# @thedorianyates on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZaiZ8DjIg1
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66686135-thedorianyates-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/82cfc768d3.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-10T18:00:26.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Dorian Yates (@thedorianyates) — https://gondola.cc/thedorianyates

## Caption

Today marks 25 years since the passing of the legendary Mike Mentzer…

I’d seen Mike’s training stuff long before I ever met him and I was impressed, he was an interesting person and was incredibly intelligent.
With Mike, it goes beyond his physique - although his physique was incredible especially with that muscle thickness; big forearms and calves… in the end it turned out that we shared those traits. Plus he had that strongman moustache which was unrivalled!

The stuff I read from him resonated and although I wasn’t into philosophy back then, I would love to have conversations with him now as I’ve matured mentally, physically and philosophically.

What Mentzer did was ask the question: Am I training in a certain way due to habit and the pressures of conformity or am I doing everything to ascertain the best ways of approaching bodybuilding to get maximum results?
Just by being around a free thinker like Mike was a great source of energy and inspiration for me, especially as I was a rebel too, going against the grain.

I met him numerous times and was pleased to see him attend the ’93 Olympia. We trained around 5-6 times and I rank them as some of the most focused and brutal of my career.

In all my meetings with him he came across as a very intelligent and kind man, yes he had some problems and he wasn’t perfect, but we’re all human and we have ups and downs. I do want to say that Mike did suffer from mental health issues; which back then were probably not so well recognised or taught about as they are now. I think it’s important to mention this, and to recognise men’s mental health.

Like I said he had a big influence on me even though it was originally just through words and pictures, he probably didn’t know just how much he was influencing people worldwide but hopefully I can pass that on.
I’m seeing more and more pictures and videos of Mr. Heavy Duty online which is great to see.

I’m certain he had a very positive effect on people, let’s celebrate that.

“One cannot actualise his goals until he visualises them clearly in the mind’s eye.” - Mike Mentzer

#Legend #Legacy #HeavyDuty #MikeMentzer

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## Tags

heavyduty, legend, legacy, mikementzer

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