“Nobody Wanted to Mess”: 80-Year-Old Bodybuilding Beast Once Shared How Saving His Younger Brother From Fights Paved Way for Mr. Olympia

Frank Zane, the bodybuilding legend, is renowned for possessing one of the most aesthetic and symmetrical physiques. He is rightly considered one of the greatest bodybuilders in the history of the sport. Moreover, the three-time Mr. Olympia is one of the three men to have beaten the seven-time Mr. Olympia and legendary bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Given his spectacular career and passion for the sport, he was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 1999. To this day, his physique, with a magnificent combination of size, proportion, and definition, is admired by many professionals in the sport. The 80-year-old Zane still trains, giving one more reason for others to admire the legend. In an interview earlier this year, he opened up on why he started bodybuilding.

Frank Zane turned into a savior

Zane is a unique combination of talent and wisdom. He writes books and coaches bodybuilders. When asked about how he chose to become a bodybuilder, he narrated his experience as a doting brother. When he was around fourteen, his younger brother was always getting into fights and trouble, “so I ended up defending him.”

Also, he discovered if he had a muscular physique, many hesitated to pick fights with them. He continued about how he saw the results soon after. “In two weeks, I had lats. Nobody wanted to mess with me after that.

READ MORE: Bodybuilding Veteran Frank Zane, Who is Going Strong at 80, Once Revealed How His Workout Regime Changed With Age: “It’s Essential as You Get Older”

In his prime, Zane trained hard. He was greatly inspired by bodybuilding veterans, Steve Reeves and Larry Scott. Considering his vast experience, Zane possesses invaluable insights on bodybuilding, training techniques, nutrition aspects, and life as a whole.

Zane still loves training and uses cables for resistance

The three-time Mr. Olympia boasts an enviable physique even in his 80s. On asking whether he still enjoys training, he replied, “Yeah. I’ll do it the rest of my life.” He said that he likes using the machines in his gym, “because they can isolate areas.”

Moreover, he added, “if I don’t do (train) it, I don’t feel right.” He continued, injuries tend to occur more if he is not in shape. Furthermore, he said he doesn’t train heavily but aims for repetitions. “Getting a great pump, that’s the main thing,” he stated.

Watch this story: A quick look at the genesis of the bodybuilder who received the title ‘Uncrowned Mr. Olympia’

Later in the interview, he opened up about the usage of a combination of rubber cables. “I wrap them round my weight stacks in the gym.” He shared that he gets good resistance and didn’t have to use heavy weights when he has the cables attached.

Having learned his past, nobody would still dare to mess with Zane despite being in his 80s. What are your thoughts on Zane’s past? Share in the comments.