Challenging Common Belief That Height Is Irrelevant in Bodybuilding, Veteran Frank Zane Unveiled the Reality in 2019: “Little Guy Gets Lost”

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ByPriya Hinduja

Dec 13, 2022 | 2:15 PM EST

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Currently training athletes at his center Zane Experience, Frank Zane is a bodybuilding legend. In a 2019 interview, he pointed out a startling fact about bodybuilding competitions and the role every competitor’s height played in audience perception.

The three-times Mr. Olympia champion spoke about how it was a commonly accepted standard during his time that the bigger the bodybuilders were, the better. Frank Zane explained how size is a matter of perspective in bodybuilding competitions. He further talks about why judges can have a different view of bodybuilders than the people watching the contest from afar.

Frank Zane’s Shocking Statements About Bodybuilding Contests and Bodybuilders’ Height

Zane describes how the auditorium played a key role in defining their point of view while watching the contests. “They’re held in auditoriums where most of the people are way in the back”, he said. Zane continued, “the first couple of rows…they see it a little bit differently. This explains how the people sitting nearer would have a better view of the bodybuilders than the people sitting afar.

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Zane then explained how height matters by giving Danny Padilla’s example. Danny Padilla is a bodybuilding champion who has a height of five feet, two inches. However, he would be at a disadvantage placed next to Lou Ferrigno who has a height of five feet, two inches. The reason he gave for this was that people viewing the contest from the back of the auditorium would be able to see Ferrigno better, due to his height. “Little guy gets lost, they’re only good up close”, Zane spoke.

Zane also spoke about other forces at work. “There’s a nepotism, a lot of it”, he continued. He further expressed that the bodybuilder had to be so good that the stark contrast between him and other competitors was evident.

Zane also revealed how he would make himself scarce a month before the competition. “I wanted to shock people because that’s what you had to do.” The ace bodybuilder also remarked how other bodybuilders had greater size than him in the competition and he had to find a solution.

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During another interview, Zane admitted that he took more than 30 amino acid tablets while competing. He explains that he did this to include the required protein in his diet.

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Zane’s perspective on bodybuilders’ height hits the mark and raises the debate about the right way to judge competitors. Do you think height is an important factor when judging bodybuilders? Let us know in the comments below.

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