---
title: 'Who Had the Best Physique Ever?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=dKuEOFTEvd8'
video_id: 'dKuEOFTEvd8'
date: 2026-08-27
duration_sec: 144
channel: 'Jeff Nippard'
---

# Who Had the Best Physique Ever?

> Source: [Who Had the Best Physique Ever?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=dKuEOFTEvd8)

## Summary

This video ranks the best bodybuilder physiques from each decade, starting from the 1900s to the present day, highlighting the unique attributes and training styles of each era's standout athlete.

### Key Points

- **1900s: George Hackenschmidt** [00:01] — Known for ridiculous quads and shoulders, with a verified 269 lb single-arm overhead shoulder press.
- **1910s: Flavio Massimo** [00:13] — A 100% natural physique, as steroids didn't exist until the 1950s.
- **1920s: Alan Meek** [00:29] — Had crazy shreds, with a physique comparable to natural pro Eric Helms, despite the photo being 102 years old.
- **1930s: John Grimek** [00:42] — Chosen for his muscle shape and roundness.
- **1940s: Reg Park** [00:56] — Multiple Mr. Universe titles, maintained he was a lifetime natural.
- **1960s: Larry Scott** [01:09] — First Mr. Olympia, famous for his biceps and popularizing the preacher curl.
- **1970s: Arnold Schwarzenegger** [01:25] — Most iconic physique, trained with brutally high volume, often two workouts a day.
- **1980s: Lee Haney** [01:38] — Known for 'stimulate, don't annihilate', emphasizing building muscle while avoiding injury and focusing on proper form and recovery.
- **1990s: Dorian Yates** [01:52] — Ushered in the mass monster era, made super low volume training famous with one or two all-out max effort sets per exercise.
- **2000s: Ronnie Coleman** [02:05] — Freakiest combination of size and strength, with striated glutes on stage close to 300 lb, trained like a powerlifter with 800 lb squats.
- **2010s: Phil Heath** [02:18] — Brought a bubbly look with crazy arms, trained with a lot of machine work.
- **2020s: Chris Bumstead** [02:18] — Brought back a classic look with a smaller waist and vintage aesthetics, trains with progressive overload, meticulous technique, and a focus on longevity.

### Conclusion

The video provides a historical overview of bodybuilding physiques, highlighting how training styles and aesthetics have evolved over the decades, from natural physiques to the mass monster era and back to a classic look.

## Transcript

decade? 1900s go to George [music] Hackenschmidt. Ridiculous quads and Hackenschmidt. Ridiculous quads and shoulders with a verified 269 lb single arm overhead shoulder press. For the 1910s, I've got Flavio Massimo. His lat
shows today. Steroids don't come around until the 1950s, but this is a verified 100% natty physique. The 1920s go to Alan Meek. Crazy shreds. He even had at him next to natural pro Eric Helms. Their physiques are so similar, yet the
pic of Alan was taken 102 years ago. 1930s go to John Grimek. He mostly used when it comes to muscle shape and roundness. 1940s, the last decade before steroids. Steve Reeves was the most
best build. If he was an influencer today, most of you would say he's not come in, and I'm giving the best physique from this era to Reg Park with multiple Mr. Universe titles. Reg did maintain that he was a lifetime natty,
and shape starts before it gets completely out of control. 1960s, Larry Scott was the first ever Mr. Olympia, and to this day has some of the best biceps ever. He made the preacher curl so famous that some trainers still call
to Arnold. Probably the most iconic physique ever with his scalloped [music] was brutally high volume, often doing two workouts a day with marathon high to Lee Haney. He was known for his famous stimulate, don't annihilate
admire for emphasizing building muscle while avoiding injury and emphasizing proper form and proper recovery. I'm giving the 90s to Dorian Yates simply because his physique ushered in the mass monster era. Way too big for the average
person, but bodybuilders still admire his grainy look. He made super low volume training famous, just one or two all out max effort sets per exercise. obviously goes to Ronnie Coleman. This is the freakiest combination of size and
strength that anyone has ever seen. Ronnie had striated glutes on stage close to 300 lb. He trained like a powerlifter, combining 800 lb squats and training. I'm giving the 2010s to Phil Heath. He brought this bubbly
with some of the craziest arms ever. Phil trained with a lot of machine work connection. For the current era, I'm going with Chris Bumstead, who brought back a classic look, smaller waist, and [music] vintage aesthetics. Chris trains
using progressive overload, meticulous technique, and an intelligent focus on longevity. Which era do you think was the best?