Inside epic battles of world’s shortest bodybuilders who took on giants from ripped Lee Priest to iconic Ronnie Coleman
BODYBUILDING is all about big muscles, but a video has highlighted some of the shortest in the industry, who've won all manner of tournaments while being a foot shorter than the competition.
The video was shared on YouTube and shows the stories of various short bodybuilders, among them Lee Priest and Shaun Clarida.
The clip was edited by Raiden Motivation, showing interviews with some of the bodybuilders, who revealed some of the challenges they faced when competing.
“Everyone doubted me,” said Clarida, who was nicknamed the Giant Killer after winning multiple competitions and defeating his larger competitors.
“They said, ‘Hey, your career is over, you’re too small. There’s no way he’s gonna put the muscle on, that he’s never going to win a pro show, that he’s never going to be a good pro.”
He revealed that most of the people that surrounded him advised him to quit.
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“I’ve always been that guy that will do everything to win and to be my absolute best.”
Another pro, Lee Priest, explained that he never cared that he was shorter and he didn’t feel intimidated by his taller and bigger competitors.
“I don’t care about it. Just be you and be the best you can be,” said Priest.
Viewers of the video talked about Lee and how he still is one of the best bodybuilders to ever be involved in the sport.
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“Lee was insane,” wrote a viewer. “One of the greatest physiques in history.”
“It doesn't matter that Lee was 5'4",” wrote someone else. “He had best all-around body. His whole body, every part was near perfect.
“Phenomenal biceps, triceps, forearms, traps, delts. The man was an awesome specimen of human muscle. He deserved more than what he got out of bodybuilding.”
Professional bodybuilder Mohammed Benaziza, who measured 5 feet 3, said that mentality is the most important thing for any bodybuilder - and why he was able to defeat larger competitors.
He compared himself to a lion and explained that while the animal wasn’t the biggest animal in the jungle, it was still the king of it.
“When a lion sees an elephant, he thinks ‘lunch.’ When an elephant sees a lion, he thinks ‘run’.”