorian Yates had a more significant impact on the sport of bodybuilding than many people give credit for. While fans of the sport know the many firsts of Dorian Yates, others might not be familiar. Recently, Paul Bxendale, a former bodybuilder and training partner of the six-time Mr. Olympia, is trying to change that. Baxendale has been posting rare images of Yates and telling the stories behind the iconic snap of the first Mr. Olympia from England.

In his latest post, Baxendale uploaded an image of Yates guest posing in 1992. While 1992 would be the first time Mike Mentrzer’s protege won the Sandow trophy, it was also the year Baxendale met the champion. However, his first meeting with the original mass monster didn’t go as the 57-year-old hoped.

A cold welcome and feeling embarrassed

After admiring Yate’s physique in the photo from 1992, Baexendale recounted his time training at Temple Gym. “Around 3 months of traveling the 3+ hour round trip twice a week and then for the weekend both Saturday and Sunday,” wrote the former competitive bodybuilder. He traveled so much every day because the 57-year-old knew he would train with Dorian Yates.

In 1991, Lee Haney won his eighth and final Mr. Olympia title. Despite being the newcomer, in ’91, Yates astonished everyone, surpassing many veteran competitors. In 1992, Yates trained harder than he ever had, confident that he could earn his first Sandow trophy. Determined to be around the bodybuilding legend, Banexdale showed to the Temple Gym.

“I’d just done the NABBA Britain and stupidly got down to a vest in Temple Gym!” said the 57-year-old. While his conditioning caught the eye of the first mass monster of bodybuilding, Baxendale got a cold welcome. “Good condition lad, you just need some muscle to go with it,” said Yates making Baxendale feel a little embarrassed.

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However, throughout the months Paul Baxendale became a regular face in the midday crew. Baxendale said he trained with “Dorain and Kenny,” but when Kenny had work, the 290 lbs then-future Mr. Olympia would call him to make sure he was available. In his caption, Baxendale also clarified that the snarky and cold welcome he got from the six-time Olympia was not because of his ego.

Dorian Yates had tunnel vision

Paul Baxendale revealed that despite training alongside one another for months, Yates didn’t know he drove for three hours until recently. “I wouldn’t have cared less! I was completely blinkered back then, the only thing that mattered was that you were there,” Yates told Bxendale. Winning the most coveted title in bodybuilding was Yate’s only priority in 1992 and beyond.

While he did care for his team and training partners, the former champion didn’t want himself or others around him to make excuses. “I was blinkered too!” revealed the 57-year-old. Training with the champion bodybuilder had transformed Baxendale’s approach to training.

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Hence, while their first meeting might have left Paul Baxendale embarrassed, in the end, he learned a lot from Yates.