Champions who’ve sculpted impressive physiques without relying on PEDs.
Natural bodybuilding emphasizes enhancing one’s genetic capability through rigorous workouts and diet strategies. In striving for an extraordinary physique, countless competitors have turned to anabolic substances(1). These drugs allow athletes to extend their physical limits and achieve rapid muscle gains. Organizations like the IFBB Pro League don’t screen for these substances. In contrast, natural bodybuilding leagues enforce strict drug testing standards. Explore the top 10 natural bodybuilders throughout history and uncover the essence of natural bodybuilding.
Disclaimer: Fit Journey Now neither supports nor promotes the use of prohibited substances. This article aims to inform readers about these substances’ effects and does not serve as advice or a how-to guide.
10 Leading Natural Bodybuilders
Given the lesser prominence of natural bodybuilding, you might recognize only a few names from this list. Moreover, many who claim to be natural aren’t. Our selection includes individuals who have never tested positive in drug screenings and compete in natural federation events. Nevertheless, absolute certainty on an athlete’s natural status is challenging. Here’s the list of the top 10 natural bodybuilders (unordered).
Eugen Sandow
We commence our list with the patriarch of modern bodybuilding, Eugen Sandow. This luminary’s likeness adorns the prestigious Mr. Olympia award. Since Sandow’s birth was in 1867 and steroids became mainstream in the 1950s, it’s safe to presume this icon was natural.
Ron Williams
Ron Williams stands as the most celebrated natural bodybuilder, having secured victory in over 250 contests, making him a definite choice for the top natural bodybuilders list. Inducted into the International Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2008, this legend has claimed 7 Mr. Natural Olympia titles, 7 Mr. Natural Universe Titles, and 7 Mr. Natural World Titles.
Jeff Seid
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Jeff Seid, widely disputed for his natty status, surprises many by appearing on this list of elite natural bodybuilders. Renowned for his remarkable build, Seid became the youngest IFBB Pro at 19. Before choosing bodybuilding, Seid was an All-American wrestler and stands 6 feet tall.
Ulisses Williams Jr.
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Ulisses Williams Jr., another esteemed natural bodybuilding champion, with wins in over 24 competitions, earns his rightful place on our list. Besides his competition achievements, Williams Jr. is recognized for his eight-pack abs, deviating from the conventional six-pack.
Rob Terry
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Rob Terry clinched the Natural Olympia title in both 2017 and 2018, establishing himself as a prime contender among top natural bodybuilders. He stands at a towering 6’5” and had stints in WWE and Impact before venturing into natural bodybuilding.
Derek Joe
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Derek Joe participated in his first amateur bodybuilding contest in 2020. From there, he escalated to winning the Natural Olympia Men’s Classic Physique Open in 2021, a challenging feat that secured his spot among the top natural bodybuilders.
John Hansen
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John Hansen stands at 5’5” and his competition weight was over 200 pounds. He was the inaugural winner of the Natural Olympia and captured the Mr. Natural Universe title three times, which solidifies his inevitable inclusion in the list of best natural bodybuilders.
Paul Krueger
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Paul Krueger is a dominant figure in natural bodybuilding. He astonished everyone by clinching the 2021 Natural Olympia title just weeks after receiving his pro card! It’s worth noting he spent 25 years as an amateur bodybuilder before turning professional in natural bodybuilding.
Meshack Ochieng
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Meshack Ochieng is often compared to the “Natural Ronnie Coleman” due to his impressive physique that could easily be mistaken for a non-natural athlete. Competing in the INBA and NANBF, which enforce stringent drug testing, Ochieng has triumphed in numerous natural competitions.
Mike O’Hearn
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We saved the most debated figure for last, Mike O’Hearn. A four-time INBA Mr. Natural Universe winner, O’Hearn has never failed a drug test, making it hard to dispute his natural status. Although many articles and podcasts discuss his natty status, Mike O’Hearn remains the best natural bodybuilder in our opinion.
What Is Natural Bodybuilding
As the term suggests, natural bodybuilding is purely bodybuilding donewithout drug consumption. Natural athletes, such as those in the IFBB Pro League, aim to achieve a ripped appearance, but without the aid of performance enhancers. Consequently, they are generally smaller than their enhanced peers.
Nonetheless, not every bodybuilder discloses their steroid use. Many profess to be natural, as steroid use is often viewed as cheating. To distinguish their athletes, natural bodybuilding leagues like the INBA PNBA conduct multiple drug tests annually and maintain a list of banned substances.
Pros & Cons of Natural Bodybuilding
Most individuals begin muscle-building naturally before considering performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). However, many, particularly those in natural bodybuilding leagues, choose to remain natural. Here are the pros and cons of natural bodybuilding to help you determine if it aligns with your goals.
Pros
Safer
Performance-enhancing drugs come with side effects that can have severe consequences. These include baldness, hormonal disturbances, depression, and cardiac failure. As a natural bodybuilder, you avoid these risks since such drugs are not part of your regimen.
Better for Longevity
Another advantage of avoiding the aforementioned side effects is improved longevity. Weight training naturally promotes health and wellness. Without the additional damage from drugs, you have a greater chance of living a long, healthy life.
