Rich Gaspari Calls Out Bodybuilders Neglecting Calves: ‘Seems Calf Isn’t As Important Today’

Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has been at odds with the modern competitors of the Men’s Open division. In a recent post made on Instagram, Gaspari called out contemporary bodybuilders for neglecting calf muscle development.

Retired bodybuilder Rich Gaspari made a name for himself with his insane muscle mass, definition, and conditioning as a Men’s Open competitor. He’s widely credited for pioneering the division’s focus on striated glute muscles. In his heyday, Gaspari cemented his status as one of the most consistent athletes in the game. While he didn’t win the Mr. Olympia title, he took silver thrice and went up against the likes of eight-time champ Lee Haney and six-time winner Dorian Yates. He hung up his posing trunks in 1996 and got inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004.

Gaspari isn’t fully convinced by the Open division’s evolution over the last few years. He called on reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan to work on his conditioning and bring back a drier more defined look as seen in generations prior. Earlier this year, Gaspari fired shots at the Open competitors for relying on drugs too heavily. He claimed mass monsters depend on using enormous amounts of steroids instead of focusing on quality training.

Three months ago, Gaspari opened up about his use of peptides to slow down the aging process. He listed different kinds of peptides that helped boost natural GH (growth hormone) levels. He also identified legendary bodybuilder Phil Heath’s reign as the turning point for conditioning requirements in the Open category. Then, he stressed the importance of maintaining proper nutrition to pack on the pounds.

Along with a solid diet, Gaspari encouraged his fans to push their limits in the training room months ago. He detailed some intensity techniques that were sure to leave anyone exhausted. The 59-year-old revealed he’d been using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) for about 10 years. He gave his take on the benefits he derives from the substance and recommended getting blood work done regularly to minimize the risk of any side effects. 

Rich Gaspari calls out bodybuilders for neglecting calves

In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari took aim at modern bodybuilders for not paying enough attention to their calf muscle development. He shared some general tips for building muscle in the area.

“Seems today the calf muscle is not as important to train and many of todays Bodybuilders neglect calves,” he wrote. “As you see I trained calves heavy and hard. It was an important muscle back in the 80’s And 90’s. I would train them 3 times a week with high reps of 15-20 and heavy. Calves can take a lot to grow.”

Rich Gaspari lauded the Classic Physique competitors for preserving the essence of bodybuilding as an art form last month. He argued the same quality is not found in Open events. A week later, Gaspari promoted the use of TRT and weighed in on the recent Telehealth law proposal by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) last month.

Gaspari pushed back on the excessive use of steroids for competition earlier this week. He detailed the health risks that come along with gear use but conceded it was an inevitable part of the sport.

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

His latest offering could help bring more awareness to the importance of developing strong calves to match an overall physique.

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