Amazing Zane

[GearHead-evo]

Iron brothers...everyone knows Frank Zane, but what do you guys think of his physique? should he have won the Mr. Olympia with his size or not?

...we are talking about it on evo right now guys. Different views these days.

[cook]

I was following bodybuilding at the time he was winning his 3 Olympias.I always thought Robby should have beat him.I'm glad for Frank that he won I just thought Robby was better.

[Curt James]

Iron brothers...everyone knows Frank Zane, but what do you guys think of his physique? should he have won the Mr. Olympia with his size or not?

From the article:

Interestingly, Zane is one of only three people who have beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger in a bodybuilding contest, and he did so at the Mr. Universe contest in 1968. He’s also the only man among the Mr. Olympia winners to list under 200 pounds. For instance, Franco Columbu was 4 inches shorter than Frank, but weighed more. Moreover, Frank Zane went on to win the Olympia three times, losing it when Schwarzenegger made a comeback in 1980. Nevertheless, many feel Arnold didn’t really deserve the win, as he was not in the shape he’d been when in top form.

Zane beat a baby Arnold with no tan. Arnold took that loss, saw how Zane was better, and ran with it. He entered his next contest with better conditioning and color and greater stage presence. Arnold owes a debt to Zane for that.

But even a diminished Schwarzenegger deserved to win in 1980. Tallest, broadest, and having the greatest legend status if not the hardest conditioning.

I was following bodybuilding at the time he was winning his 3 Olympias.I always thought Robby should have beat him.I'm glad for Frank that he won I just thought Robby was better.

Zane was amazing, but I would rewrite the history books with Zane winning one, Robby winning one, and Mentzer taking a Sandow, too.

Arnold would have to give up an Olympia title to Sergio.
Coleman would have to share his Sandows with Labrada.
And Yates would have to give at least one away, too.
Plus does Gaspari deserve one of Haney's Olympia wins?

[Curt James]

Oh. As long as I'm redistributing Sandows...



Definitely.

Aaaaannnnd...



Maybe.

[muskate]

Frank Zane is one of my all-time favourite physiques. Reminds me a lot of the current physique Olympia Sadik.

Perfect balance of mass and aesthetics. Also a phenomenal poser. I hate to say it but bodybuilding as a sport would be much more popular if the current Mr Olympia Phil Heath looked a lot more like Frank Zane.

[Curt James]

You're wrong. Unless you define popular in some way other than number of participants and fans.

Bodybuilding -- for me -- encompasses all the physique sports... Men's and Women's Bodybuilding, Men's Physique, Women's Physique, Figure, Fitness, Wellness, Bikini, 212, and whatever else the federation throws at us.

If Men's Bodybuilding hadn't progressed past Zane's physical development there'd be no Men's Physique. There may well be no Sadik Hadzovic. At least not one on a stage.

[MikeSnow]

I like his physique

[jrbdallas1]

Zane was a good physique for sure. Not really my cup of tea or preference but he had amazing aesthetics.