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“Important to Shrug Up and Backwards”: Known for Demon Back, 6X Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates Shares the Secret Behind Monstrous Traps and Upper Back Developments

Published 12/09/2023, 9:09 AM EST

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Dorian Yates, who made England proud with his remarkable victory in Olympia, always hits the headlines for his monstrous back. Having won 6 consecutive times from 1992 to 1997, the bodybuilder has awe-aspiring traps that start from his neck, go across his shoulders, and extend to the middle of his back. He has gained himself the name of the first Englishman, Olympia winner.

Recently, the bodybuilding icon took fans back to 1995 when he lifted the SANDOW trophy for a 4th time through old pics of his back. The throwback photo made every muscle of his back explicitly visible, and no question was raised as to why he deserved to win. Yates shed light on how he developed those muscles. 

6X Olympia winner recalls his 4th iconic win 

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Reminiscing the year 1995 with his monstrous back with well-conditioned muscles and traps, Dorian Yates shared a long caption. I like this shot in particular, it shows just how far the traps go down the back and why it is so important to shrug up and backwards in one motion. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dorian Yates (@thedorianyates) 

Later he reveals the secret behind his muscled back, stating that heavy dumbbell shrugs were the dominant exercise he preferred. They gave him the freedom to pull up and back. Machines and barbells were restrictive for this but are still great exercises.

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Shedding light on what is commonly acknowledged, Yates also said that he had noticed most people only engage the upper part of the traps when they shrug up and down. Sharing advice he said that one should engage the mid and lower parts too, as it helps to give the back that thickness.

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Not long ago, he also reminisced about another victory, recalling the year he got his IFBB Pro card.

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6-Time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates recalls his Pro Card win

In a recent Instagram post, Yates shared the two old photos of him along with a long heart-felt note. He recalled his Pro Card win in 1988. He wrote in a caption “It meant the world to me,” being thankful to the bodybuilding world. 

Dorian Yates said that his victory on November 13, 1988, earned him the British Championship overall and the opportunity to compete against the world’s best bodybuilders abroad. His conditioning and stature seemed to have changed drastically from 1986 to him. The bodybuilder could move forward because his body was more developed.

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Did you like the secret he gave to achieve a monstrous back like him? Tell us in the comments below!

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Written by:

Sanjana Saini

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One take at a time

I am Sanjana Saini, a bodybuilding writer at EssentiallySports. I?m a person who finds immense delight in curating valuable and excitement-driven stuff about bodybuilding champions. While crafting my articles, I ensure that I keep fans? perspectives, expectations, and sentiments in mind.
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Edited by:

Arunima Bhanot