For years, bodybuilding veteran Frank Zane held the title of the ‘King of Aesthetics’, and rightfully so. With the perfect symmetrical build that set bodybuilding standards back in the day, Zane inspired many modern-day fitness enthusiasts to focus on achieving a chiseled, defined, and structured body. And recently, he spilled the beans on how he did so.
In an interview with bodybuilding icon Mike O’Hearn, the 81-year-old spoke about his journey through the world of fitness. Once a math teacher, the veteran soon rose to fame and locked horns with ‘The Terminator’ Arnold Schwarzenegger in what was an epic showdown in the history of bodybuilding.
Three-time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane recounts flaunting his best form
In a candid chat with bodybuilding titan Mike O’Hearn, Frank Zane revealed some of the intricate details about his fitness journey, including some of his invaluable tips and tricks. He weighed about 191lbs during his best, he admitted, back in 1979. Incidentally, this was his third Olympia win, before he suffered a horrific poolside accident that hindered his performance.
“I posed a lot, took photos”
Zane’s number 1 tip for building an aesthetic body structure is to pose not just in front of the mirror but also for the camera. Some of the veteran’s most iconic photos came courtesy of his wife Christine Zane. He even admitted to posing on stage for her instead of the judges, as she would sit with her camera in the audience. While the mirror could be deceiving, Zane believed that pictures “don’t lie”.
“Yeah it’s Distortion you think about when you look in the mirror first you see your friend that’s the first Distortion you add to it you put stuff in there that’s not there and then it bounces back and comes back to that’s another Distortion. so there are a lot of distortions involved whereas with the photo that’s that’s what’s there pretty much I mean you could get a photo that makes you look better of course that’s the key if you can do that you know if you have all these other as your photographer all light conditions and everything the right way then you could use that to your advantage
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Something that also made the veteran popular was his upfront attitude. Winning the Olympia thrice wasn’t a coincidence and Zane lived up to the confidence that the title came with. He recalled how he bagged a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer commercial in 1977. All it took was for him to say, “I’m the best in the world”, and he sealed the deal.
Zane sees potential for future Mr. Olympia championships
Amidst banter and chitchat, the 81-year-old admitted to rooting for Mike O’Hearn as a new Mr. Olympia candidate. The former Natural Mr. Universe made his name in the fitness world as a ripped American Gladiator. Now, at 54, the bodybuilding titan has shockingly maintained an insane form that has caught the eye of the veteran.
From vouching for a camera over mirrors to coming up with unique routines, the ‘King of Aesthetics’ has raised the bar in bodybuilding. While times have changed, and the categories for judging athletes may not be the same, bodybuilders still look up to Frank Zane for the impeccable standards he once set. His sense of proportions and the perfect combination of bulk and definition made him one of the legends of his time.
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