[bb fanatic]

ever since 'FLEX' came with its first virtual posedown I have been addicted. I just viewed one of Bertil vs Sergio on getbig.com's forum. Any more out there?

[mele421]

Originally Posted by bb fanatic

ever since 'FLEX' came with its first virtual posedown I have been addicted. I just viewed one of Bertil vs Sergio on getbig.com's forum. Any more out there?

Do you have the website of the posedown?!?

[canablistic_Turnip]

Shawn Ray (2000), Frank Zane (1976)
This one was a personal request from our forum. Two great champions squaring off, line for line. Both beautifully proportioned. Both perfectly muscled. It's a close call for sure.

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Ronnie Coleman (2003), Sergio Oliva (1978)
We all know that Ronnie is the most heavily muscle man in history. But let's transport Sergio 25 years into the future. Imagine him having to answer the challenge of Big Ron. I'm willing to bet the result would be even more impressive than what we see here.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Paul Dillett (1997?), Lou Ferrigno (1974)
This, to me, is Louie at his best- massive yet refined, with a tight waist and defined quads. Dillett is widely acclaimed as one of, if not the, most genetically gifted bodybuilders ever. What if Lou had not taken the Hulk? His Olympia reign might have lasted so long that we would have seen this pairing in the posedown for top honors.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Jeff King (1983), Lee Haney (1987?)
As we know, Jeff's legs were ahead of his time. But it's hard to deny the majestic sweep of the Haney upper body. Had King entered the 1984 Mr. Olympia it would have made for an even more interesting affair!

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Lee Haney (1991), Ronnie Coleman (2003)
Incrediblee, Coleman outmasses Haney by nearly 40 pounds here at the same height. Apples and Oranges, as they say.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Francis Benfatto (1992), Samir Bannout (1985)
These guys could be twins! Both have impeccably proportioned physiques and they know how to show them off to good advantage. It's surprising that Benfatto didn't go further in the pro ranks seeing how he matches up so well with Bannout.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Anonymous (2003), Arnold Schwarzenegger (1975)
The development of women bodybuilders' backs has seen an even more dramatic increase than the mens'.
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[canablistic_Turnip]

Dorian Yates (1995), Ronnie Coleman (2001), Arnold Schwarzenegger (1974)
One area where bodybuilders have made significant improvement over the past 30 years is back. Dorian's back started a rennaissance of sorts, where backs became a make-or-break bodypart. Ronnie conitnued this tradition. Interestingly, considering that it was not considered one of his stronger bodyparts, Arnold's holds its own here.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Night of Champions (2003), Mr. Olympia (1980)
It's the ladies' turn...

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Night of Champions (2003), Mr. Olympia (1980)
A clear example of how the definition of the term "relaxed stance" has evolved over the past 23 years.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Arnold Schwarzenegger (1974), Casey Viator (1980), Dorian Yates (1993)
Three "mass monsters" of their respective eras. Arnold's around 240 here, Casey's near 225 and Dorian is 269 pounds.

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[mele421]

Nice pics!!!

[canablistic_Turnip]

Sergio Oliva (1972), Ronnie Coleman (2001)
Here's an interesting comparison between Sergio and Ronnie. What impresses me most about Sergio is that his arms may still be the largest ever, Ronnie's are pretty much the biggest of today's pros and Sergio's are right there with them. His forearms actually look larger! Two great champs.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Sergio Oliva (1972), Dexter Jackson (2002)
I recently obtained Wayne Gallasch's excellent Sergio Oliva/Frank Zane video and was so inspired by the Sergio footage that I made some screen captures and paired him up with some of today's champs. Here he is with Dexter Jackson who I realized is very much in the Oliva mold.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Lee Haney (1991) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (1973)
It was Lee who broke Arnold's record of seven Mr. Olympia wins with the form seen here. The debate continues to this day as to who was better. What do you think?

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[canablistic_Turnip]

The Olympians- Pt. II
This time all ten Mr. Olympia winners are lined up according to height. In this virtual competition the head judge asked for all contestants to hit their own variation of a most muscular shot. Each pose wound up being as distinctive as the posers themselves.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Gary Strydom (1992), Nasser el Sombaty (2001), Lou Ferrigno (1972)
Gary could be considered an "Iron Ager" as he competed mostly in the 1980's and, while developing superhuman size, maintained the aesthetic ideals of his forbears. Nasser is clearly a post-ironager. At 275 lbs. he is pure muscle mass without much concern for shape (but he is, from what I hear, a very nice guy). The Louie shot is a bit unfair as he's about 20 in it. However, even at this age, note how his chest and arm development is about on par with his rivals. While thigh development has clearly improved over the years, chest and arms really have not.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Flex Wheeler (1993), Serge Nubret(1979?)
These may be the two most aesthetically perfect men to put on a pair of posing trunks. After 1993 Flex decided to compete with the mass monsters at their game and went from this 220 lb. form to 250. Most observers, even today, feel that in his case bigger isn't better. Possessing a similar physique, 210 lb. Serge also proved this point in nosing out 270 lb. Lou Ferrigno at the 1975 Mr. Olympia

