Best Chest Development Ever? - You Tell Us Who & Why
Best Chest Development Ever?
You Tell Us Who & Why
When perusing my personal list of best chest candidates only one of the eleven, Johnnie Jackson, is still competing. The other ten contenders are from other eras – but this is not an old fart in “Things were better back then” mode. So why does it seem the current pros beat their predecessors on increasing size and development of most other muscle groups but not chest? A personal view is that the older champs were free weight freaks, relying on barbell and incline presses, dips and dumbbell flyes, and maybe that is Route A to thick, powerful pecs. In contrast a lot of modern guys seem to rely on machine movements. Another possible reason is that modern guys have on the whole larger arm development which may mean the triceps take over more of the workload and inhibit chest pressing movements from isolating the pecs. Interestingly, Arnold Schwarzenegger, many people’s pick for best chest of all time, didn’t have great triceps.
Of the eleven listed in the best pecs poll, I would place Arnold Schwarzenegger as a clear number one and then I’ve chosen my picks from 2 through 4. After that I’ve listed the other contenders in alphabetical order as they can all be shuttled around.
The Ultimate Pec Deck
Make your pick for best chest ever and tell us why. Then tell us your top five. And if you think others should make this list let us know.
1) ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
2) JOSEF GROLMUS
3) BERTIL FOX
4) LOU FERRIGNO
A) RONNIE COLEMAN
B) FRANCO COLUMBU
C) LEE HANEY
D) JOHNNIE JACKSON
E) MARKUS RUHL
F) GARY STRYDOM
G) TYRONE YOUNGS
CHEST MASTERS
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Career: 1965-1980
His pecs were enormous and when he hit a side chest pose the upper pecs caused a shelf like effect upon which you could place a tray protein shakes.
JOSEF GROLMUS Career: 1978-1989
This German champ had massive pec development and like Arnold had that shelf like look.
BERTIL FOX Career: 1968-1994
Bertil had thick, thick pecs and traded on them in side chest and most muscular poses.
LOU FERRIGNO Career: 1971-1994
As befits a 6’5’ dude Ferrigno had giant pecs. They had a square look to them which enhanced by his large ribcage was a winning combination. There’s’ no doubt in my mind that if he hadn’t been lured by Hollywood into doing The Incredible Hulk series in 1976, at age 24, he would have won multiple Olympia titles in the late ‘80s and through the early ‘90s.
RONNIE COLEMAN Career: 1990-2007
The 8-time Mr. Olympia's chest development was a showstopper via fullness and detail. In side chest and most muscular poses his pecs were something else and enabled him to – among other shots – crush the opposition.
FRANCO COLUMBU Career: 1966-1981
The 1976 and 1981 Mr. Olympia had full, wide and striated pecs. He stood out with that deep separation line between his upper and lower pecs, and as a champion powerlifter free weights were how built that chest.
LEE HANEY Career: 1977-1991
The chest development of the eight time Olympia (1984-’91) had it all with outstanding shape, size and separation that blew away his opposition.
JOHNNIE JACKSON Career: 1996 to Present
This Desert Storm veteran has one of the thickest upper bodies on the present scene with his full rounded pecs being a standout. He is the only current bodybuilder in this list.
MARKUS RUHL Career: 1992-2010
The German juggernaut could never be called a pretty boy but his freakiness wowed audiences whenever he competed. A main weapon in eliciting such a reaction was his thick and striated chest.
GARY STRYDOM Career: 1983-2006
Strydom's pecs were deeply striated with eye-catching separation between his left and right pec development.
TYRONE YOUNGS Career: 1970-1979
This guy intrigues me because he had a rock hard physique ahead of his time. His best showing was winning the 1970 Mr. Western America and I don’t know why he didn’t go on to greater heights. I remember he had great pec development but the best shot I can find is this one that shows the thickness of his development.