Written by Steve Blechman
31 December 2020

 Peter M Slider

 

 

A Tribute to Peter McGough from Steve Blechman

 

 

I was sad to hear that legendary bodybuilding journalist and historian Peter McGough died on Tuesday, December 29th at the age of 71. He was battling metastatic cancer for seven years. He served as Senior Writer of Muscular Development from 2012 to 2017 after serving 10 years at Flex magazine. Peter was the best in the business, and I was very proud to have him as part of the MD Team. He was a tremendous asset. I considered him the best bodybuilding writer of all time. 

Peter had over a 40-year involvement in bodybuilding and has spent over 30 years in bodybuilding journalism. I first learned of Peter McGough in the late ‘80s. He was a leading figure in bodybuilding in Britain at the time and recognized as one of the top bodybuilding writers and editors in the field.

I first met Peter in 1991 in New York when Dorian Yates won the Night of Champions. In 1991, Yates was the runner-up at the Olympia to Lee Haney, who won his eight record-setting Sandows and retired. From 1992 through 1997, Dorian won six consecutive Sandows, and dominated the sport. Dorian once told me he had much respect for Peter and considered him a great friend and mentor. Peter referred to Dorian as “The Shadow,” an allusion to his new light on his training methods with his brief but very high-intensity workouts. Peter also co-authored Dorian’s book entitled A Warrior’s Story. Peter developed close relationships with many of the sport’s top stars and Olympians such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Phil Heath.

In 1992 Peter flew to California to work for Joe Weider as senior writer for Flex magazine, and two years later became editor-in-chief. In 2005, Ben Weider proudly presented Peter with the IFBB Achievement Award at the Mr. Olympia finals for his 25 years of dedication to the bodybuilding movement.

Only after a year of working for Muscular Development in 2013, Peter was first diagnosed with colon cancer. He later learned weeks later that the colon cancer metastasized to his liver. He was devastated along with his wife and companion Anne when he received the diagnosis. Things looked very bleak for Peter, but I knew he was a fighter, and he would never give up! Peter had many challenges in life, and this was just the biggest challenge of his lifetime: to survive cancer.

I told Peter at the time, that I had a very close friend that was head of the Cancer Research Center at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. Peter asked me if he would be able to send his medical records to my doctor friend.

I said, “Of course, Peter. I was going to suggest that.”

When my doctor friend from Stony Brook read the report, he told me, “Things did not look good for Peter.”

I asked him what he felt his prognosis was and how long Peter had to survive. He told me, “I’m sorry, Steve, but he might have two weeks, four weeks, but no longer than six months.” And he recommended that he get treatment at Moffitt Cancer Research Center in Tampa, Florida, which is the number one ranked cancer center in the state of Florida.

I think with the excellent medical treatment Peter had over the years, combined with his desire to survive and beat cancer, and with the support of his devoted wife Anne, he surpassed all odds and survived seven years.

It was a long battle, but now it’s time for Peter to rest in peace. He made so many great contributions to our industry. Like I said, he was the best at what he did, and he will be dearly missed. The five years working with Peter were some of the best years of my career working in the bodybuilding industry.

Everyone at Muscular Development respected and loved Peter.

We all knew he was a great journalist, but I remember telling him, “Peter, you’re more than just a journalist, you should be doing commentary, interviews and contest coverage as well.” Peter had a great sense of humor and a likeable personality and I said, “Peter, you gotta get out there and do more for MD than just write!”

I tried my best to boost his confidence during the start of digital age that he could both write on paper, but also do great reporting online!  

Thanks again, Peter, for all the great work that you did for Muscular Development. I am most appreciative of all your contributions and to have the opportunity to work with you and get to know you, and Anne as well. Everyone at MD sends our condolences to his wife Anne and all of Peter’s followers, friends and fans.

Rest in peace, Peter. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.

 

 

All my best,

 

 

 

Steve

 

 

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