June 28, 1942 -
Kingston, Pennsylvania, USA
Mr. Olympia
1977, 1978, 1979
A
1970’s rendition of the Steve Reeves look, Frank Zane was proportioned and
defined at under 200 pounds, and had a career that exemplified persistence. His
was no meteoric rise to the top. After 10 years of working out, he won the
1968 IFBB Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe titles, handing a loss in the Mr.
Universe contest to no less a body than Arnold Schwarzenegger. In
1969, Frank captured the IFBB Mr. World title. Zane competed in five IFBB
Mr. Olympia’s before winning the sport’s top title in 1977, and then
dominated the competition for the next two years. When
the sport experienced a massive expansion in the late ‘70s, he was the perfect
spokesman for bodybuilding, his cultured persona and articulate nature a
contradiction of the “musclehead” stereotype. He was seriously injured
before the 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia, but showed courage to persevere and gain third
place. His career finale was
represented by fourth place at the 1983 IFBB Mr. Olympia, after which he opened
Zane Haven in Palm Springs, California, where he still lives with his wife
Christine. True to his Renaissance-man image, Frank continues to publish
books, his latest - Frank Zane Mind, Body, Spirit, and has released a CD of
self-composed blues music, on which he plays a mean harmonica.
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