Nasser El Sonbaty was a pioneer in the bodybuilding world. He was the mass monster who never won the Mr Olympia but was well known as a man who had immense experience in the sport. During the final times of his career and life, he did not sit back and become a guest poser or a coach.

He took it upon himself to give harsh reality checks to the sport by attacking officials and competitors in a series of interviews. This not only made him controversial but also a highly remembered bodybuilder in the late 1990s and 2000s. Let us see why he did not become Mr. Olympia, why he was named The Professor, and how his life became a controversy.

Nasser El Sonbaty’s origins and the start of his bodybuilding career

He was born in Germany on October 15th, 1965, and did not seem interested or destined for the stage. He was a soccer player when he was young and only began lifting weights to get his legs stronger for soccer, he apparently did not even appreciate bodybuilders. 

El Sonbaty did not like the bulking muscles and veins of the bodybuilders in the magazines. However, his disregard for bodybuilding began to change after a Hungarian weightlifter took notice of his strength and potential and advised him to train his upper and lower body. 

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Within two years, Nasser El Sonbaty got so jacked that he entered a local bodybuilding show in Germany and finished 6th as a junior competitor. This was the start of his bodybuilding career.

How Nasser El Sonbaty became ‘The Professor’

He started his professional career after his debut in the 1990 IFBB Grand Prix in Helsinki, Finland. El Sonbaty was known for his massive muscles and 300lbs mass and was featured in several magazines at the peak of his career. El Sonbaty was not just a bodybuilding champion but also a scholar, graduating from the University of Augsburg with a master’s degree in history, political science, and sociology. His degree, along with his incredible talent of being fluent in several languages, earned him the nickname The Professor. 

Interestingly, when Dorian Yates stepped on stage beside Nasser El Sonbaty at the Mr Olympia in Long Beach, it seemed like a new winner might have been crowned. The Shadow and The Professor rivaled against each other on stage and both had incredible aesthetic quality and sheer size. El Sonbaty was also known to wear his signature round glasses while working out, which gave him an intellectual look. The bodybuilder left a lasting legacy for the industry with his work and his wisdom.

Nasser El Sonbaty’s legacy

For the whole community, the interviews in the year 2008 defined El Sonbaty’s post-retirement life. For several people that he had targeted in his interviews, there would not be any chances for any reconciliation with him, because unfortunately, he passed away on March 20, 2013 at 47. A fan favorite and dark horse of his era, he entered the world of bodybuilding in 1985 and stepped onto the Mr. Olympia stage in 1994. The closest he came to victory was in 1997, where he finished second. 

In a previous social media video, the IFBB pro was seen posing with none other than Jay Cutler. His fans were excited about the post and commented on the pictures. One fan wrote, “2 Legends,” while another went on to say how he was “The real 97 Mr. Olympia.” The legend was taken away too soon due to natural reasons, however, his contribution will live on in the bodybuilding world.

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