Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Steve Reeves: Natural or not?


I came across a forum (link) where a poster wrote a convoluted post about how Steve Reeves wasn't a natural bodybuilder and describes his use of steroids. There's been some debate on this: when did Steve hear about steroids (according to Steve he only heard about the drug in the mid-60s) and was he really natural  as he always claimed to be? Personally, I believe he was natural. His body is cut (in the top photo) but he just doesn't have the typical steroid physique.

Uploaded to the HEROES & BEEFCAKE page






9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree about Steve's obviously non-juiced physique. He has none of the overly inflated, balloon-like bloat that steroid-using bodybuilders possess.

Pal said...

Steve categorically said that he did not use drugs (and in fact he passionately criticized those who did) - and unlike some people trying to tarnish his image, he has the credibility in my eyes.

S.R.Orsulak said...

I doubt very much that Steve was using steroids. My nephew who is into bodybuilding and is a professional trainer for seniors has said that Steve was an inspiration for him because he was not using steroids. He also pointed out that many of the bodybuilders of the 40's & 50's did not use the drug whatsoever. My nephew just turned 40 and he knows what he's talking about.

Foxman said...

The author of that 2006 article seems to have singled out Steve as some kind of exception that could only have been produced by drug usage. Was Steve any better built than LaLanne, Gironda, Ross, Stephan, Park or any of the others of the late '40s and early '50s? His body may have been aesthetically more pleasing but his size was common for the time. To say that he was on drugs is to say that everyone was, which I don't think was the case. I think Steve has become the victim of his own legendary status, and there are those that can't see him as a dedicated athlete who worked hard and followed the principles of progressive training and healthy eating.

Anonymous said...

Besides dedicated steroid users all seem to have the same frighteningly balloon muscled physique.
Reeves stood out from the competition due to the undeniably aesthetic qualities of his symmetry. I'm no bodybuilder but I had to lose 65 lbs for health reasons, Steve Reeves was a bit of an inspiration to me as I chugged away on the ellipse machine.
JF

Foxman said...

Good for you. Steve was an inspiration to a lot of people, myself included. He gave us a physical pattern of what to strive for: Wide shoulders, a v-taper, well-developed arms, a small waist and powerful legs, all balanced in perfect symmetry. And, he did it all without countless supplements and, aside from his homemade protein/energy drink, he ate normal food.

Anonymous said...

In a way, as the steroids and ther were far to be known by athlètes in the 1944-1950, to say that Steve Reeves was on steroids is like to say that Abraham Lincoln used the atom bomb in 1865! Steve was gifted and a very calm guy, who, when training for a contest, followed a very strict way of life, with good food, good rest and great dedication. I remember how I could gain one pound a day during fifteen days with the same routine, and was far from as gifted than Steve Reeves

Unknown said...

As far as I know, not one person has come forward with a shred of evidence or eye witness accounts to prove that Reeves used roids. Years ago some idiot claimed that he turned Reeves on to steroids in France. He later said he was mistaken and that it was another famous bodybuilder. The people who claim they "know" Reeves took steroids simply by his physique do not know what is possible when a person has one in a billion genetics. I remember seeing George Foreman right before he fought the first Frazier fight. The guy was huge and never touched a weight, never mind a steroid in his life.

Christopher Nowak BFA MLIS said...

Mike O'Hearn is NOT natural.
Steve Reeves was natural.