More Cost-Effective
Bodybuilding can be very pricey. You need to maintain a nutritious diet, pay for gym access, and purchase high-quality supplements, in addition to competition prep expenses like travel. Adding steroids to this increases the financial burden, as high-quality options are expensive. Natural bodybuilding alleviates this extra financial strain.
Better for Integrity & Self-Respect
The fulfillment that comes from knowing you’ve worked hard and pushed your limits to achieve your physique is immense. Bodybuilders who use steroids and conceal it may lead a double life, causing mental stress. Natural bodybuilders have peace of mind, knowing they achieved their results without drug assistance and maintain credibility.
Cons
Frequent Testing
Natural bodybuilding involves ongoing and frequent testing. Most natural bodybuilders bear the costs of these tests, which can be expensive over time. Additionally, there is the worry about false positives and the lengthy appeal process to correct such errors.
Less Recognition
Natural bodybuilders receive a small fraction of the considerable fan admiration that their enhanced counterparts do. This lesser recognition can be disheartening, causing some to abandon their pursuits. Media coverage for natural bodybuilding is also less prominent, as many prefer the more massive physiques seen in IFBB Pro League athletes.
Limited Achievements
While being a pro-natural bodybuilder is possible, natural athletes cannot surpass the physical capabilities of those who use PEDs. There’s no way a natural athlete can rival PED users in the realm of bodybuilding.
Lower Earnings
Due to less fan and media interest, natural bodybuilding offers lower financial rewards. Competition prize money is lesser, and sponsorship deals have smaller payouts. Many bodybuilders, therefore, treat it as a hobby and have other jobs to support their lifestyle.
Slower Development
Observing steroid-using peers achieve rapid progress can be demoralizing. Building muscle and strength naturally is challenging and time-consuming, which could frustrate a natural bodybuilder.
Contrasts Between Natural Bodybuilding & Enhanced Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding entails lifting weights to attain muscle hypertrophy and growth. The aim is to look as large and shredded as proportionately possible. Bodybuilders who use performance-enhancing drugs have greater strength potential and can train longer, resulting in more muscle growth. This research demonstrates the link between weight, volume, and muscle growth (2). Moreover, anabolic steroids trigger an anabolic chain reaction in the body that promotes additional muscle growth.
To distinguish categories, natural bodybuilding contests provide a comprehensive list of prohibited substances. Consuming any of the following disqualifies one’s natural status:
- Anabolic Steroids
- Testosterone
- Trenbolone
- Clenbuterol
- Insulin
- Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
- Somecontests also feature CBD and natural testosterone enhancers
Natural Bodybuilding Competitions
The leading entities overseeing natural bodybuilding are the International Natural Bodybuilding Association and Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA/PNBA), the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF), and the American Natural Bodybuilding Federation (ANBF). These organizations collaborate with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and their list of banned substances.
Among the renowned competitions that these organizations organize are the Natural Olympia, the PNBA Elite World, and the Natural Universe. These events feature the same categories as those found in the IFBB Pro League, such as the Men’s Open category, Women’s Open, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, Classic Physique, Bikini, and Wellness and Fitness.
Natural Bodybuilding Supplements
In the realm of bodybuilding, two factors are crucial: muscle mass and leanness. Nutrition and training play significant roles in achieving substantial muscle mass and low body fat.
Nevertheless, maintaining such a diet can be draining, thus supplementation becomes vital.
Top Supplement for Muscle Building
Carnivor Lean Meal stands out as our preferred supplement for a lean meal plan conducive to muscle growth, thanks not just to its catchy name! This product should be a priority in your training and diet plan, especially for natural bodybuilders. It aids in promoting lean muscle growth and hastens muscle recovery, making it an excellent supplement to incorporate into your workouts. Derived from natural ingredients, it further assists your body with muscle synthesis, weight loss, and muscle recovery.
Read the comprehensive review of Carnivor Lean Meal here!
Top Supplement for Getting Extremely Lean
When striving to become extremely lean, body fat is crucial, but to achieve the pinnacle, water weight must be cut.
Supplements are excellent at reducing water retention, although many diuretics can be unnatural and hazardous. Fortunately, MHP has introduced an herbal diuretic that effectively reduces water weight safely.
XPEL is rich in natural components such as Vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, all combined to create a formula that swiftly and safely eliminates excess water weight while reducing bloating.
Though diuretics are commonly used by bodybuilders in competitions like Mr. Olympia, XPEL helps you achieve a sleek and slender physique for any occasion, be it a beach outing, a date, easing menstrual symptoms, or simply looking your best.
Natural Bodybuilding Wrap-Up
Engaging in natural bodybuilding is an engrossing endeavor that many pursue but only a few complete. Despite offering less financial and fame incentives compared to its counterpart, it promotes a healthier lifestyle and arguably garners more respect for achieving physiques without performance-enhancing drugs. Explore the profiles of outstanding natural bodybuilders we have highlighted, and delve deeper into the domain of natural bodybuilding below:
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References
- Hartgens, F., & Kuipers, H. (2004). Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 34(8), 513–554. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200434080-00003
- Krzysztofik, M., Wilk, M., Wojdała, G., & Gołaś, A. (2019). Maximizing Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review of Advanced Resistance Training Techniques and Methods. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(24), 4897. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244897