Rich Gaspari: Memories of My First Mr. Olympia

My Rookie Year as an IFBB Pro

1985 was my rookie year as an IFBB pro. Back in the fall of 1985, I had won my class at the NPC Nationals and then shortly after at the Mr. Universe, which is now called the IFBB World Amateur Championships. Not many people realize this today, but back then, even winning the overall at the Nationals didn’t earn you pro status. You had to go to the Universe and win your class. Myself, John Hnatyschak and Mike Christian all got our pro cards that year in Las Vegas (one of the few times it was ever held in the USA, and the last). I entered my first pro contest in May of 1985, while I was still 21 years old. It was the Night of Champions in New York City, and I came very close to winning. I got beat by “ageless” Albert Beckles, who was probably around 49 at the time. I made a huge impression not only because I almost won my pro debut and I was so young, but also for the major improvements I had made since the Nationals. There, I had overdieted down to 186 pounds. Between holding my mass better and new gains I also managed to make between the shows, I was almost 25 pounds heavier in New York, at 212. Instantly I was being talked about as one of the favorites for the Mr. Olympia that fall, which is crazy when I think about it now.

The reigning Mr. Olympia was none other than my good friend, former roommate and training partner, Lee Haney. The previous year, we had both lived out in California while he trained for his first Mr. O win and I trained for the Nationals and the Universe. I had great respect for him, but I still wanted to beat him and was confident that I could if I made more improvements and showed up in the condition I was becoming known for. And of course, I also wanted to beat Al Beckles, since he had come between me and a win at the Night of Champions!

‘The Myth’ and the ‘Golden Eagle’

As the show got closer, I learned that Sergio Oliva, who had returned to the Mr. Olympia in 1984 after being away from the IFBB for 12 years, would also be in the show. “The Myth” was a three-time Mr. Olympia and a living legend I had looked up to as a kid reading the magazines. Another man I had nothing but the utmost respect for was the “Golden Eagle” Tom Platz, known both for having the greatest lower body of all time and also for being one of the hardest trainers the sport has ever seen. That meant a lot to me, as I too was known for my training intensity and work ethic in the gym. Tony Pearson was yet another man entering who I had read about in magazines, and now I was going to be sharing the same stage as all of them. Mike Christian, who had beat me for the overall at both the Nationals and the Universe, would be in the show, and being extremely competitive, I definitely wanted to turn the tables on him this time (and I did). But most of all, I was focused on improving my own mass, hardness and density and didn’t think about the other guys.

The 1985 Mr. Olympia was held in Brussels, Belgium and it was the first time I had ever been out of the USA. I had heard that long airline flights made you retain water, so I made sure I drank plenty of fluids before and during the flight, in addition to arriving a couple of days early to make sure I had enough time to get rid of any water if I had to. Because I have a fuller face that never got gaunt like other guys, there was some talk that I wasn’t in shape— talk that stopped once people saw what I looked like once the sweats came off!

A Kid From New Jersey

When I got to the venue, I saw all the guys like Sergio, Platz and of course Lee Haney. I felt like I belonged there, even though I was just this kid from New Jersey only in his second pro show. I went off to the side and kept to myself, thinking about how I wanted to perform onstage. I didn’t look at anyone because I felt if I did, there was a chance I might be intimidated. I knew I was thicker and fuller than I had been in New York, and my condition was right on. Once I took off my sweats and pumped up, I went out there with the rest of the guys. In the lineup, I was next to Sergio Oliva, who was the best bodybuilder of his era, and Tom Platz. It was almost surreal. The first callout was me, Lee, Albert and Mike Christian. The judges worked me hard and put me in a few more comparisons, but the final callout let me know I was in the top three as it was just myself, Lee and Albert.

Just Like Lee Haney

When I did get called out in third place and Joe Weider put the bronze medal around my neck, for a moment I did feel disappointment. Then I thought, are you kidding me, Rich? I had taken third on my first try at the O, just like Lee Haney had in 1983. I figured I would probably win it the next year, as he had. It didn’t turn out that way, but for the next three years in a row I was runner-up to Lee. And in doing so, I was in huge demand for photo shoots, interviews, guest posing, appearances and seminars all over the world. I was able to make a very nice living doing what I loved, and my “job” had gone from working at a gym to being one of the top pro bodybuilders in the world.

1985 Mr. Olympia Results

1. Lee Haney

2. Albert Beckles

3. Rich Gaspari

4. Mohamed Makkawy

5. Mike Christian

6. Berry de Mey

7. Tom Platz

8. Sergio Oliva

9. Bob Paris

10. Frank Richard

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