Shorter Open Bodybuilders

[FrenchBench22]

I have recently been looking into bodybuilders that are around the same height as me (172cm / 5'7") and what they've achieved. It does get discouraging to see all these people getting >300lbs, and realizing/accepting that I'll never be one of these super-heavy humans, but I still have room to grow and improve the quality of my physique.

Watching footage of the Light-Heavyweight class from the USAs in the 1990s, there are dozens of incredible bodybuilders that never became well known.
There is a wide range of physiques and what looks they've been able to bring to the stage, but there is some common ranges with body weights, turning pro as light-heavyweight (up to 198lbs/90kg) or a smaller heavyweight (up to 220lbs/100kg).
Most of their peak weight being 205-220lbs, and some of the 'freaks' 240-265lbs.

Does anyone have any other bodybuilders that fall into this height range (5'6" - 5'8")?

 

[FrenchBench22]

Silvio Samuel

 

[FrenchBench22]

Ahmad Haidar

 

[FrenchBench22]

Rich Gaspari

 

[FrenchBench22]

Samir Bannout

 

[FrenchBench22]

Kamal ElGargni

 

[FrenchBench22]

Tonio Burton

 

[FrenchBench22]

William Bonac

 

[FrenchBench22]

Nick Walker

 

[kadafi2]

Bodybuilding isn't just about weight. I'm surprised you, as a great-looking competitor, brought this up. Most bodybuilders are short; it's a very simple perspective: on a shorter frame, less muscle looks more impressive than the same amount on someone taller. You included Tonio Burton and Nick Walker (focusing on today). Tonio looks better overall, in my opinion, thanks to his proportions and narrow waist. And he's probably shorter and definitely lighter than Nick. Look at his height. Mr. Olympia, Arnold, and Lee Haney were the exceptions. You're the PERFECT height for a bodybuilder.

You don't have to be a mass monster to be a great bodybuilder.

 

[kadafi2]

This is bodybuilding at its highest level, 5'8, doesn't weigh 300 pounds and looks... exactly.

 

[chooch]

I’m 5’4” with the bone structure of a 12yo girl lol. Typically around 190 but when I competed I’d diet down to 154 to hit the lightweight class. I remember once winning and then getting on stage with the other class winners for the overall and laughing to myself. 154lbs on stage next to dudes 250+ just isn’t even comparable.

 

[madg]

6.0 - 240 - 20 inch arms

 

[traininsane11]

I think the fact all the people listed share the trait of being absolute genetic freaks of nature is more important than height just to bare in mind if looking for an average of what shorter guys can achieve but also 5ft7 is about mid range for a pro BB I’d say

 

[Karađorđe]

Statistically, taller guys have a much harder time succeeding than someone sitting at a slightly below-average 5’7”. The average open Mr. Olympia winner lands somewhere around 5’8”–5’9” (varies a bit depending on which sources you pull from), and the tallest open winner ever is Arnold — whose real height is honestly its own whole debate. Point is, don’t sweat it bro. You’re actually in a way better spot than us tall guys.

The average height of the multi-champ for the Olympia is about 5’9”-5’11” though. Dorian, Ronnie, Phil, Jay.

 

[Shelby]

It's almost harder to think of bodybuilders that are NOT 5'6 to 5'8
Tons of great bodybuilders in that range
Dexter Jackson, Shawn Ray, Tom Platz, Chris Dickerson, Lee Labrada, Francis Benfatto, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, Melvin Anthony, etc

 

[TheOtherOne55]

Yeah, I’m confused. Being 6ft+ is an impossible task for the vast majority of BBers. I feel like the best of the best have been in that 5’7-5’10 grouping.

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

6.0 - 240 - 20 inch arms

My favorite bodybuilder of all time, this particular show / physique is the epitome of what my personal ideal bodybuilder is. Great proportions, huge fuckin guns, inside out lean, waist not much wider than a slice of bologna, and great posing to bring it all together.

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

Gunter is 6'1, Cedric was 6'1 as well. I think Wolf is 6'0 those are the guys I think of that were tall, still massive

 

[Shelby]

Martin Fitzwater also 5'7