Larry Scott was on steroids. But as I said, his physique isn’t freakish. Simply because the first people to use drugs were either genetically gifted or young and still growing at that point. They had more muscle mass than they needed for a bodybuilding show even before they started taking drugs. And suppose you see how some of those early drug-users looked at their first contest. In that case, you understand why I say this: If they weren’t big enough already from training with weights alone, imagine what kind of shape they’d have been in only using the rather primitive doping at their disposal back then? In short, Larry Scott is no proof that you don’t need drugs to win a Mr. Olympia title.
Larry Scott – The first Mr. Olympia – On steroids? Probably not, but doubt is reasonable considering the circumstances and later revelations/confessions, etc.
An excellent example of a man who built an imposing physique without using drugs is Serge Nubret:
Serge Nubret, at 19yrs old, weighing 210lbs, shows that you can develop a fantastic physique without drugs. Serge Nubret’s great shape at only 133lbs at 6’1″, however, does indicate that he was on some doping regimen, though… especially when you consider his for-his-height exceptional muscle mass at such a low body weight as well as his good overall development. Don’t believe me? Look at the following picture of Serge Nubret at 210lbs again:
At 210lbs, Serge Nubrets waist is so tiny that you can hardly believe it. The linea alba (white line) of his abdomen sticks out like a thin white cord. That’s how slim his waist is. That’s what significant complete development does for your aesthetics, even on someone who was naturally very small and only stood 5’8″ tall (1). Serge Nubret was also one of the first men to develop muscular legs, as Arnold Schwarzenegger did later on (2). Check out these pictures of the young Serge Nubret (he turned professional at 19yrs old):
Serge Nubret ca 1968 – A real workhorse! He already had great legs at this point, even though he later packed on much more muscle mass to them.
Serge Nubret 1968 – Fantastic leg development
Serge Nubret – Great legs again. Note how tiny his waist is now. Even Arnold didn’t have a core that small without steroids back then! Serge Nubret was the first IFBB professional bodybuilder to invite Joe Weider to Mr. Olympia contests. He got his invite for the 1966 Mr. Olympia contest, where he came in 2nd only because of Larry Scott, who was already an 8x Mr. Olympia winner by that time. Most people believed Serge Nubrets physique was better than Larry Scotts, so it’s not hard to imagine how it must have felt to get beaten by someone not in the same league as him, especially back when professional bodybuilding was just getting started …
Larry Scott – The first Mr. Olympia – On steroids? Probably not, but doubt is reasonable considering the circumstances and later revelations/confessions, etc.
Serge Nubret (born 1938) won his pro-card after winning his class at IFBB Mr. France 1961, which he had placed 2nd at Mr. Europe 1959 (under 20 years old). He went on to become one of the greatest bodybuilders ever (3), standing 5’8″ tall @ 190lbs off-season weight (4). He was invited to Joe We’re inaugural Mr. Olympia contest, where he was beaten by the 8x Mr. Olympia winner Larry Scott (5).
Serge Nubret died on May 19, 2010.
Larry Scott – The first Mr. Olympia – On steroids? Probably not, but doubt is reasonable considering the circumstances and later revelations/conferences, etc.