Arnold, Zane, Franco, Lou. These are the names people tend to gravitate towards when talking about the so-called "Golden Era" of bodybuilding. Running from roughly 1960 to the early 1980s, this was a ... Continue Reading
11 Retired Bodybuilders Who Are Still Absolutely Jacked
When an NFL or NBA great retires, you probably won't see them strap on the pads or enter a dunk contest again. But bodybuilders are different — even after calling it quits, many of them can still be seen ... Continue Reading
Lou Ferrigno’s Hulking Comeback at the 1992 Mr. Olympia
The familiar sounds of Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” reverberated through Finland’s Helsinki Ice Hall in September 1992 as 290 pounds of dense, well-defined muscle walked onto the stage. The massive frame ... Continue Reading
How Strong Was Ronnie Coleman? Looking Back at the Incredible Strength of the 8-Time Mr. Olympia
Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman was one of the most powerful bodybuilders of the '90s and 2000s. His training videos spread widely on DVD and throughout the then-nascent fitness internet community, ... Continue Reading
12 of the Biggest Men’s Bodybuilders of All Time
Bodybuilding is a unique sport. Competitors' "skills" are displayed by the physique they bring onstage. Several factors help determine the winner of a bodybuilding contest — definition, symmetry, ... Continue Reading
Showmanship on the Sand: The Rise and Fall of the Original Muscle Beach
Venice. Los Angeles, California. You duck between family reunions and skateboarding teenagers. The bustling boardwalk is lined with street vendors, hot dogs, and performers doing everything from juggling ... Continue Reading
The Benefits of Staying Active During the Holidays
Even when armed with the best tips for the holidays, the “most wonderful time of the year” can still be stressful. Studies report that 89% of people report seasonal stress stemming from concerns such ... Continue Reading
Nutrition and Strength Training Guidance for Trans and Nonbinary Athletes: New Study
Whether you’re a long-time gym lover or just someone who’s trying to get a grasp on the best nutritional strategies for your body, you might have some trouble finding training advice or nutrition guidance ... Continue Reading
Best Tips For the Holidays, From the Experts
The holiday season can be an enjoyable time of year. Taking in the festivities, chowing down on delicious food, spending time with family members and loved ones — you know the routine. However, the ... Continue Reading
Why Do Strength Athletes Use Smelling Salts?
Have you ever caught a whiff of something gnarly in the weight room? No, not that. Something that smells like the air itself is burning. Take a look around and you might find a hardcore powerlifter capping ... Continue Reading
Every Winner of the Ms. Olympia Bodybuilding Competition
For the first several decades of bodybuilding's existence, competitions existed mainly for men, with contests laden in the male honorific — Mr. Universe, Mr. America, and, of course, Mr. Olympia. Fifteen ... Continue Reading
Every Winner of the Bikini Olympia
It’s hard to imagine Olympia weekend without the now-infamous Bikini Division, which rewards beauty, poise, and intense muscular conditioning in women. But before 2010, women's competitors had three ... Continue Reading
Every Winner of the Classic Physique Olympia
Everybody loves a vintage comeback. In bodybuilding, the Classic Physique division, which debuted in 2016, was established to promote bodies that harken back to the Golden Era of bodybuilding from the ... Continue Reading
Exclusive: Inside Team China’s Youth Weightlifting Industry
Back in June, Hillary Tran went a little bit viral. By posting an Instagram Reel — as of Oct. 2024, it’s up to 4.8 million hits — showing some of Team China’s youth athlete development camps in action, ... Continue Reading
Ronnie Coleman’s 3 Best (& Worst) Bodybuilding Tips Ever
They call him “the King” for a reason. Ronnie Coleman, eight-time Mr. Olympia winner and purveyor of household staples like “Yeah, buddy,” had one of the best physiques to ever grace a bodybuilding ... Continue Reading
5 Science-Based Hacks for Muscle Growth That Actually Work
Building muscle is a marathon, not a sprint. That said, there’s no reason you shouldn’t look for every possible avenue to speed things up on your journey. These five tips for muscle growth are ... Continue Reading
Best and Worst States for Building a Healthy Lifestyle
From childhood through adulting, we often hear phrases like “make healthy choices.” It’s useful advice when you have or can create the healthiest choices for you. And yet, the unfortunate reality is that ... Continue Reading
Jay Cutler’s Top 10 Bodybuilding Tips of All Time
When Jay Cutler speaks, we listen. The star of the Men’s Open division in the late ‘00s cemented his legacy in bodybuilding by dethroning all-time great Ronnie Coleman and, shortly after, becoming the only ... Continue Reading
The Best Training Technique to Gain Strength + Build Muscle After 40
If you're pushing (or have pushed past) 40, want to build muscle or increase strength, and aren't doing blood flow restriction, you're screwing up. Why is BFR particularly potent for middle-aged gym ... Continue Reading
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Favorite Calf Exercise Was Super Weird, but It Worked
There's a deleted scene in Pumping Iron (1977) that shows seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger bent over a piece of equipment, mounted by a sweaty, scantily clad bodybuilder, bouncing up and down. ... Continue Reading
1,000 Reps a Day: Frank Zane’s Legendary Ab Workout, Explained
At his peak, Frank Zane had perhaps the best abs in bodybuilding. His world-renowned midsection and mastery over the stomach vacuum technique helped Zane bag an Olympia three-peat in 1977, '78, and ... Continue Reading
Interview: Chris Bumstead’s Secret Weapon to Win the 2024 Olympia
Chris Bumstead has an ace up his sleeve. The five-time champ of the Classic Physique division is gearing up to defend his title at the 2024 Olympia on Oct. 10-13. After so many years at the top of his ... Continue Reading
Why Chris Bumstead Can’t Build More Muscle
Chris Bumstead has a problem. The reigning and five-time champion of the Classic Physique bodybuilding division at the Olympia was long considered nearly untouchable: Bumstead, 29, first claimed ... Continue Reading
How To Build Muscle After 40 + Tips From PhD Bodybuilder Dr. Eric Helms
“How do you build muscle after 40?” is the question I posed to Dr. Eric Helms. After listening to him discuss the implications of aging on his bodybuilding career in a Dec. 2023 episode of the Iron ... Continue Reading