Long gone are the days of one man ruling the Mr. Olympia kingdom.
While the recently retired Chris Bumstead ran the Classic Physique division for the last six years, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay (2020-21) is the only Men’s Open champion to repeat since Phil Heath ripped off six straight Olympia victories from 2011-17.
- On one hand, that reflects the fiercely competitive battle to keep hold of the throne in the top men’s division.
- On the other hand, it leaves fans without a dynastic force to follow like Dorian Yates, who owned the first half of the ‘90s by capturing six consecutive Olympia titles between 1992-’97.
Despite winning his last Sandow trophy when 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda was just 11 years old, Yates remains a monolith in bodybuilding culture. Fittingly, Jay Cutler, one of the few modern-day competitors with multiple crowns on his resume, had a discussion about “The Shadow” with renowned physique coach Hany Rambod during an edition of the Cutlercast podcast on Oct. 21, 2024.
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Jay Cutler and Hany Rambod Dive Into Dorian Yates’ Impact
With a quarter-century’s worth of Olympia wins under his coaching belt, Rambod is a respected voice who can respect the rare level of dedication it took for legends like Yates and Ronnie Coleman to establish dynasties in a division that’s become somewhat of a free-for-all.
During his discussion with Cutler, he recalled a particularly poignant moment that still stands out today. A week after Yates competed in the Olympia, Rambod got a chance to see him guest pose in San Francisco.
“It was the freakiest…I still have little Polaroid pictures. He looked like an absolute freak.”
Even though Yates earned widespread respect and six titles by ushering in the “mass monster” era, some put him lower on the Mount Rushmore of bodybuilders. However, both Cutler and his guest set the record straight about one of the sport’s all-time greats.
- Cutler: “People looked at him in the books and they don’t understand what it’s like in person.”
- Rambod: “Dorian had a certain kind of thickness and graininess. I remember seeing Dorian and I’m just like, ‘It’s crazy…this is nuts.'”
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Changing the Bodybuilding Game
Cutler and Rambod briefly touched upon Yates’ most memorable quality: density.
Boasting a massive, well-conditioned frame built through heavy, intense training, the Englishman changed the sport of bodybuilding by bringing a 260-pound physique that looked uniquely lean and muscular.
Yates’ arrival represented the end of an era of unprecedented success. Yet even though “The Shadow” quickly stole his spotlight, eight-time Mr. Olympia winner Lee Haney still had to give credit where credit was due.
- “When physiques started to change, that change started with Dorian,” Haney explained in a clip from Muscle Mind Media.
After finishing as the runner-up to Haney in the ’91 Olympia, Yates returned with a vengeance the following year. It didn’t take long for the reigning champion (or the judges) to see noticeable differences that paved the way for the “mass monster” era.
“He had gained maybe 15 to 20 pounds more, which gave him a totally different look — a more massive, grainy look — not one that the world of bodybuilding was used to seeing.”
Of course, Yates’ offseason changes led to his first of six straight “O” victories, inspiring future competitors to follow in his footsteps.
Shining the Spotlight On “The Shadow”
Renaissance Periodization founder Dr. Mike Israetel has never been shy about critiquing poorly conceived workouts or diet plans. At the same time, he’ll give praise when it’s warranted — especially when you construct a 265-pound physique that revolutionizes an entire sport.
“Dorian brought, at that size, a level of conditioning that you would see every blue moon from a bodybuilder who weighed 190 or 210 pounds.”
As Rambod and Cutler alluded to, Yates redefined “lean” with a level of graininess that only Israetel could describe so aptly.
- “It looked like he had sandpaper under his skin, and it also looked like he didn’t have skin,” remarked Israetel.
Outside of the bodybuilding world, that might seem like a strange comment. But amongst peers and those who understand elite physiques, it’s the ultimate compliment.
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Featured image: Dorian Yates Nutrition / YouTube
