11 Best Bodybuilders of All Time: Legendary Physiques

Bodybuilding has been a popular sport for decades, with athletes pushing their bodies to the limits to achieve the perfect physique.

Bodybuilders do not just lift an impressive amount of weight but undergo years of dedicated intense training to train each muscle group of their bodies. They adhere to strict training regimes and dietary restrictions to achieve peak perfection on and off stage.

Over the years, a number of bodybuilders have emerged as legends, inspiring generations with their hard work, dedication, and unparalleled achievements. In this article, we’ll look at the ten best bodybuilders of all time.

11 Best Bodybuilders of All Time

Here is a list of the 11 greatest bodybuilders who are widely revered by the enthusiasts of this sport. But truth be told, this list was hard to compile as only wins cannot always define the impact of any sportsman.

11. Reg Park

• Britain in 1949
• 1950 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe runnerup
• Three-time Mr. Universe champion (1951, 1958, 1965)
• The second man ever to bench press 500 pounds

Roy “Reg” Park (1928-2007) was an English bodybuilder, businessman, and actor. He won his first title, Mr. Britain, in 1949, and went on to win Mr. Universe three times in the 1950s, and again in 1965. Park also starred in five films, all of which featured him playing the role of Hercules.

Reg Park was known for his impressive size and strength, and he inspired a generation of bodybuilders in the 1950s and 60s. Later in life, he gained renewed interest as the first inspiration and mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger went on to become a successful bodybuilder and actor, and he credits Park as one of his earliest and most influential mentors.

10. Chris Dickerson

• Third place in Mr. Long Beach 1965
• First African-American AAU Mr. America
• Olympia second (1980, 1981)
• Olympia Winner 1982
• Winner of the 50+ division in the 1994 Masters Olympia Competition
• Induced in the Hall Of Fame in 2000

Chris Dickerson (1939-2021)  was a well-known bodybuilder with a career spanning thirty years. He won a total of 15 professional bodybuilding titles, including Mr. Olympia in 1982, making him the oldest winner of the title at 43. He was also the first African-American AAU Mr. America and the first openly gay winner of the IFBB Mr. Olympia contest.

Dickerson was trained by former Mr. Universe Bill Pearl and retired after winning the 50+ division at the 1994 Masters Olympia. He was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2000 and continued to train and conduct seminars in Florida.

9. Samir Bannout

• 1979 World Amateur Championships, Light Heavyweight
• Olympia Winner 1983
• Two-time winner of the WABBA World Championship – 1985,1986
• Pittsburgh Pro Invitational champion (1990)

Samir Bannout (1955- ) is a Lebanese-American bodybuilder who won the Mr. Olympia competition in 1983, defeating the reigning champion, Chris Dickerson.

This made him the first Lebanese bodybuilder to win the title. He started lifting weights at the age of 16 and won the Mr Lebanon contest in 1978. After an 18-year career, he retired from professional bodybuilding in 1996.

8. Jay Cutler

• Four-time Mr. Olympia winner ( 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010)
• Six-time runner-up in Mr. Olympia’s competition.
• Has the most records in IFBB Mr. Olympia
• Three-time Arnold Classic Champion ( 2002, 2003, 2004)
• Ironman Invitational Champion (2004)

From a young age, Jay Cutler (1973- ) was drawn towards weightlifting and started working for his older brother’s concrete construction business at the age of 11. He pursued bodybuilding with great dedication until he entered the big leagues.

Despite being the Mr. Olympia runner-up four times, all to Ronnie Coleman, Cutler eventually claimed the title in 2006. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing between 260-290 pounds, Cutler was undoubtedly one of the most massive muscle-builders around.

7. Phil Heath

• Seven-time Mr. Olympia Champion (2011-2017)
• Winner of Iron Man show (2008)
• First runner-up in Arnold Classic (2008)
• First Novice to be in Top 3 of Mr. Olympia since 1993 (2008)
• Two-time Pro-championships Winner in Colorado and New York (2006)
• Winner of Arnold Classic, Europe (2013)

Philip Jerrod Heath (1979 – ) is an American bodybuilder who has widly known for his exceptional physique. He has 7 Mr. Olympia titles under his belt which ties him with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the second most number of IFBB Mr. Olympia wins.

Although Heath now boasts fame and wealth, things were not so easy for him in the beginning of his career. He practically raised himself amidst his busy parents and this gave him a knack for hard-work and perseverance.

He began as a varsity basketball team captain and gradually migrated into bodybuilding and found the zenith of success with seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles between 2011 and 2018.

Known for his strapping figure and athletic build, his body is often considered as blueprint for an ideal and well-balanced bodybuilding physique.

6. Sergio Oliva

• Three-time Mr. Olympia Champion (1967, 1968, 1969)
• Two-time Mr. Olympia runner-up (1970, 1972)
• Three-time Mr. Olympus Champion ( 1975, 1976, 1978)
• Universe Champion (1967)
• Two-time winner of Mr. Galaxy ( 1972, 1973)
• Two-time winner of Pro World Championships ( 1977, 1980)

Sergio Oliva (1941-2012) is widely regarded as one of the top bodybuilders of all time. At the young age of 16, Sergio “The Myth” Oliva fought on the losing side of the Cuban War. After the war ended, he turned to bodybuilding and eventually became a prominent figure in the sport in Cuba.

