The Romano Factor

I’ve been asked many times—and I’m sure I will be asked many more times—who l think is the best Mr. Olympia of all time. This being our Arnold issue, and with many believing that Arnold is the best ever, I thought I’d answer this annoying question once and for all.

First, when we talk about “best” Mr. Olympias, most assume we always mean the physique and not the man. I would say that’s not true. I think there is a humanitarian aspect to being a champion that continues to define a Mr. Olympia long after he hangs up his trunks. In that regard, we couldn’t find a Mr. O to best Lee Haney. Not only is he an eight-time champion, but factoring in his squeaky clean life, his tireless work with inner city kids, and his numerous contributions to the city of Atlanta, Haney is the walkaway best of all time. However, for the sake of this discussion, I’ll keep it to what most mean when they say “best.”

Physique-wise, there is no “best Mr. Olympia of all time.” I believe there is a best Mr. Olympia for a certain time, but not one of all time. Here’s what I mean: You have to look at modern bodybuilding in three epochs: the golden age of bodybuilding, the twilight of the golden age, and the new age. The golden age starts at the beginning with Larry Scott and goes up through Arnold to Zane and Franco. The twilight spans Dickerson through Yates, then the new age began with Ronnie Coleman up through today with Heath sitting on the throne.

Clearly the new-age best is big Bubba, no trubba. Coleman, in 2004, was absolutely the freakiest thing yet to walk this earth and probably that ever will. Coleman in ‘04 was like finally finding the world’s tallest peak. I seriously doubt any human is going to match that for many years to come, if ever. The immensity of the mark he left on the sport should ostensibly crush all below him, but that wouldn’t be fair. It would rob the other bests of their due.

The twilight years I give to Yates. While Haney’s eight-year reign did in fact make him totally awesome, he was just a continuation of the same; he wasn’t a freak. Yates, in ‘96, changed the game: the first bodybuilder above 250 and shredded to a degree as yet still not duplicated. A ‘96 Yates could crush anyone who has competed since him except for Coleman in ‘04.

Without question, the golden era belongs to Arnold. He is clearly the best bodybuilder of his time. Some say that a 1974 Arnold couldn’t win the Nationals today. I don’t know about that. What I do know is that Arnold is the only Mr. Olympia to parlay his title into a Hollywood superpower. He is the only Mr. Olympia to run for governor and win. He is the only Mr. O who successfully built a bridge to the mainstream. He is also the only Mr. Olympia who, through all of his success, still comes back to Columbus every year to be with his people. Bodybuilders. Remembering your roots is very important when you’re the best. It’s a great honour we have that Arnold is one of us. George Butler told me that of the numerous occasions Arnold attends every year with politicians, movie execs, and captains of industry, it is when he’s around us that Arnold feels the most comfortable. I think that’s pretty cool.

So, who’s the best Mr. Olympia of all time? Many will say Arnold. I do too, but along with Yates and Coleman. And that’s final. Don’t ask “What if I could only pick one?”