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

Lou Ferrigno Shares His Biggest Regret From His Bodybuilding Career

Bodybuilding legend and The Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno opens up about his favorite memory, and biggest regret from his bodybuilding career

Written by Derek Hall

Published on3 June, 2021 | 5:54 PM EDT

Ask Question? 5
Lou Ferrigno

Photos via Instagram @theofficiallouferrigno

Few bodybuilders will ever be able to have the same type of career as Lou Ferrigno. Now the bodybuilding legend opens up about his biggest regrets from his time of the sport, as well as his favorite memory.

Some could argue that Ferrigno squandered the prime of his bodybuilding career pursuing a life on screen. During a time where it would have been very possible for him to win the Olympia, he was portraying The Hulk in the hit television series.

Of course, that is not to say that he had a poor career on stage by any means, winning the Mr. Universe and Mr. America titles during his time in the sport. Moreover, his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger was well documented in the Pumping Iron film.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lou Ferrigno (@theofficiallouferrigno)

It’s such a unique career filled with some of the highest highs, it’s safe to say the Lou Ferrigno has no shortage of fond memories and crazy stories to share. He opened up about a few of these, when speaking in a recent interview.

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.

To him, it all comes down to his first win at the Mr. Universe. He explained that a ton of people counted them out and said they’re still years away from being able to do such a thing, so to prove those doubters wrong was the ultimate vindication.

“It goes back to when I was 21, when I won the IFBB Mr. America. I was 280lb, I wasn’t actually fine, so a lot of the judges said I’m two years away from winning the Universe,” Ferrigno said.

“At the time when I won the America, first prize was a trip to Geneva,Switzerland to compete in the Universe. I was 21 so I religious trained day and night, I dieted so hard, I was so determined to win.

“I’ll never forget when I arrived in Switzerland, during prejudging (one of the judges) said ‘There’s no competition for you.’ So everybody told me I couldn’t do it because growing up a lot of people said ‘Yeah, Mr. America, Mr. Universe,’ there was a lot of if, if, if. So I decided to train that and learned to trust myself and put my mind to it,” Ferrigno continued.

“So my greatest memory is when they awarded me the Mr. Universe trophy. I was the youngest one to win the IFBB Mr. Universe, and I had tears in my eyes because I said this is something that was a dream of mine, and I’ve accomplished it.”

However with the good comes the bad, and not everything was sunshine and roses for Lou Ferrigno. So he was then asked about his biggest regret from his time competing in the sport.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lou Ferrigno (@theofficiallouferrigno)

For him, his biggest regret stems from the decision to do Pumping Iron when he did. Lou said that he was not in the best shape that he could have been when facing off against Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he wishes he was better prepared.

“My regrets are when I did Pumping Iron, I was a different person back then. I had a difficult relationship with my father. I only trained 9 weeks for the Olympia South Africa because prior to that I was training for ABC’s Superstars competition,” Ferrigno explained.

“Then when Joe Butler called and said they were doing a film, I decided to do the film even though I wasn’t in my (best) shape, because even in the film you could have had another month. My only regret was that I was planning and hoped to reach my full potential and beat Arnold because he was five years older, but I never got that chance…

“The way I look at it, it didn’t matter if I won, didn’t matter if I lost. It was all about reaching out to the mainstream and educating the public on what bodybuilding really is,” Ferrigno added.

Lou Ferrigno had a career full of highs and lows, and it is always interesting to hear him reflect on it. He had a major impact on the sport, which will last for years to come.

Read also: Lou Ferrigno To Become Sheriff’s Deputy In New Mexico


If you have any questions or need further clarification about this news, please leave a comment below, and Derek 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 Videos
Previous Post

Body Type Quiz: Discover Your Unique Somatotype – Endomorph, Ectomorph, or Mesomorph?

Next Post

The 11 Best Medicine Ball Slam Alternatives for Fat Loss, Conditioning, and Muscle Power

Derek Hall

Derek Hall

Staff News Writer and interviewer for MMA, powerlifting, bodybuilding, strongman, and CrossFit. Full time fight fan, part time participant. Bringing out of the box thinking to the world since 1995. Opinions are strictly my own.

Related

Rich Gaspari
Bodybuilding

Rich Gaspari Discusses Money in Bodybuilding and Sam Sulek’s Rise: ‘I Don’t Think He’s a Great Bodybuilder’

Nick Walker
Bodybuilding

Nick Walker Crushes Upper Body Workout With Rest-Pause Sets 17 Weeks Before 2025 Mr. Olympia, Says He’s Aiming for Top 3

Charles Glass
Bodybuilding

Charles Glass Reveals His 5 Favorite Ab Exercises That Shape the Core and Build ‘Real Definition’

Fouad Abiad
Bodybuilding

Bodybuilder Fouad Abiad Suffers Motorcycle Accident, His Wife Gives Statement: ‘Fouad is Currently Receiving the Best Possible Care’

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Standing Throughout the Day Can Reduce Risk of Early Death by Up to 55%

Tom Platz
Bodybuilding

Tom Platz Says Using Higher Reps and Heavier Weights on Different Training Days is the ‘Secret’ to Bodybuilding

Comments 5

  1. Avatar Esr says:
    4 years ago

    The biggest regret should be that he and others led young boys and men astray with their overblown, freakish looks all based on steroid usage. The real bodybuilding era ended with Steve Reeves and and the natural look. Look at him, Lou and Arnold and all of them who somehow managed to stay alive look very ordinary, and flabby, like typical old guys their age, in contrast to the naturals who look great into their 80’s.

    Reply
  2. Avatar Lokesh says:
    4 years ago

    I am the big fan of you love you sir

    Reply
  3. Avatar Popeye says:
    4 years ago

    Steroids was the rage back then, military used them to make the super soldiers. Arnold a tank driver where would he get his juice from?
    Lou Had his all on show in pumping iron.
    Wrestlers and bodybuilders look at the old school now. Virtually all gone.
    Still looks good though.

    Reply
  4. Avatar Carlos C says:
    4 years ago

    Steriod use has its dangers. So many bodybuilders addicted to steriod use pay dearly for looking all bulked up. Many die from heart failure and or other cardiovascular diseases brought on by excessive areobolic steriod use. There are many nasty and dangerous side effects. In my opinion bodybuilders who used excessive Steriod use dol not age gracefully. Looking at Arnold and Lou they appear prematurely aged. I believe that is probably due to the steroids they pumped in their bodies all those years. Just my opinion.

    Reply
  5. Avatar stanley bahner says:
    3 years ago

    Like the look of Steve reves and Jack lalane and sly in early years like rocky 1 that’s enough muscle .

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Latest

Brian Shaw Reveals ‘Strongest Arm On Earth’ Arm Wrestling Super Matches, Featuring Former WSM Champion Martins Licis

Rich Gaspari Discusses Money in Bodybuilding and Sam Sulek’s Rise: ‘I Don’t Think He’s a Great Bodybuilder’

Forget the Gym — This 30-Minute Kettlebell Routine Shreds Fat and Builds Real-World Strength

22-YO Joseph Borenstein (83KG) Sets Open Total & Junior Bench Press World Records to Win 2025 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships

Nick Walker Crushes Upper Body Workout With Rest-Pause Sets 17 Weeks Before 2025 Mr. Olympia, Says He’s Aiming for Top 3

Rayno Nel Withdraws From 2025 Strongest Man On Earth

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.