Tag: Tony Pearson
Tony Pearson: Bodybuilders Should Stay Natural As Long As Possible Before Turning To Steroids
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Tony Pearson reacts to the current state of steroid use in competitive bodybuilding and compares it to his era of the sport.
The past two years have been challenging in the sport of bodybuilding. Not only due to a pandemic that ground the sport to a temporary halt but also due to a long line of tragic too-soon athlete deaths. While the cause of death for many of these athletes remain unknown – many have started to put deeper focus on drug use in the sport and its affect on health. During our interviews with old school bodybuilding legends – we have been asking their take on modern steroid use compared to their era. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tony Pearson reflects on steroid use during his time competing – and urges competitors to stay natural for as long as possible before using PEDs.
During our conversation with Tony Pearson, we asked him if he felt that steroids and other PEDs should be removed entirely from the sport of bodybuilding. With such a focus on health and the dangers of PEDs lately – should pro leagues start getting serious about testing?
Tony Pearson believes this could never happen due to how prevalent steroids are in the sport and how necessary they are in the late stage of pro competition. However, he does believe that the culture around steroid and PED use has changed for modern athletes specifically. Namely, now steroids are the first go-to option from the get go. In Tony Pearson’s time – pro athletes would stay natural as long as possible to determine their peak natural limit. Only then would they enhance with PEDs. Even then, it was much less than the doses Pearson hears about today.
Looking back at our first documentary, Generation Iron, great emphasis was placed by both athletes and experts that steroids are not a miracle muscle drug. Behind the enhancements, hard work is still required. Essentially, the drugs do not take away from the work put in by these miraculous athletes.
That still remains true today, but Tony Pearson points out, as many others have as well, that the culture has changed. Modern bodybuilders jump into steroids at a very young age and at an early point in their career. The hard work is still present – but the drugs seem to take center stage ahead of the hard work. A young competitive bodybuilder is more concerned with perfecting a steroid cycle or drug protocol than perfecting their training routine.
Tony Pearson explains that staying natural as long as possible should be the goal. Not simply to stay healthier – but to truly know your limits without the drugs. Only when an athlete reaches 100% all-natural should a competitor move onto PEDs and steroids. Competitors would be amazed at just how much progress can be made before PEDs are needed.
The internet has changed a lot of things across the globe. Information is faster than ever before. This makes competitive bodybuilders more able to learn about and obtain steroids sooner and faster. Perhaps this is the main culprit behind the culture shift in bodybuilding. Or perhaps this is the natural progression as physiques continue to get bigger and bigger inspiring new generations to top it. In either case, Tony Pearson joins a growing chorus of legends warning the new generation to slow down.
You can watch Tony Pearson’s full comments on steroids and PEDs in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Tony Pearson: Uniqueness Is Missing From Pro Bodybuilding Physiques Today
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Tony Pearson picks his top 5 bodybuilders of all time and laments the lack of uniqueness in modern bodybuilding physiques.
What started as a discussion about the greatest bodybuilder physiques of all time pivoted into a conversation about modern bodybuilding vs past eras. Tony Pearson has a hard time picking the top 5 greatest bodybuilders of all time – because so many classic bodybuilding legends held truly unique physiques. It’s a kind of stamp of originality that Pearson doesn’t see as much in pro bodybuilding physiques today. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tony Pearson explains how uniqueness is the missing X factor in modern bodybuilding.
During our conversation with Tony Pearson, we asked him to list his top 5 favorite bodybuilding physiques of all time. He started listing off names such as Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, and Franco Columbu. We noticed one commonality in his list – they were all Golden Era bodybuilders with a bigger focus on aesthetics rather than mass monster size.
We pointed this out and asked him about more modern legends such as Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, and Phil Heath. Tony Pearson acknowledges that they are true legends – but perhaps due to primarily competing in the 70s and 80s, Pearson has a particular taste for the more aesthetic golden era.
That being said, he also believes that the most current era of bodybuilding is missing a certain x-factor. Tony Pearson isn’t criticizing modern bodybuilding’s work ethic or skill. Rather, he believes that there is simply a lack of uniqueness in the pro bodybuilding physiques we see on stage today.
