Rich Gaspari believes bodybuilding peaked with 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman… and The King seems to agree.
In this clip, Rich Gaspari unites with Ronnie Coleman, 8x Mr. Olympia champion, to discuss how the sport evolved from Gaspari to Ronnie Coleman… and how it hasn’t seemed to evolve since. You can watch the clip above!
Rich Gaspari is a bodybuilder who was a short generation before bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman. Gaspari competed against the likes of another 8x Mr. Olympia champion – Lee Haney. It was a time when mass monster size hadn’t quite taken a hold of the sport yet. Essentially, a time before Ronnie Coleman changed everything.
So it’s exciting to see these two legends interact and reflect on the sport of bodybuilding as a whole. What part did they play in sculpting the kind of competition bodybuilding has become in the modern era?
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Rich Gaspari started it, did Ronnie Coleman finish it?
It’s been noted that in many ways Rich Gaspari had many genetic qualities going against him as a bodybuilder. He was short and he was overall smaller. Yet through dedication and sheer force of will – he was able to transform into one of the most conditioned and impressive bodybuilders of a generation. So impressive that he won the first ever Arnold Classic competition – one that has grown to become one of the top competitions in the sport.
Ronnie Coleman, on the other hand, used his genetics to his advantage. He was able to lift an ungodly amount of weight and the sheer size he was able to stack onto his frame seemed inhuman. Ronnie Coleman took the “mass monster” concept and brought it to jaw-dropping levels. But what was most important is that he never compromised conditioning to get that size. What made him such a legend was his ability to be absolutely shredded while also being bigger than everyone else on stage.
It’s this very reason that Rich Gaspari believes that bodybuilding peaked with Ronnie Coleman. In fact, Gaspari thinks that bodybuilding has been downhill ever since. The mass monster size has gotten bigger – but no one is able to match the kind of conditioning Ronnie had. They can’t match the kind of conditioning Gaspari had either.
Rich Gaspari sees the likes of himself and Lee Haney at the start of the curve – when bodybuilding started perfecting to something more impressive than even the Golden Era before it. Dorian Yates then rose up with bigger size and impressive lean conditioning. Then Ronnie Coleman was the peak. Since the it’s been a slow curve downward.
In their interaction in this clip from the GASPARI documentary, it seems that Ronnie Coleman agrees. “You started it, I continued it.” He lightly says. “It’s not the same.”
GASPARI Synopsis
Rich Gaspari is an iconic bodybuilder and the first ever to win the Arnold Classic title. He also revolutionized the sports nutrition supplement industry by being one of the first bodybuilders to start his own supplement brand. Now in his 60s, he has been through peaks and valleys in both his bodybuilding career, business endeavors, and personal life. Gaspari is the first authorized biography chronicling the life story of Rich Gaspari from past to present – while also giving insight into the heart and soul of one of fitness’ biggest icons.
Rich Gaspari, a name synonymous with excellence in bodybuilding, has left an indelible mark on the fitness world. With a remarkable career spanning decades, Gaspari’s dedication, discipline, and passion have made him an icon for aspiring bodybuilders worldwide.
How To Watch
GASPARI will be available on all major digital platforms November 3rd, 2023 including Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, VUDU, and Vimeo on Demand. You can pre-order the film today right here or by clicking the banner below.
