Dorian Yates thinks that bodybuilding principles have dwindled over the years, and he recently clarified his views with a reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

An Instagram clip of the six-time Mr. Olympia from last December is going viral, where he is seen criticizing the modern-day Mr. Olympia winners. Comparing them with legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lee Haney, Yates believes that the standards of modern bodybuilding have been watered down.

He said, “If you talk about the guys that are Mr. Olympia now and you show that to members of the public and tell them that’s the ultimate male physique, well, hold on, he’s only like five-foot-four or something, isn’t he? He’s like a fridge. How is that possible?” 

The 6x Mr. Olympia added, “This is the best male physique in the world, six-foot-four, with wide shoulders and a small waist. You look at Arnold or Lee Haney. Wow, I get it. That’s the ultimate male physique.” 

In the 90s, Dorian Yates pioneered the era of mass monsters, changing Lee Haney‘s reign, which was based on aesthetics and muscle proportion. He believes that the modern Men's Open winners lack that muscle quality and stature. Hence, they can't be compared with golden era legends like Schwarzenegger and Haney.

But the modern bodybuilders are the only ones he has a problem with. Yates isn't too happy about the “reps in reserve” (RIR) approach either; he calls it a “w****** workout.” He isn't dismissing it outright; for him, the training philosophy doesn't sit well with his HIIT background.

According to him, stopping a set without reaching failure doesn't stimulate the muscles enough, and the only reason lifters use it is for comfort.

Derek Lunsford's answer to Dorian Yates

After Dorian Yates expressed his views on modern bodybuilders, one of them hit back with an answer: The 2025 Mr.Olympia, Derek Lunsford.

Lunsford stated, “@thedorianyates is GREAT. But this is a NEW era that has taken bodybuilding to a NEW LEVEL. We can respect the greats from the past, but this RIGHT NOW is the GREATEST moment in BODYBUILDING HISTORY.”

While every sport evolves over time, the sporting world has witnessed multiple examples that the evolution isn't always for the better.

So, after learning all this, whose side would you like to take, Yates' or Lunsford's? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Souvik Roy