“I mean you can’t say who’s the top five because everybody is unique,” Tony Pearson states in our interview. He continues:
“And that’s what we are missing I think today – is the uniqueness of the pros. Because in those days you can cover the face and hold a picture – you know who that is. You know who’s back that is. You know who’s bicep that is. You know who’s legs those are. You know. You know’s abs. Who does that vacuum. We know. And that’s unique. You’re a unique piece of work.”
Tony Pearson goes on to mention Kai Greene, seemingly the most recent pro bodybuilder he can think of that felt unique in his physique as well as his posing. In fact, a lot of the uniqueness can also come in the form of posing. Something that the modern bodybuilders are stuck living in the shadow of from previous legends.
Tony Pearson doesn’t seem to be blaming today’s pro bodybuilders for lack of trying. When it comes to posing, modern bodybuilding simply suffers from being compared to so much that came before. He explains:
“Everyone is copying everyone else now. The guys in the Classic Physique – I can say oh that’s Shawn Ray’s pose or that’s Flex Wheeler’s pose or that’s a Zane pose. I can recognize all the poses from the old time guys”
Tony Pearson has an interesting point. There are now points of reference to other famous bodybuilders. For example, Nick Walker is often being compared to the likes of Dorian Yates and even Ronnie Coleman do to his similar humongous physique. He’s not just “Nick Walker: The One and Only.” He’s “Nick Walker: The Second Coming Of Dorian Yates.” That changes the conversation and perspective on today’s athletes.
Tony Pearson acknowledges this. “It’s hard work,” he goes on to say in our interview. It’s in some ways harder work than the older generations. The Golden Era was pioneering bodybuilding as we know it today. Is there any room left for something truly new in the sport? Or will today’s athletes always be compared in some way, shape, or form to a previous legend?
You can watch Tony Pearson go into full detail on this topic by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Tony Pearson: “I Spent My Whole Career Trying To Prove Something” To Joe Weider
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Tony Pearson opens up about his relationship with Joe Weider, being banned from the IFBB Pro League, and later getting reinstated.
Tony Pearson is a pro bodybuilder known for his impressive physique in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even some Masters competitions to this day. He also went viral (pre-internet version of viral, anyway) for being the bodybuilder that looked like Michael Jackson. But what some may not know is the rollercoaster history and relationship Pearson had with Joe Weider. In our latest GI Exclusive, Tony Pearson speaks openly about his complicated relationship with Joe Weider and how he was banned (and later reinstated) from the IFBB Pro league.
In our previous interview segment with Tony Pearson, we discussed his traumatic upbringing and how he discovered bodybuilding as an escape from poverty and abuse. After confirming his passion and making some progress as an amateur bodybuilder – he decided to move to Los Angeles to take the next step towards pro status. When Pearson landed in LA, he barely had any money to his name. He made his way to Gold’s Gym and simply sat there watching legends train. He couldn’t even afford a pass to actually train there.
What Tony Pearson could afford was a weekly pass to the Venice Beach outdoor training pen. This was his outlet for improving and making gains towards becoming pro. Eventually, he earned his first major victory at the Mr. Venice Beach. Shortly after, Arnold Schwarzenegger approached Pearson while he was training. Schwarzenegger acknowledged his accomplishments and was impressed by Pearson’s work ethic. He claimed that Pearson had what it took to become a true champion.
How Tony Pearson Met Joe Weider
Tony Pearson was only 19 years old at this point. This was a dream come true. The biggest legend in bodybuilding just gave Pearson a critique – and it was one that offered a glimpse to a future as a champion. Not only that, but Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to connect Pearson with Joe Weider for a meeting. As any bodybuilder knows, Joe Weider at that time was the king of the sport. He could provide a “Weider Contract” – essentially providing a yearly salary as a career bodybuilder.
While nearly all bodybuilders knew of Joe Weider’s reputation, Tony Pearson didn’t know who he was at the time. But he met with Weider anyways – knowing that if it was set up by Schwarzenegger, it must be important. But upon arriving at the meeting, Joe Weider was unimpressed. He gave Pearson a quick look, was seemingly surprised that Schwarzenegger suggested Pearson, and then walked away asking one of his employees to write a short article on Pearson.
“It didn’t go very well with Joe. First thing he said was, ‘Arnold sent you here’ in that voice,” Tony Pearson stated in our interview. He impersonated a sarcastic or skeptical look when impersonating Joe Weider. He then continued:
“And he turned away and said Jack… write an article on this kid, Arnold sent him. And then he just walked away. So from that day forward, Joe and I never got along. He never accepted me. I spent my whole career trying to prove something.”
