Dorian Yates Talks Winning Final 1997 Mr. Olympia Title Despite Tricep Being ‘90% Detached’

Dorian Yates was no stranger to the sacrifices necessary to reach the top of the sport. He led a near-flawless career on his way to winning a total of six Mr. Olympia titles. In a recent Instagram post, Yates looked back on winning his final Mr. Olympia in 1997 with a 90% detached tricep. 

Competing during the 1990s, Yates was a pioneer of muscle mass and granite conditioning. He succeeded eight-time Mr. Olympia great Lee Haney and dominated just about every stage he graced. Before and after his bodybuilding tenure, Yates has drawn praise for his unique workout philosophy.

Typically, bodybuilders adhere to set numbers of reps or sets, but Yates opted to go to failure in each and every session. The principles Yates adopted were first brought to light by bodybuilding veterans Mike Mentzer and Arthur Jones. They thought it was best to reach hypertrophy through failure instead of achieving muscle growth leisurely with multiple sets.

Yates ushered in an era of mass monsters in his wake, which included the likes of Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. Yates is also one of the few Mr. Olympia champions to exit the sport on top. In retirement, Yates remains a crucial ambassador for bodybuilding whose longevity is lauded on a regular basis. 

Given his expertise and training knowledge, Yates has a passion for sharing workout tips. The former six-time Mr. Olympia is a proponent of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which he credits for his ripped physique at 61. Though, he admits there are other practices he values since stepping away from the stage, such as yoga and meditation. 

As far as regrets go, Yates has none but wishes he would have been present for more personal obligations during his six-year-long Olympia reign. In his latest trip down memory lane, Yates looked back on his final Olympia victory in 1997 despite a torn tricep. He also shared some images of himself training post-surgery. 

Dorian Yates on 1997 Mr. Olympia: ‘My Tricep Was Pretty Much Holding on For Dear Life’

Yates explained that when he first tore the tricep in the gym, it sounded like a gunshot went off. 

“Here’s a couple of shots from late 1997, after my tricep surgery.
I actually had to travel to New York for the surgery to get it reattached as back then in the UK, there wasn’t a surgeon with the experience needed for this surgery.
So I opted to have the surgery with a surgeon who worked with NFL players in the States.
In the gym, I remember there being a huge BANG! It sounded like a gunshot and could’ve been heard across the other side of the gym, it was that loud!

During my rehab phase, I worked the opposite side as there is evidence that by working this, it’ll actually have some positive effect on the side that is immobilised. Plus, it was good for me mentally to keep moving.
The surgery itself was successful, but the strength and shape of the tricep was not the same… causing an imbalance.
I came so close to not competing but I analysed the situation thoroughly. I’d been dieting strictly for weeks on end, I could still use my other arm and could still train legs, I could still do my cardio and keep my diet the same… I was going to compete and give it my all one last time.

During the contest, my tricep was pretty much holding on for dear life and I had to be extremely careful when I was on stage.
My tricep tendon was 90% detached, so I was very cautious when posing and defiantly didn’t want to bang elbows with any of my competitors onstage as this can sometimes happen in pose downs. This could’ve caused complete detachment!
Overall, this heavily led to my decision to retire completely from the sport of bodybuilding and I never appeared onstage again, not even for guest posing.
It was all or nothing!” shared Dorian Yates. 

Yates has offered fans a look into his longevity efforts given his impeccable shape in retirement. He’s incorporated other training methods like Pilates, biking, and hiking. In addition, he showed off the inversion table he uses to decompress his spine after years of competing at a high level. 

RELATED: Dorian Yates Shares Essential Chest Exercises He Used to Grow Into 6x Mr. Olympia

Given that injuries can often ruin careers in the IFBB Pro League, Yates rolled the dice in 1997 and came out on top. Even though the surgery was a success, he admits the mobility, strength, and appearance of the tricep has never been the same. 

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