In the realms of bodybuilding, some athletes do not just go on about conquering one title after another, some revolutionise the sport with their unwavering dedication and profound knowledge. Dorian Yates, also known as The Shadow, is undoubtedly one of them. Bagging the title of Mr. Olympia six times in a row, Yates introduced a training that people went gaga about – The HIT(High Intensity Training).

Dorian Yates is also highly regarded for his exceptional work ethic and his sheer determination for the sport. Although he is one of the most significant figures in the sphere, there have been times when he was not recognized. He recently shared one such funny incident.

Dorian Yates was not recognized at the Gold’s Gym

A throwback video of Dorian Yates was shared on the YouTube page @musclemindindia. In the video, Yates was seen narrating a funny incident from the 90s when he got back into the Gold’s Gym for training. He says, “Gold’s Gym was owned by a small group of people and was very, like a family atmosphere and everybody knew everybody and i would go there and of course if you’re Mr. Olympia or if you’re a top pro there you know, you train there for free.”

However, the gym was sold to the corporation and the entire management changed. As per the bodybuilding legend, the people who worked in the gym, were not very familiar to the bodybuilding community. He says, “I’ve gotten there to workout and I’m like hey I’d like to train please. The girl’s like whatever, it’s $40 or whatever it was.”

Read More: Bodybuilding Beast Aka ‘The Shadow’ Challenges Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Popular Muscle-Building Methods with Self Applied Tactics

He did not want to give it away right there and so he played around for a while. When he said that he was a pro and he never paid money to train in the gym, the girl asked for proof. And that was when he said, “Well if you wanna swing around and look on the wall right behind you, the big picture there with Dorian Yates on that’s me.” However, the journey has never been easy for him. Even after reaching the pinnacle of success, he had gone through so much that he had to leave training like a bodybuilder in order to stay healthy.

What made Dorian Yates leave training?

Dorian Yates in the MD’s Global Music Radio show in 2019 spoke openly about bodybuilding, the injuries that come with it and intense training. He revealed how he had been severely injured so many times that it compelled him not just to take retirement from what he loved the most, but also entirely stopped him from training at all.

The 60 YO bodybuilding legend said, “Probably five years ago, I was still doing what I could, as far as bodybuilding training, but it was limited.” As time passed, he could barely do even the slightest exercise and that was when he resorted to another hobby that helped him stay fit. Yates took up Yoga as his passion post his bodybuilding career. What are your thoughts on the journey of Dorian Yates? Let us know in the comments section below! 

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