Can we finally put an end to the controversy surrounding the 1980 Olympia?

[MaximusPlatypus]

Looking wide in 1980.

^^^ best ive ever seen his delts look.. just wow

[Hugh2]

[ElMariachi]

People really need to hush about 1980 as some HUGE travesty. 1981 was by far the biggest, most digusting and ridiculously judged Olympia of all time. Probably the only one I can think of where the winner should not have even been in the Top 5.

[ElMariachi]

It looks to me like the only controversy in the 1980 Mr. Olympia is that only one real competitor showed up....

No, I thought that Chris Dickerson, Boyer Coe, Roger Walker and Roy Callendar all looked pretty good. However Zane just looked messed up, I think it was his worst Olympia shape ever. Mentzer's gut detracted from a ridiculously thick and rugged looking physique. He appeared somewhat narrow compared to others as well.

[ElMariachi]

Thanks for the great pics Yambolan. Repped.




Mentzer had the smallest chest in the lineup.


His back also lacked any real thickness.


Also he was very narrow.


He had good arms though.

Too much reliance on Nautilus machines???

[DPNZ]

Too much reliance on Nautilus machines???

Haha, nice.

[Wearwolf51]

The only controversy IMO was that platz did not make top seven. He looked awesome that year. Arnie easily took that show thought. Kinda sad that BB was at a standstill for five years without him. Almost a similar situation to the post ronnie era that we are experiencing now.

[Vareth]

I wasn't following bodybuilding back then, and was definitely not at any of the shows. But based on the Olympia winners and competitors in '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, & '81, it seems likely that Arnold would have swept the contest from '70-'81 if he'd felt like it (maybe even '82).

Who would have beaten him? Zane? Mentzer? Franco? Dickerson?

I think if anybody, Ferrigno or maybe Nubret could have done it.

Which leads me to my conspiracy theory: Weider talked Arnold out of competing in the late '70's so that someone else could win and not turn the whole Olympia into the "Arnold Show".

Oliva and Nubret were both majorly shafted by Weider. If they were still in contention who knows.

As for the contest Mentzer looks flat and small next to Arnold, Roger and Roy who all look great. Zane's shape is still there in some shots but he came in too light and his usual grace was off. Overall terrible judging really. Mentzer's stomach is also all over the place.

[MuscleMan2009]

Don't think those pictures tell the true story

Those that were actually there overwhelming felt Arnold was gifted 1980

Didnt ESPN or NBC or someone pull out of covering the contest because they felt it was rigged in Arnolds favour

Again this is from a very vague memory but i thought Arnold also registered for the contest well after the cut off date and the rules were bent to allow him in ....not a huge thing alone but goes to a pattern

Yea very vague indeed, how old were you at the time, 5 yo?

[Hugh2]

Too much reliance on Nautilus machines???

Funny stuff, but considering how flat his back was combined with his small thin pecs I'm thinking he really needed more free weight mass builders than just relying on the machines Arthur Jones offered as much as he did.

[Wearwolf51]

SRS check Tom Platz 1980

[Crusher_]

Arnold did have far more weakness's than he did in his last few O's but even at his weakest showing he is still superior to the other compititors.

I honestly thought Arnold may have been given an easy ride and lucky to be given that result from a few shots id seen but IMO the results of that show are not controvertial in the slightest, the others are just pissed Arnold at his weakest is still better than they can manage at their best..

Larger guy with Xmas tree vs smaller guy with no Xmas tree..

Who the f**k do people think the judges are going to award it to!?

[Guardian]

Bob Cicherillo was the first guy I know off who commented that Mentzer had wide hips and a big ass but after checking the pics I have to say I think he's right. But having a big ass isn't so bad but it kinda hurts the flow of your physique when you are a short guy.

If you really look Colemans ass is huge... just saying.

I thought Arnold could of been more lean, but luckily for him everyone else also wasn't completely on so I think he squeaked by and should of won. I think if Zane hadn't of faced that issue being in the hospital and came in sharp as he did years before he would of beat (or should of beat) Arnold, after all it wouldn't of been the first time .

