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.
