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VIRTUAL
POSEDOWN
Throughout
the history of professional sports
debates have raged about how athletes of one era would have stacked
up against those of another. How would Ted Williams have hit against
Roger Clemens? Could Wilt Chamberlain have put up a 100-point game
against an NBA team of today? What if Mark Spitz were to jump into
the pool next to today's champions?
Well,
besides making educated guesses, no one could ever answer these
questions because of the nature of the competition. All of those
sports are based on physical performance- transient moments in time
that cannot be captured any more easily than a dream.
But
bodybuilding is a different story. In bodybuilding the goal is to
obtain a maximal level of muscle size and body condition. The end
result can be (and has been) captured on film. And
now, thanks to the magic of photo editing programs, it is possible
to merge photographs taken in different times and places seemlessly
together.
Thus,
IRON AGE is proud to bring you VIRTUAL POSEDOWN, a photogallery
in which we pit superstars against one another from all eras of
bodybuilding. And while the champs of today obviously show an edge
in areas like overall mass and definition (for a number of reasons),
there are many criteria for which a physique can be judged and when
factoring in variables such as proportion, muscle shape and aesthetics,
the bygone bodybuilders don't fare too badly at all. In fact, to
many, the older physiques often come out on top.
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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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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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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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Chris
Dickerson (1982), Ronnie Coleman(2001)
Despite being 4" taller, Ronnie
Coleman outweighs Chris Dickerson 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 Dickerson
displays at a mere 185 lbs. |
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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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