Gregg Valentino holds nothing back on his thoughts with recent gender controversies in women’s sports
Gregg Valentino is back on the Generation Iron Network! In the first episode of the video series GI Conversation With Gregg Valentino, host Vlad Yudin sits down with controversial former bodybuilder Gregg Valentino for a candid and often surprising conversation. Gregg Valentino, once dubbed “The Man Whose Arms Exploded,” is no stranger to controversy, and in this episode, he opens up about his personal struggles, the state of modern bodybuilding, and the ever-evolving landscape of media and sports.
Who is Gregg Valentino?
Gregg Valentino is one of the most recognizable figures in the bodybuilding world, not just for his physique but also for his outspoken personality. Born on August 2, 1959, Valentino became famous—or infamous—due to his unusually large arms, which measured an astonishing 28 inches at their peak.
Gregg Valentino claims to have achieved this size without the use of synthol oil, despite widespread speculation to the contrary. His arms became the subject of the documentary “The Man Whose Arms Exploded,” which delved into the risks and consequences of extreme bodybuilding. Despite his controversial past, Valentino has remained a prominent figure in the fitness industry, contributing as a writer and commentator, known for his blunt and often polarizing opinions.
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Gregg Valentino’s 2020 Health Scare
One of the most poignant moments in the episode comes when Vlad Yudin asks Gregg Valentino about a significant health scare he faced in 2020. Valentino reveals that he was diagnosed with throat cancer, initially discovered as a small lump in his throat. Although the initial diagnosis suggested the lump was benign and could be easily removed, further tests revealed that it was indeed cancerous and spreading.
Gregg Valentino describes the harrowing experience of undergoing surgery during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The chaotic state of the hospitals added to the stress, and Valentino recounts a particularly terrifying moment when he almost died after his throat closed up due to blood clotting just a week after his surgery. Fortunately, despite these challenges, Valentino’s surgery was successful, and he has since recovered.
The Evolution of Bodybuilding: A Lost Era?
When asked if bodybuilding still excites him, Gregg Valentino’s response reflects his disillusionment with the direction the sport has taken. According to him, bodybuilding has “taken a weird turn” and no longer resembles the era he grew up with. Valentino expresses a deep appreciation for the physiques of the Golden Era, a time when bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva dominated the scene with aesthetic, well-proportioned builds.
Gregg Valentino contrasts this with the modern era, where he believes the focus has shifted to an exaggerated, blocky, and less aesthetically pleasing “monster” physique. He laments the loss of beauty in the sport, noting that many of the top Olympian bodybuilders of the past were relatively smaller and would likely compete in the Classic Physique or Men’s 212 divisions if they were competing today. As a self-described “bodybuilder purist,” Valentino’s critique highlights his nostalgia for a time when bodybuilding was as much about art as it was about muscle mass.
The Burden of a Controversial Reputation
Gregg Valentino’s reputation as “the man with the world’s biggest arms” and later as “the man whose arms exploded” has followed him for decades, and Yudin delves into whether Valentino is tired of this notoriety. Valentino admits that he is indeed weary of it, especially since much of the story was exaggerated from the start. While he is indifferent to whether people believe his claims about not using synthol oil, he expresses a desire to move beyond his past and be recognized for who he is today—a seasoned commentator and critic in the bodybuilding world.
In fact, towards the end of his tenure at bodybuilding magazine Muscular Development, Gregg Valentino requested that his column no longer feature old photos of him with his massive arms and freakish proportions. He doesn’t want to be permanently defined by those images and wishes to be seen for his current contributions to the sport.
The Demise of Muscular Development
The conversation shifts to the abrupt closure of Muscular Development magazine, a staple in the bodybuilding community for years. Gregg Valentino attributes the magazine’s downfall to its inability to adapt to the digital age and the rapid spread of information on social media. He explains that the magazine’s traditional journalistic approach, with long-form and deeply detailed articles, could not keep pace with the demand for quick, catchy, and often controversial content that social media thrives on.
Despite acknowledging the challenges, Gregg Valentino expresses his admiration for Steve Blechman, the magazine’s owner, describing him as a fellow bodybuilding purist. However, he believes that Blechman’s deep passion for the sport may have prevented him from making the necessary changes to keep the magazine competitive in the modern media landscape.
The 2024 Paris Olympics: A Controversial View
Towards the end of the episode, Vlad Yudin asks Gregg Valentino about the 2024 Paris Olympics, which Valentino admits he didn’t watch as much as he would have liked. He criticizes what he sees as the “woke” presentation of the Olympics, particularly regarding the inclusion of queer artists in the opening ceremony and the participation of male athletes in female competitions.
Gregg Valentino specifically mentions the controversy surrounding boxer Imane Khelif, who was accused of being a transgender male competing in female events. Although these claims were disproven, with Khelif being identified as intersex rather than transgender, Valentino remains skeptical, expressing concerns about fairness in sports. While he clarifies that he has no problem with trans individuals and has even been open about his own experiences with the LGBTQ+ community, he believes that trans athletes should not be allowed to compete in events that don’t match their birth gender.
Wrap Up
Episode one of GI Conversation With Gregg Valentino offers a raw and unfiltered look into the mind of one of bodybuilding’s most controversial figures. Through his candid discussions with Vlad Yudin, Gregg Valentino sheds light on his personal battles, his disillusionment with modern bodybuilding, and his thoughts on the changing world of sports and media.
As the series progresses, viewers can expect more of Valentino’s blunt and often provocative takes on a variety of topics, making this a must-watch for fans of bodybuilding and those interested in the sport’s cultural impact.
Check out the full episode above. And don’t forget to check back every week for new episodes of this limited series on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