[first_second]

If you really look Colemans ass is huge... just saying.

Coleman's glutes were striated, Coleman didn't have wide hips.

[morderstwo]

Coleman's glutes were striated, Coleman didn't have wide hips.

this is true but either way it dont mean jack compared to the monstrosity of the rest of his body. his torso was from another planet, but mentzers shots from the side made him look like a midget, so in his case, yes it does hurt the flow just like hugh said. lmao comparing mentzer to ronnie..

[delineator]

this is true but either way it dont mean jack compared to the monstrosity of the rest of his body. his torso was from another planet, but mentzers shots from the side made him look like a midget, so in his case, yes it does hurt the flow just like hugh said. lmao comparing mentzer to ronnie..

Yes you could fit both Mentzer's pecs inside one of Ronnie's ass cheeks.

But you can fit 3 whole Mentzers inside one Ronnie pec.

[Zeneth]

I thought Arnold could of been more lean,

He was very lean, leaner than any of his other Olympia showings. What he lacked was the dominating size he had before he retired...yet he STILL outsized everybody by some distance, at least in upper body.

[DinoT1985]

I'll see if I can upload it. I have the full 1980 Olympia on video. Just a case of finding it.

[Hugh2]

I'd never seen this 1980 pic before.
Chicks dig muscles heh.


More comparison shots and I have to say I had no idea Boyer Coe (on Arnolds right) was so short but then a lot of the top 7 guys look like manlets.



More good comparisons (note Mentzers flat torso).



And lastly Vince Basile's best pic from the show.

[jf1]

People really need to hush about 1980 as some HUGE travesty. 1981 was by far the biggest, most digusting and ridiculously judged Olympia of all time. Probably the only one I can think of where the winner should not have even been in the Top 5.

i believe that this is the first time we have ever agreed on anything!

the only reasons 1980 was controversial is because of arnolds surprise entry and the fact that arnold was not at his best.
as stated previously, it was still better than everybody else...

[Gosu]

Now dont get me wrong...I would give my left nut for a body like that. BUT what I meant was he has no lower abs. Its just the first 2 rows. Nothing else..I think he was deserving of most of his wins though..I love his arms and delts "rear delts as well"

its genetics, some people cant have all abs visible mo matter how defined they are

[jf1]

I'll just post one more his best pics. He looks good at first but honestly you can see just how short he is in this pic. That is also a very poor shoulder to waist ratio right there. His physique is just dominated by his hips, ass and quads...... he's dumpy and bottom heavy with very narrow shoulders.

LOL!
i thought the arrow was pointing out his best attribute; the mentzer mustache!

[Hugh2]

LOL!
i thought the arrow was pointing out his best attribute; the mentzer mustache!

Yeah I have to admit that stache was unbeatable.

[Guardian]

I think it may be one of those deals where the Ifbb was going to have Arnold win even before the show started which is why that news station through a fit. But, even if the ifbb played "fair" Arnold would still have probably won anyway.

[Audemars]

i believe that this is the first time we have ever agreed on anything!

the only reasons 1980 was controversial is because of arnolds surprise entry and the fact that arnold was not at his best.
as stated previously, it was still better than everybody else...

Exactly.

[frozennorth]

Thanks for these pics guys. I've always wondered why there was such a controversy of 1980. These just make it even clearer to me.

[allergic2rice]

you guys really don't know the story behind the "retarded zane" pics?

arnold told him a joke on purpose right before posing and it screwed up zane's focus
plus the camera angle in that particular shot favors arnie c'mon

[umop3pisdn]

arnold told him a joke on purpose right before posing and it screwed up zane's focus
plus the camera angle in that particular shot favors arnie c'mon

yeah everything is always in arnolds favour. it's got nothing to do with him truly being better than everyone he competed against.

(not srs)

[allergic2rice]

yeah everything is always in arnolds favour. it's got nothing to do with him truly being better than everyone he competed against.

(not srs)

I meant that zane doesn't deserve all the crap he's getting

[I_hate_Training]

Where is Mikes chest???????? That is pathetic, it is GONE in that shot.