I remember to this day the smallest guy
on the stage winning. Frank Zane
winning The Olympia with a beautifully
shaped physique and just the right
amount of condition. This is exactly
what Classic Physique demands
competitors to display today. I bet Frank
would have met the weight and height
requirements we have in place for
Classic Physique.
There was also a lightweight division at
this Olympia where a not so well-known
competitor by the name of Ed Corney
competed. His posing was so
inspirational it brought tears of joy to the
eyes of my late training partner Rick
Marzetti who was also attending in 1977.
This year the Arnolds recognized the
effort that goes into preparing a posing
routine and gave a best poser award
called the Ed Corney Posing Award to
the bodybuilding division along with a
$10,000 cheque.
In closing, we can only move
forward by learning from the history
of our sport. Bringing in the Classic
Physique division was exactly what
the IFBB Pro League and NPC
Worldwide needed to inspire more
athletes to participate in both the
open and natural stream. The
introduction of the Classic Physique
category has proven to be very
popular and has opened the sport
of bodybuilding to many more
athletes who can now set their
goals on achieving the illusive IFBB
Pro Card.
Ron Hache
President
Canadian Physique Alliance