Vlad Yudin follows up by asking if he was specifically trying to prove something to Joe Weider. Tony Pearson confirms that yes – that moment hang onto his consciousness and motivated him to improve every step of the way.
Tony Pearson’s Ban From The IFBB Pro League
Later down the road, Tony Pearson was finding himself continuing to improve in the sport – but he was still unable to earn enough money to survive. He was offered a guest posing routine abroad – but the event was not sanctioned by the IFBB. Pearson found himself torn between loyalty and earning a living financially. He made the decision to guest pose. Shortly after that he was banned for life by the IFBB.
Perhaps somewhat ironically, this ultimately led to a successful path for Tony Pearson. He continued to compete in other leagues and also had free rein to guest pose in any league that wanted him – without worry of sanctions. He gained popularity and became a pro bodybuilder.
How Does Tony Pearson See Joe Weider’s Legacy?
After his success, it was suggested to him that he write a letter to Jim Manion and the IFBB Pro league – asking to be reinstated. He took the advice and the letter worked. Pearson found himself back in the IFBB and able to compete in the biggest league in the sport. Despite this, throughout his entire career, Tony Pearson never got on 100% good terms with Joe Weider up until his passing.
Looking back, Tony Pearson regrets nothing and holds nothing personal against Joe Weider. He is aware that beyond his personal relationship with him, Weider transformed bodybuilding into what it is today. Without him – there would be no size and scope behind the sport as there is now.
You can watch Tony Pearson’s full comments on Joe Weider and his rollercoaster ride through the IFBB Pro league in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Tony Pearson Talks Growing Up Through Poverty & Starvation Before Bodybuilding
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Bodybuilding icon Tony Pearson details his struggles in childhood and how he discovered bodybuilding.
Tony Pearson is a former pro bodybuilder known for his iconic physique and a career that spanned from the 70’s through to the 90s. But before he was an established pro bodybuilder – he grew up through a tumultuous childhood of poverty, racism, and segregation. In 2019, he published a book detailing his life story. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tony Pearson details the harsh reality of growing up through poverty, abuse, and racism. As well as how he discovered bodybuilding to escape from his troubled past.
When connecting with Tony Pearson for a video interview, he described his past as something that he some times blocks out and pretends never existed. But those moments are only momentary – because his past did happen. It was a traumatic past full of poverty, abuse, and racism. It was a childhood that felt “normal” at the time because he had nothing else to compare it to. It was only after getting older and expanding his social life that he realized the severity of his past.
In 2019, Tony Pearson published a book, Driven: My Secret Untold Story. The book revealed in great detail the reality of his upbringing. During our conversation, we ask Pearson to recap some of those stories to help further expose not only his harsh reality – but the reality of poverty and racism that has existed in this country and how far we’ve come in some ways and stayed the same in others.
Tony Pearson was born in 1957, so his childhood took place during a period of racial segregation in the United States. Not only that but Pearson was born into poverty. He was ultimately left to the care of his aunt – who did not want to take on the responsibility or perhaps couldn’t bear to due to her own financial struggles. Regardless, Pearson’s entire childhood since the age of three was defined by extreme trauma.
Tony Pearson reveals that he was barely fed food and would sometimes go days without eating a single meal. He was often ignored by his aunt and left to his own devices. During school, he would be taken out of classes for months at a time to work on cotton fields. When he would return, he would be so far behind with his school work that he couldn’t catch up. This all seemed in some ways normal to Pearson at the time. He had no friends and had no comparison to make.
But this isn’t just a story of trauma and struggle. This is a story about overcoming the struggle and becoming the successful man we all know today. Bodybuilding was ultimately an escape for Pearson. An escape into a new world where he could succeed and grow past the struggles of his youth.
By the time he moved to high school, he had the opportunity to meet Muhammad Ali in person. It was an iconic moment and a truly important one. Upon seeing the sheer size and scope of Ali, Pearson was inspired. He wanted to become an athlete.
This led to a path of discovery that ultimately placed him into wrestling. He started training for the sport, developed a love of weightlifting, and slowly developed into a bodybuilder. He knew friends who owned bodybuilding magazines that further inspired him. He now had a direction and hope towards a better future.
You can watch Tony Pearson go into full detail about his past, his encounter with Muhammad Ali, and how he discovered bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.