The best of the best.
Bodybuilding and the Olympia have a very long and rich history. One that still grows and thrives to this day – current champions will one day go down as unforgettable legends. And through those legends, new young and passionate athletes will aspire to achieve and surpass the greats. It’s inspirational. It’s motivational. It’s the very heart of bodybuilding and the GI Movement. That’s why we decided to compile a list of the top 5 best physiques in the sport. Hopefully one of you readers out there will see this, become inspired, and become the next pro champion. Only time will tell.
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#5. Steve Reeves
Born January 21, 1926
Photo courtesy of Active Outlaw.
Competitive Stats:
Weight: 215 lbs
Height: 6’1″
Arms: 18.5″
Chest: 54″
Waist: 30″
Steve Reeves stands out on this list for having not even single Mr. Olympia win. Reeves proves that winning isn’t everything though with what many consider to be the perfectly proportioned physiques of all time. He also went on to become a international celebrity actor for his roles in a staggering number of sword & sandal films in the mid to late 50s. Much like Arnold would later improve upon later in the century. Reeves is best described with one word: classic. Putting him on the tale end of our list.
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#4. Dorian Yates
Born April 19, 1962
Photo courtesy of Muscle and Fitness.
Competitive Stats:
Weight: 260 lbs
Height: 5’10”
Arms: 21″
Chest: 57″
Waist: 34″
6x Olympia Winner
Yates became the first non-US resident to take the Mr. Olympia prize and went on to take that title five more times. Dorian’s physique blew the lid off of bodybuilding world with a shocking unseen level of muscular development for the time. Sadly, Yates career slowly faded in large part due to injury. Yet despite this he still managed to go down in history as one of the best bodybuilders in the sport.
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#3. Ronnie Coleman
Born May 13, 1964
Photo courtesy of Healthy Lifestyle.
Competitive Stats:
Weight: 300 lbs
Height: 5’11”
Arms: 22-24″
Chest: 58″
Waist: 36″
8x Olympia winner
This one is simple really: Ronnie Coleman is a beast. Holding eight straight wins at Mr. Olympia (which has only been matched by the above mentioned Lee Haney) – Coleman also holds the record for most wins as an IFBB pro. He is also one of the biggest bodybuilding champions in history. Weight at 300 lbs, Coleman was a literal titan – perfectly sculpting his physique to match his massive size.
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#2. Lee Haney
Born November 11, 1959
Photo courtesy of Muscle Base.
Competitive Stats:
Weight: 245 lbs
Height: 5’11”
Measurements: N/A
8x Olympia Winner
Lee Haney was the first person to break the record for most Mr. Olympia wins – a title that has yet to be broken (Only matched by Ronnie Coleman). Lee Haney combined and mastered both size and shape in a way that has made him one of the most memorable champions in the history of the sport. He truly dominated bodybuilding in his time with a formidable physique that has hardly been matched to this day.
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#1. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Born July 30, 1947
Photo courtey of The Man Cave.
Competitive stats:
Weight: 235 lbs
Height: 6’2″
Arms: 22″
Chest: 57″
Waist: 34″
7x Olympia winner
The truth is that if you make any sort of bodybuilding list, odds are Arnold will end up on top. We’d love to throw you a curve ball; surprise you with a shock twist. But that wouldn’t really be fair to one of, if not the greatest bodybuilders in history. He became the face of bodybuilding with Pumping Iron, rose to iconic status in Hollywood, and even became the governor of California. But beyond all that, Arnold maintained one of the most perfectly sculpted bodies in bodybuilding history. That’s why he gets on the top of every list. He deserves it ten times over.
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What do you think of our top 5 physiques? Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments section and be sure to give us a shout out on Facebook and Twitter.
