Arnie, eat your heart out!

He’s the first and only non-American to win the prestigious Mr Olympia title — and that too six times in a row from 1992-97. But Birmingham-based Dorian Yates, like his weights, carries his achievements lightly.

Like Arnold Schwarzenegger (who also won Mr Olympia for six consecutive years, 1970-75), arguably the most famous body builder in the world, Dorian too rose from blue collar beginnings to capture the title with his sheer grit.

“For that matter, though Arnold has Austrian roots, he’d settled down in America before he actually won the title. People told me it was impossible to beat the Americans at their own game; there was a lot of politics involved and outsiders didn’t stand a chance. But if you’re good enough, nothing else matters — I’m living proof of it!” says Dorian.

But that’s where the similarity ends. While he has met Arnold at the odd public function, the association is perfunctory and fraternal. “We’re different people. Politics and films were an ambition for Arnold, but never for me. But I would say that his contribution in broad-basing the sport can hardly be matched.”

Dorian’s trademark ‘blood and guts’ system of training, which involves extremely high intensity workouts in short bursts, resulted in a muscle injury days before the 1997 Mr Olympia contest. Against all advice, he not only participated, but also won it, announcing his retirement from professional body building soon after.

“In every sport, at the competitive level, there’s always a danger of injury. But there are considerably less chances in body building comparatively, than say in soccer,” he points out.

In Mumbai for a short stint to train instructors from Gold’s Gym, he’s also been busy  expanding his own fitness empire. Next year, Sheru Aangrish, one of his Indian friends who runs gyms in New York and London will be organising an annual body building competition in his honour — The DY Classic — in Chandigarh.

“I think what’s perhaps lacking in Indian body builders is advanced knowledge of the sport. You’d be surprised to know that even the average European isn’t really that aware about it either,” says Dorian.

And while he prefers to keep his personal life private, he’s technically single now. So, does being a body building champ translate into a babe magnet? Dorian laughs. “Well, it is a door opener because women find you interesting. But it basically comes down to your personality,” he smiles.