Many bodybuilding fans believe Frank Zane to be the most aesthetic bodybuilder of all time. However, Zane was a unique Mr. Olympia. Zane, unlike those before or after him, didn’t focus on size. In bodybuilding, Dorian Yates kicked off the ‘mass monsters’ era in the nineties, and Ronnie Coleman took it to another level.

While Zane barely touched 200 lbs on stage, Coleman’s offseason weight was around 330 lbs. In a 2021 interview with Men’s Health, Zane explained how he felt about the post-Dorian Yates era, where bodybuilders pushed the limits of the sport.

Frank Zane on Ronnie Coleman and the spectacle of bodybuilding

In 2021, shortly after his 79th birthday, Men’s Health had a chat with Frank Zane. The three-time Mr. Olympia talked extensively about his life, career, and training. During the interview, the interviewer asked Zane, “What are your thoughts on post-Dorian Yates bodybuilding, which has been dominated by “mass monsters”?”. The ‘mass monsters’ he named are eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman and current champion Big Ramy.

“In my opinion, that’s the way bodybuilding has always been, outside of the period from 1976 to 1983. I expect these big guys to win because it’s about spectacle.”, said Zane. Frank also said, “That’s just the way it is. If it’s not your thing, watch one of the other competitions that didn’t exist back when I was competing.”

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Zane also explained the spectacle that Ronnie Coleman brought to the sport. Frank recalled watching Ronnie once and remembered how striated Coleman’s back was. “(I) appreciated the spectacle”, said the three-time Mr. Olympia winner. However, Frank also said his body type was different. Frank focused more on posing and symmetry.

After Arnold Schwarzenegger retired in 1975, no one other than the 200 lbs Frank Zane could build a winning streak. A streak that Arnold broke when he returned in 1980. Lee Haney’s dominance began in 1984 and even he weighed upwards of 250 lbs.

Zane is still going strong at eighty

Zane is among the few bodybuilders who have remained active and healthy long after retiring from competitive bodybuilding. Now 80 years old, Zane still works out in the gym and trains clients. The bodybuilding legend also writes books and produces training videos to help people online. Bodybuilders like Coleman, however, have had to undergo many surgeries in the past decade.

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Ronnie Coleman and Frank Zane belong to two different eras. They also represent two different philosophies of approaching bodybuilding. While Zane focused on the intricacies, Coleman and now Big Ramy push the limits of what’s possible.