| The 1960s, 70s, and 80s saw professional bodybuilding | | | | A disturbing trend has emerged in those bodybuilders |
| grow at a tremendous rate. Arnold Schwarzenegger's | | | | who were the best of the 1990s, the decade when |
| "Pumping Iron" movie was a huge hit and cult | | | | drug use entered the insulin / GH era. Many of them |
| underground classic for decades. In the 80s, ESPN | | | | have come down with kidney and liver ailments. Some |
| carried bodybuilding event coverage almost daily. In the | | | | are going blind. Others have just fallen from heart |
| 1990s, the sport took an odd turn however. Insulin and | | | | disease. Ten years ago they owned the best |
| growth hormone arrived on the scene. Suddenly, every | | | | physiques on the planet. Today, they are beginning to |
| bodybuilder had thicker skin, larger brows and elbows, | | | | fall. |
| and the size of competitors jumped 15 to 20 pounds | | | | The full effects of the 1990s chemical explosion will not |
| on average after being relatively stable for several | | | | be known for another 5 or 10 years, or longer. But |
| decades. | | | | those industry elders who have followed the sport for |
| The argument, at this point, typically derails into an "old | | | | years are quietly nervous about the future of a sport |
| vs. new" discussion as to whether today's mass | | | | where the top champions might be trading decades of |
| monsters are better than yesteryear's class monsters. | | | | their lives for paychecks today. |
| But one trend is starting to emerge, upon which both | | | | Anyone entering the high level competitive bodybuilding |
| sides can probably agree: Health problems of modern | | | | arena should be aware of the history of the sport, as |
| bodybuilders are emerging earlier. | | | | well as the recent trends in reduced longevity. We're |
| Most of the competitors from the 60s through the 80s | | | | living through the insulin/GH era, and this time period will |
| can still be seen at professional and amateur shows, | | | | be analyzed for years to come as a strange learning |
| signing autographs at the expos. They are smaller, but | | | | time. Be sure your contributions to the sport, and |
| most look like healthy older guys, in their 50s, 60s, and | | | | measures you'll take to excel, don't make you a |
| beyond. Most are still alive. They used bodybuilding to | | | | statistic. |
| make a living, and have since retired. | | | | |