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This is post 3/3 of my multi-series blog where I dive deep into the abdominal stomach vacuum, its orgins, and the future of it within bodybuilding. Check out the previous article here
The stomach vacuum is marvelous in so many aspects and was the standard in bodybuilding untill the first mass monster won Mr. Olympia in 1992. No he’s doesn’t resemble the early age mass monster Eugene Sandow.
Lacking any sort of stomach vacuum he looks ripped with a wide back perfecting his stage performance. But Imagine if he could perform a vacuum, that would be an impressive feat.
Dorian Yates won Mr Olympian from 1992-1997.
He was huge, massive and larger than any other Olympian before his time. This is mainly due to the new substances this era of bodybuilding started to take.
IFBB Judging criteria changed because of the rise of new drugs that brought different, MUCH LARGER and new looks into the Olympia.
Dorian yates won 1992 Mr Olympian weighing 241 lbs. The very next year he gained 16lbs. Arnolds peak weight in his prime was 240lbs and he was 4 inches taller than Dorian.
Things Get Even Crazier
Ronnie Coleman who won Mr Olympian from 1998-2005 weighed 297 lbs at 5’11.
These guys are HUGE due to the introduction of HGH in the 80s, and Insulin in the 90s. Especially HGH, Human growth hormone, is directly related to the growth of internal organs. The guts of these body builders hang out and bulge giving them bubble bellies. Their guts are so large it’s nearly impossible to do a stomach vacuum.
They are 1. Physically incapable of performing a stomach vacuum and 2. Do not try since it’s significantly more difficult.
The open division has been met with a lot of criticism since the use of the much more dangerous drugs. The death rate has increased significantlly with bodybuilders dying at much higher rates.
Deaths
There are tons of body builders who have died in just 2021 alone:
Shawn Roden 2018 Mr. Olympia passed away in 2021 from a “suspected heart attack” which is a symptom of a large heart at age 46.
Vic Richard’s at age 56 from heart failiure
Geroge Peterson age 37
John Meadows age 49 from a heart attack
Megan Elizabeth age 25
phil her on age 55
orlando Gallaci age 38
Rich Piana died in 2017 due to heart disease.
And as more Recent Jo Lindlar, better known as Joesthetics at age 30 in 2023.
the list goes on in just 2021 alone. Athletes have been dying routinely due to different variations of heart failure, which is just code name for an enlarged heart.
These deaths are not isolated examples and has been an issue for decades. So, it begs the question: How will Olympia change the rules of bodybuilding for modern day competitions?
New Division Introduced
2016 brought fresh air to the Olympia and a new division was introduced. The push from Arnold and viewers for a more balanced classic physique have been eminent and the voices have been heard. This new division has body weight requirements lower than Open Division. This means the competitors do not need to take high dosages of drugs to compete at the highest level, however, almost the highest since Open division is still the division crowing Mr. Olympia.
Incomes The Olympias Classic Physique Division.
The golden Era of well balanced physiques and vacuums has been blown away with the wind until now. The goal of this new division is to pay hammage to the golden era without becoming a mass monster. Meaning these lifters could live a longer and healthier life outside of bodybuilding
(1:24 on life after body building)
The very first Classic physique Olympian is Danny Hester weighing between 175-185 lbs at 5’6” and had a decent vacuum but it wasn’t up to par with the next years classic Mr. Olympia.
During this time Olympia was still trying to figure out the standards for this fresh division. Just how they did when the Olympia was first introduced and when the standards for open division changed through time.
The very next year Breon Ansley walked onto stage
Wielding a beautiful vacuum and well balanced figure. He won classic physique in 2017-2018 then was dethroned in 2019 by the current raining champion with a near perfect vacuum
Chris Bumstead at 6’1” weighing 230 lbs has perfect proportions. The vacuum giving him a small waist paired with the large upper body.
CBums height and weight is reminescent of the golden era king himself, Arnold Swazernegger.
The difference? Well the classic physique winner of 2019 just won $30,000 which is just a fraction of Mr Olympian.
That division winner makes 400k. A ton more than the classic division Olympian, even though the classic physique is arguably more obtainable, healthier, and more appealing.
I digress
As of 2023, the standards in the open division is changing to a much more favorable look. Let me introduce the 2023 Mr Olympia, Dereck Lunsford. He weighs 225lbs at 5’6”, which is the same weight as Arnold but literally 8 inches shorter. The first Mr. Olympia Mass Monster in modern bodybuilding to win while displaying a massive Vacuum.
This marks a huge shift for the sport. Seemingly leaning away from the unhealthy looks of mass monster of the 2000’s. But, the open division is still mass monsters nonetheless. These lifters have to take the more extreme drugs to achieve those goals. I have to wonder… At what costs is it worth it?
