Sergio Oliva is a three-time Mr. Olympia, who was a pioneer of the sport. Oliva brought a combination of size, conditioning, and symmetry, never seen on stage. His physique was so impressive that it earned him the nickname, “The Myth.” Oliva ruled the Olympia stage before Arnold Schwarzenegger and didn’t retire until 1985.

Oliva earned the respect of both fans and rivals. So when an interviewer asked him about steroid use, Sergio gave his unfiltered opinion.

Sergio Oliva on why taking steroids is a mistake

Brian D. Johnston once asked Sergio about his opinion on drug use by teenagers just starting their journey. Sergio said that their first mistake was being lazy, “But they’re making a double mistake,” by taking PEDs. “When you take steroids you have to train even harder… Otherwise the excess weight later turns into fat,” said the former Mr. Olympia. He also said that anyone can build a superb physique by training hard and eating well with quality protein, vitamins, and minerals.

The three-time Mr. Olympia also said that genetics played only about a 45% role in building a physique. The rest of it depends on how one trains, eats, and sleeps. So if one doesn’t have a routine and isn’t dedicated, they won’t be able to build a nice physique, even with steroids.

“The Myth” also said simply hopping on PEDs won’t make someone different. In fact, “You’re going to be one of the group…”, said Oliva. The former Mr. Olympia finally said, “Wouldn’t recommend them (PEDs) to anyone… to my friends or any of my family.”

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Sergio Oliva also said that with time steroids got more extreme. He revealed that during the 60s bodybuilders would use even one or two substances with caution. However, by the 80s, not only were bodybuilders taking more PEDs but also in much higher doses.

The man who bested Arnold Schwarzenegger had strong opinions

While talking to Johnston, Oliva also gave his opinion on past Mr. Olympia winners. From Lee Haney to Dorian Yates, Oliva didn’t hold back what he felt. Oliva said that in the old days, the eight-time Mr. Olympia, Lee Haney, wouldn’t have won the title. He also said, “His (Haney’s) physique is unproportional.” Oliva also said that Haney’s arms were smaller compared to his back. However, his criticism of Dorian was even harsher. Oliva said that Yates had an enormous belly and no arms.

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“The Myth” competed in the 60s, but even today, bodybuilders like Jay Cutler say he was one of the greatest of all time. Arnold mastered proportion and posing. However, Sergio Oliva was among the first to focus more on such aspects. Like a true old-school legend, Sergio trained until he couldn’t move and believed that hard work trumped PEDs.