7
MIKE MATARAZZO
While not the most genetically gifted, Mike Matarazzo brought the “freak factor” to the Mr. Olympia stage with the sheer size of his arms. Though he never placed in the Olympia top five, for fans of the sport in the ’90s, it’s hard to forget that physique.
6
SERGIO OLIVA
C L O C K W I S E F RO M L OW E R L E F T: C O U RT E S Y O F W E I D E R H E A LT H & F I T N E S S ; C H R I S L U N D ; P E R B E R N A L ; C H R I S L U N D/C O U RT E S Y O F W E I D E R H E A LT H & F I T N E S S
Three-time Mr. Olympia legend Sergio Oliva had proportions that were on a different level compared with his contemporaries. His biceps, in particular, looked much larger than the tape measurers even suggested. While he lacked the “peak” or detail of some of the others on this list, he had a level of mass that people hadn’t seen before—and that separated him from the pack.
5
ALBERT BECKLES
Although Albert Beckles never held the coveted Mr. Olympia title, he competed in more than 100 shows throughout his career, and his arms can be credited for a slew of victories spanning four decades. More impressive than those bulging biceps is the fact that Beckles took second place at the 1985 Mr. Olympia—at the age of 55.
4
PHIL HEATH
Phil Heath’s level of completeness and symmetry in his bi’s and tri’s separates him from most of the others on this list. Those powerfully built, perfectly balanced arms helped him earn seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, tying him with Arnold Schwarzenegger in his number of Sandows.
Heath has got it all in the arm department— peaked bi’s and thick tri’s.