Dorian Yates may have set his posing trunks down for good, but he’s a bodybuilder at heart and can remember competing like it was yesterday. In a recent Shadow Talk Podcast published on August 20, 2024, Yates, joined by physician Dr. Peter Attia, revealed the best bodybuilder to not win the Mr. Olympia before discussing the physical and cognitive benefits of creatine supplementation.
During his reign atop the Men’s Open class at Mr. Olympia, Yates established himself as a premiere bodybuilding talent. The level of back detail and density he displayed has earned him non-stop recognition in the sport. It also served as his greatest weapon on stage en route to collecting six Mr. Olympia titles. ‘The Shadow’ was tasked with taking down icon after icon, such as four-time Arnold Classic champion Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, and Kevin Levrone.
Leaving it all on the gym floor, Yates doesn’t forget what it took to craft an all-time great physique. However, his goals in retirement have shifted towards health and longevity, which happens to be Dr. Peter Attia’s specialty. Together, they dive into how supplementing with creatine not only preserves muscle tissue but can offer powerful cognitive benefits.
Dorian Yates & Dr. Attia Hail Benefits of Creatine, Discuss Who Was The Greatest Bodybuilder to Not Win Mr. Olympia
According to Dorian Yates, if he had to choose only one athlete, he believes Flex Wheeler was the greatest bodybuilder to never hold a Sandow trophy.
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“There are several people but if I had to single out, I’d say Flex Wheeler. I thought his appearance at ’93 Arnold before I competed against him, it wasn’t so good at the Olympia later in the year, it was a bit softer,” explains Yates.
Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Nasser El Sonbaty were his honorable mentions.
“Just amazing genetics, and his personality and his career was very up and down it was not like you know, all-out giving everything that he’s got all the time, so having that in consideration and looking how good that he looked, yeah, him and Kevin Levrone. Shawn Ray was great. Nasser in ’96-97 was also very good. There were four or five guys.”
In Dr. Attia’s opinion, which is backed up by years of academia, taking creatine is a ‘no-regret move’ for most people.
“I think that for most people creatine is a no-regret move. Obviously, there’s going to be some people that have an unfavorable reaction to it but for most people, both the physical and the cognitive benefits at such an incredibly low risk make this — sometimes people say to me, ‘What’s an obvious supplement everyone should be taking?’ Usually, the two things that come to my mind are creatine and magnesium,” shares Dr. Attia.
Yates, who prioritizes recovery, mental strength, and longevity, believes everyone should take creatine considering the benefits it offers.
“That’s funny, I said that today,” remarked Yates. “The guy was saying who should take creatine and I’m like well literally everybody. Everybody can benefit from it, right? Everyone can benefit from the cognitive help especially as you’re getting older and if it’s going to slow down the loss of muscle mass then double benefits.”
Yates isn’t the only accomplished Pro crediting creatine for a wealth of health upsides. Bodybuilding legend and former seven-time Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger has also gotten behind the mega-popular supplement. In addition to busting myths suggesting that creatine causes bloating and hair loss, ‘The Austrian Oak’ has laid out how taking it can rejuvenate an ‘aging brain.’ He also praised creatine for helping reverse the effects of poor sleep.
Although it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before taking creatine, the widely-studied supplement can offer a range of enticing benefits. Yates and Dr. Attia agree that it can help the body physically and enhance cognition.
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