Fitness Volt
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Strongman
    • Powerlifting
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Arnold Classic
    • Mr. Olympia
  • 2025 WSM
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Muscle Groups
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Mobility & Stretching
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Supplements
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Calculators
  • More
    • Forum
    • Strength Standards
    • DIY
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Strongman
    • Powerlifting
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Arnold Classic
    • Mr. Olympia
  • 2025 WSM
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Muscle Groups
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Mobility & Stretching
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Supplements
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Calculators
  • More
    • Forum
    • Strength Standards
    • DIY
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
No Result
View All Result
Home » Bodybuilding

‘Athletes Don’t Focus on Calves Anymore?’: Rich Gaspari Shares Calf Exercise for Muscle Growth

Retired bodybuilder Gaspari recommends competitors utilize Donkey Calf Raises and drop sets to gain definition

Written by Nikhil Sharma

Published on26 March, 2023 | 1:17 PM EDT

Updated on4 April, 2023 | 11:31 AM EDT

Ask Question?
Rich Gaspari

Credit: Rich Gaspari (via Instagram)

Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has remained an exemplary ambassador for the sport since retirement. In a recent Instagram post, Gaspari took issue with the calf muscle development of modern athletes and recommended donkey calf raises for better gains. 

Rich Gaspari was renowned for his insane conditioning levels as an IFBB Pro Men’s Open competitor in the 1980s and 90s. He boasted an impressive package exhibiting refined muscle detail and striations. He established his status as a perennial contender with three runner-up finishes in the Mr. Olympia competitions against the likes of eight-time champion Lee Haney, IFBB Hall of Famer Lee Labrada, Tom Platz, and Robby Robinson. In 1989, Gaspari made history by becoming the inaugural winner of the Arnold Classic.

Gaspari isn’t a fan of the way the Open division has evolved over the years. He believes the physiques have changed dramatically since the 90s. When comparing Open with Classic Physique, he sided with the look of reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champ Chris Bumstead over modern Open athletes today like Nick Walker or Big Ramy. 

Following the crowning of Hadi Choopan at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Gaspari bashed the freshly minted champion’s conditioning levels by comparing his back to six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates. He argued the competitors of his era exhibited a harder look. He offered a detailed breakdown of the comparison and doubled down on his stance by calling out Choopan to bring back a drier look a few days later.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richard Gaspari (@richgaspari)

Get Fitter, Faster

Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!

Please wait...
You're In! Let's Crush Your Fitness Goals Together

Expect expert-backed workouts, nutrition advice, the latest in strength sports, and a whole lot of motivation heading your way.

Rich Gaspari believes the Open division may be overdependent on using drugs to sculpt their packages as opposed to relying on quality training and diet. As of late, Rich motivated his fans with a strong message on workout intensity. He talked about the importance of incorporating intensity techniques to get optimal results. 

Gaspari opened up on the steroid cycles he used during his days of competing on stage. He explained how bodybuilding cycles changed over time with the regulation of certain substances, which resulted in the growth of black markets. While many compounds are still used, it’s the higher dosages that Gaspari took issue with.

Rich Gaspari shares a calf exercise for muscle growth

In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari criticized the calves of contemporary bodybuilders and recommended using donkey calf raises to boost muscle growth in the area.

“Donkey calf raises was the main exercise I used to build my calves training them 3 times a week,” he wrote. “Back then there weee no Donkey calf machines so I used a weighted dip belt along with two people on my back. I did drop sets to continue hitting my calves doing reps of at least 15 then dropping doing 15 then dropping with just the weight from the dip belt to failure to really burn out my calves.

“It seems athletes don’t focus on calves anymore?” Gaspari wrote. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richard Gaspari (@richgaspari)

Rich Gaspari often gives advice on health and training on his social media channels. He warned bodybuilders about the risk of using harsh diuretics and extreme dehydration. He weighed in on the widespread use of steroids in the female Bikini and Wellness divisions last week.

RELATED: The Last Guide for Bigger Calves You’ll Ever Need

Looking ahead, Gaspari is focused on longevity. He revealed the anti-aging peptide stack he’s currently utilizing to enjoy an improved quality of life.


If you have any questions or need further clarification about this news, please leave a comment below, and Nikhil will get back to you as soon as possible.

Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding Fitness Volt to your Google News feed: Follow us on Google News You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for even more content.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Flipboard LinkedIn Pinterest
Categories: Bodybuilding News
Previous Post

Powerlifter Jesus Olivares Sets New Deadlift & Total IPF World Records At 2023 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships

Next Post

2023 Musclecontest Rio Pro Results and Scorecard

Nikhil Sharma

Nikhil Sharma

Lifelong fitness & combat sports enthusiast and fan with a love for the community and everything related.

Related

Vitamin D Deficiency
Nutrition

Vitamin D Deficiency: The Silent Epidemic Crushing Your Energy Levels and Workout Recovery

Lee Priest
Bodybuilding

Lee Priest Explains How to Build Bigger Biceps in Your 50s

Arnold Schwarzenegger Announces Prize Purse Increase For 2026 Arnold Classic
Bodybuilding

2026 Arnold Classic Increases Men’s Open Prize to a Historic $750K, the Largest in History, with Total Purse Soaring to $1.5 Million

Lee Priest
Bodybuilding

“Nick Should’ve Been the Winner” – Lee Priest Discusses 2025 Pittsburgh Pro Results

Jay Cutler
Bodybuilding

Jay Cutler and Phil Heath Still Look Huge and Conditioned During Latest Posedown in Retirement

Jay Cutler
Bodybuilding

Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev Discuss Nick Walker Losing to Derek Lunsford at Pittsburgh Pro: ‘A Lot of People Thought He Should Have Won’

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Vitamin D Deficiency: The Silent Epidemic Crushing Your Energy Levels and Workout Recovery

2025 World’s Strongest Man Finalists Revealed

2025 World’s Strongest Man Withdrawals [Live Updates]

2025 World’s Strongest Man Results [Live Updates]

2025 World’s Strongest Man Results — Day Two Qualifiers

Lee Priest Explains How to Build Bigger Biceps in Your 50s

Fitness Volt

At Fitness Volt, our mission is to empower every individual on their fitness journey by providing expert advice, the latest research, and comprehensive resources. Whether you are a beginner or an elite athlete, we are here to support your goals with trustworthy and up-to-date information in strength, fitness, and nutrition. Read more.

For inquiries, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]

About Us | Careers | Contact Form

Topics

  • Mr. Olympia
  • Bodybuilding
  • Strongman
  • WSM
  • Powerlifting
  • CrossFit
  • Workouts
  • Exercises
  • Training
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Discussion Forum

More

  • Calculators
  • Fasting
  • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Workout Plans
  • At-Home Workouts
  • Programs
  • Supplements
  • Newsletter
  • Review Process
  • Accessibility
  • Advertise
  • Syndication
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Copyrights
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Disclaimer

© Copyright 2010 - 2024 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Powerlifting
    • Strongman
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2024 WSM
    • Arnold Classic
  • Forum
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Muscle Groups
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Supplements
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Fitness Calculator
  • More
    • DIY
    • Strength Standards
    • Motivation
    • Videos

© Copyright 2010 - 2024 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.