Berry De Mey is the latest to make comments on how to improve health around bodybuilding.
Berry De Mey is a Hall-of-Fame bodybuilder who built one of the best physiques in the world during the 1980’s. The Dutch bodybuilder remains in incredible shape to this day thanks to his overwhelming dedication. De Mey clearly cares about the sport of bodybuilding and he is the latest to make comments about the health of today’s competitors.
De Mey took to Instagram and made a statement on his story calling today’s athletes to focus on their own health.
“People, bodybuilders, please, be carefully. For yourself and for everyone who loves you dearly.Stay in shape, work on your health for the most important game you will ever play…your life.”
It has been a tragic year in the sport of bodybuilding. The death of Shawn Rhoden has hit bodybuilding hard. The former Mr. Olympia passed away of a heart attack and many athletes have posted to social media or spoken out in memory. This message from De Mey comes after the tragic news and he is not the first to speak out.
Arnold Schwarzenegger made comments back in October about how to potentially make changes. This came after the death of George Peterson just days before the Olympia competition. Peterson was in Orlando preparing to compete.
“YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE HEAD TRAUMA FROM MMA AND FOOTBALL WOULD OUTWEIGH THE ORGAN FAILURE IN BODYBUILDING, BUT BODYBUILDING IS MUCH, MUCH WORSE. WE NEED TO FIX THAT, BECAUSE BODYBUILDING SHOULD BE ABOUT PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS. I DON’T KNOW IF THE ANSWER IS MORE TESTING OR PROMOTING THE SMALLER DIVISIONS MORE. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?”
Berry De Mey has been in bodybuilding for over 40 years. He began training when he was 15 years old. He quickly entered competitions at the age of 17. De Mey saw great success in junior competitions and quickly moved up to the senior level. This was highlighted in 1982 when he won the IFBB Mr. Europe competition. De Mey won the senior competition as a junior and became the second ever to do so — along with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
De Mey appeared on stage in three Olympia competitions. In 1988, he finished third and this was his highest finish at the biggest competition of the year. Unfortunately, De Mey tore his pec at age 27 and this hindered his progress significantly. De Mey was able to return to competition one final time in 1994 during the Arnold Classic.
Berry De Mey put together an incredible career and one that will always be remembered. He is still an influential name in bodybuilding so when he speaks, people listen.
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