In 1962, he competed for Cuba in the Central American and Caribbean Games held in Kingston, Jamaica. During the event, Oliva escaped from the security guards outside his room and fled to the American Embassy, where he was granted political asylum.

Five years after his daring escape, Oliva went on to win three consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, cementing his place in bodybuilding history.

5. Frank Zane

• Three-time Mr. Olympia winner (1977-79)
• Three-time Mr. Olympia runner-up (1974, 1976, 1982)
• Three-time Mr. America champion (1966, 1967, 1968) T
• Two-time Mr. Universe winner (1970, 1972)

Frank Zane(1942- ), a former high school teacher, is renowned for revolutionizing the sport of bodybuilding. He won three consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1977 to 1979 by focusing on muscle symmetry over mass, a technique that was not commonly employed before him.

Zane, who hails from Pennsylvania, is one of the three men who have ever defeated Arnold Schwarzenegger in a competition.

However, his career was not without controversy. He suffered a poolside injury just before the 1980 Mr. Olympia competition, causing him to lose 15 pounds of muscle and his title to Schwarzenegger in a comeback.

4. Dorian Yates

• Six-time Mr. Olympia champion (1992-97)
• Four-time English Grand Prix champion (1991, 1992, 1994, 1996)
• Two-time Night of Champions champion (1990, 1991)
• Two-time Spanish Grand Prix champion (1994, 1996)
• Two-time German Grand Prix champion (1994, 1996)

Dorian Yates (1962- ), an Englishman, achieved a remarkable feat by winning six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1992 to 1997, following the footsteps of the great European bodybuilders. During the early to late 1990s, Yates dominated the bodybuilding scene by winning every tournament he participated in. In 1987, he became a shareholder in the Temple Gym, which now has branches in the United Kingdom, California, and Las Vegas.

In an interview, Yates stated that he used to go to great lengths in order to keep out of the public eye during the off-season just to emerge with an impressive body during contests. This used to completely dumbfound the audience and competitors alike who would be in complete darkness about his progress.

This earned him the famous nickname “The Shadow”. In the sport of Bodybuilding where showcasing and showing off was an acceptable practice, Yates realized that the value of doing the opposite would thus be immense.

3. Lee Haney

• Eight-time winner of Mr. Olympia (1984-91)
• Winner of Grand Prix Germany (1987)
• American Champion (1979)
• Las Vegas Champion (1983)

Lee Haney (1959- ) and Ronnie Coleman share the distinction of having won the most Mr. Olympia titles, with eight each. Haney’s eight consecutive wins from 1984 to 1991 is a record that still stands. Despite being 5-foot-11, Haney was a formidable competitor in bodybuilding, winning titles with a weight range of 230-250 pounds.

In addition to his success in bodybuilding, Haney also served as the Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under President Bill Clinton, succeeding Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role.

2. Ronnie Coleman

• Eight-time Mr. Olympia Champion (1998-2005)
• Two-time Canada Pro Cup Champion (1995, 1996)
• Winner Of Grand Prix Russia (1997)
• Texas Champion ( 1990 )

Ronald Dean Coleman (1964- ) is an American retired professional bodybuilder. He is a greatly respected bodybuilder and is often termed the best bodybuilder of all time along with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

However, the thing that he is most remembered for is his aesthetic physique which puts everyone in awe. His 5’11” ripped muscular frame can easily be called the most dominating physique that the stage IFBB has seen.

He has a record for winning eight Mr. Olympia titles consecutively and in total 26 IFBB titles. For the influence and legacy he had on the world of Bodybuilding, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and was bestowed the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

• Three-time winner of Mr. Universe ( 1968, 1969, 1970)
• Seven-time winner of IFBB Mr. Olympia ( 1970-75, 1980)
• Tallest winner of Mr. Olympia at 6’2”
• Junior Mr. Europe Champion (1965)
• International Powerlifting Championship Champion (1966)

Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947- ) is a true legend in the world of bodybuilding and fitness. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, having won the Mr. Olympia title seven times between 1970 and 1980. Arnold’s incredible dedication, discipline, and hard work made him a true champion in the sport.

But Arnold’s success didn’t stop there. He went on to become one of the biggest movie stars in the world, starring in blockbuster hits like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Total Recall, and Predator. His success in both bodybuilding and Hollywood has made him an icon.

Arnold’s impact on the fitness industry and pop culture is undeniable. He has inspired countless people to take up bodybuilding and fitness, and his famous catchphrases like “I’ll be back” and “Hasta la vista, baby” have become a part of pop culture history.

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Final Words

There is no harm in mentioning this fact twice that bodybuilding is a sport that requires dedication, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The ten bodybuilders listed in this article have all made significant contributions to the sport and have inspired generations with their incredible achievements.

Their legacy continues to inspire and motivate aspiring bodybuilders to push beyond their limits and strive for greatness. It is a testament to their hard work and passion that they are still celebrated and revered as some of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.