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Dennis Tinnerino (1981), Gunter Schlierkamp (2001)
Two underappreciated big men. Dennis, at 6'0" tipped the scales at a massive 230 lbs. Despite his amazing size and development he only won three IFBB shows. At 6'1" and almost 300 lbs. Gunter is the biggest guy around today and has been so for many years yet has never won an IFBB show.

* Correction: As of 11/9/02 Gunter Schlierkamp is the 2002 GNC Show of Strength winner! Congratulations Gunter!

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Lee Haney (1991), Dorian Yates(1993)
The standard for size changed drastically between the reigns of Lee Haney, which ended in 1991, and Dorian Yates, which began in 1992. At the same height, Dorian carried as much as 25 more pounds of mass on his frame. Although by contest time the difference was a little less than ten, it showed in a very dramatic way.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Frank Zane (1984), Markus Ruhl (2001)
The ultimate in aesthetics versus the ultimate in mass. At 5'9" Frank Zane weighed in the neighborhood of 190-195 lbs. in top shape. At 5'11" Markus Ruhl weighs 275-280 lbs., a difference of some 85 lbs. or more than 40 additional pounds. This means that Ruhl hass more than one-third additional bodymass per inch of height (138%) than Zane! Who would you rather look like?

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[canablistic_Turnip]

The Olympians: Larry Scott, Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu. Frank Zane, Chris ****erson, Samir Bannout, Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman
Here it is. The ultimate lineup. If the ten men who've won the Mr. Olympia title stood side-by-side onstage (disregarding time), this is what it might look like. While Dorian's and Ronnie's overall mass is astounding, Lee represents the end of the "Iron Era" thanks to his heroic proportions.

[canablistic_Turnip]

Lee Priest (2000?), Larry Scott (1965)
Here are two of the greatest arms in the history of bodybuilding. Both stretch the tape to over 20" yet they are on men of relatively short stature with Lee being 5'5" and Larry standing at 5'7". The first Mr. Olympia's arms hold their own against those of the man who is widely recognized as having the best arms of the 21st century.

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Chris ****erson (1982), Ronnie Coleman(2001)
Despite being 4" taller, Ronnie Coleman outweighs Chris ****erson by some 80 pounds, and it shows. Especially in the arms and legs. In fact, it's amazing to consider that 20 years ago Chris was considered to have one of the best pairs of legs around yet each of Ronnie's looks like it can fit both of Chris'! Yet notice the classic lines and proportions ****erson displays at a mere 185 lbs.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Lee Priest(1999?),
Danny Padilla (1992)
A couple of the shorter guys get their turn to square off. One of today's top pros, 5'5" Lee Priest goes up against 5'2" Danny Padilla. Although Padilla's photo was taken in '92 he is a true Iron Ager, having been a top competitor in the 70's. He did get into his all-time best shape at the age of 41 as depicted in this gym shot. Both of these men have had no problem going up against competition half a foot taller and more!

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Dorian Yates(1995?), Arnold Schwarzenegger (1975), Ronnie Coleman (1999), Franco Columbu (1975), Sergio Oliva (1981?)
Franco jumps into the scene to show off his best bodypart. Again, Dorian and Ronnie show amazing mass and thickness. But, interestingly, Arnold and Franco exhibit fine details that aren't so easily identified in the newer champs. Arnold's calves fair well in comparison too. Admittedly, this isn't a great shot of Sergio's back- he's a bit soft- but the upper back and shoulder mass is nearly equal to Ronnie's.

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[canablistic_Turnip]

Sergio Oliva (1978), Dorian Yates (1993), Arnold Schwarzenegger (1973), Ronnie Coleman (2001)
This one's just for a size comparison. The Sergio shot is the only one taken from a competition- the 1978 WBBG Mr. Olympus. The Dorian and Arnold images were shot in gyms. Ronnie's is from a guest posing exhibition. The differences in the men's physique is amazing. At first glance one is overwhelmed ny the sheer mass of Dorian and Ronnie. But on closer inspection there are merits to Sergio incredible "V" taper and to Arnold's vacuum and thigh separation.

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[Blond Bomber]

Arnold's arms look as big as ronnies in some pic's wich cannot be correct, cus arnolds were 52cm at his best and ronnies is 60cm.