The future star of bodybuilding was born in Oregon in the 1930s. Parents of Bill Pearl during the Great Depression often had to move until the family settled in Washington. The boy had to work from the age of ten. Physical work laid a good foundation for the young man’s solid build.

The young guys laughed at the young Bill. The elder brother also did not miss the opportunity to poke fun at him. Bill decided that he must necessarily become big and strong. The turning point in the life of the young man came when he saw in the journal devoted to bodybuilding, Eugene Sandovoi – the founder of modern bodybuilding, which became for Pearl the idol.

Bill, seriously intending to become a bodybuilder, acquired a barbell on his earnings and began active training. The physical nature of Bill Pearl was far from being an ideal that would allow him to achieve impressive successes, but the young man did not have to persevere, and it bore fruit. Thanks to active training, Bill has already started to differ dramatically from peers in some time.

At the age of twenty, Pearl went to serve in the naval forces of the United States of America, but did not give up his studies. He always found time for training. Two years later he took part in the tournament “Mr. San Diego”, where he became third. This even more motivated the young man for training. He begins to engage in even more stubborn. The reward for diligence did not keep itself waiting.

Already next year Pearl becomes the winner of several championships and a real star. He was invited to appear in films, take part in photo shoots, write author’s articles. After completing military service, he travels to one of the Californian towns, where he opens the gym, but then moves to Los Angeles, closing the previous club, he opens a new one, continuing his own training.

Pearl became the owner of the title “Mr. US” at 26, and in subsequent years, won several victories among professionals at the contest “Mr. Universe”. In 1967, on one pedestal with him is Schwarzenegger, who won a victory among amateurs. For a while, Bill goes into the shadows, the athlete ceases to be taken seriously, which encourages the bodybuilder to compete at the competition at 41.

Bodybuilder half a year stubbornly prepares for competition, and then by unanimous decision of the jury becomes the winner of the tournament “Mr. Universe” in the category of professionals. Then the athlete announces the completion of his career and no longer takes part in competitions.

Physical data and achievements

In periods of training, having a height of 175 cm, Pearl weighed 100 kg. The athlete’s bicep’s volume is 46.6 cm. The bodybuilder became “Mister Universe” four times. The first time he received the title in 1956, the second – in 1961, the third – in 1967, the fourth, having won the title “Mr. Universe” – in 1971. In earlier years, or rather in 1953, he was the winner of “Mr. California.”

Interesting Facts

Popularity and world fame came to Pearl, not only thanks to the achievements in bodybuilding. The athlete has never reduced his vital interests exclusively to the sports hall. He traveled a lot. The opening of the gym was only the first step towards a healthy lifestyle. This topic he devoted many exhibitions and seminars, which he arranged in his trips to different countries.

He owns several world records for deadlift and bench press, because Bill has repeatedly participated in such competitions. In addition, unlike many performing bodybuilders, he never stopped trying various kinds of physical activity, and always came in magnificent form. This, of course, has never eluded the attention of others.

None of the bodybuilders before Pearl had previously posed for musical accompaniment. Unbelievably demanding of himself, he only missed the training four times, and got up to start the lesson, no later than 5 hours. In the book “Become stronger,” he frankly described his experience with taking steroids.

He wrote such books as “Achievement of form”, “Behind the Universe” and “Keys to the Inner Universe”. To date, Bill Pearl owns several fitness clubs, regularly writes articles on sports and healthy eating for popular magazines. According to the athlete, the only product that an elderly person can consume in unlimited quantities is drinking ordinary water.

Bill Pearl – The Mr. Olympia Slayer

Supply system

One of the examinations showed that thirty-nine-year-old Perla had elevated cholesterol levels. Experts warned the bodybuilder about the possible serious consequences of such a condition and the risk of developing diseases that are typical in such situations. To maintain their own health, the athlete had to become a vegetarian.

The only animal products that a bodybuilder can consume to himself are eggs and milk, but the latter at present he prefers kefir with yoghurt. The total rejection of fish and meat products did not become a hindrance to the preparation for the latest competitions. He did not just successfully perform, but also became the unconditional winner.

The athlete has never consumed a lot of food to get a lot of protein. He was always of the opinion that 50-70 grams of protein, which enter the body from normal foods, is enough to maintain the normal functioning of all systems, even a bodybuilder.

Training program of Bill Perla

A bodybuilder has always worked with great weight. Biceps, pectoral muscles and deltas the athlete prefers to train on small repetitions. Such an approach, in his opinion, is the most effective. Back and legs Pearl, on the contrary, works through a large number of repetitions. The bodybuilder dedicates a whole training session to the back muscles and trapezes, and studies the chest and legs in the next lesson.

At each workout, Bill tries to load all the beams and work out the muscles from all angles. If he trains his shoulders, he always performs 5 repetitions of army and back presses, as well as a dumbbell press, and then makes 8 flops. The bodybuilder does not make big pauses. He prefers a small rest between performing individual repetitions, reducing training weights as necessary, because he is sure that for a good workout of muscle groups, it is not necessary to take the maximum loads.

Reduce the risks of injury, if you listen to the recommendations of Pearl, you can then when in front of heavy movements (presses and squats) well warm up the muscles. For each muscle group, the athlete dedicates two training sessions per week, performing at least 20 sets per session. A bodybuilder explains this program by prefers to load muscle groups in this way, rather than until complete rejection.

In order for muscle mass to be successfully built up in volume, it is necessary to connect fast and slow fibers to work. Bill believes that this effect can be achieved in two different ways – by performing a large number of sets and exercises that do before the onset of failure.

His weak points Pearl calls the chest and back. This is the main reason that the load on them is higher than on the hands and feet. Even while on pension, and now Bill continues to train hard for 6 days every week. Of course, the working scales, considering his advanced age, he significantly reduced, and more often engaged in simulators.

The athlete is of the opinion that when training at a particular pace that allows maintaining a high heart rate, anaerobic loads can successfully replace the erotic. Pearl says that there is no point in three cardio workouts per week, as the body quickly adapts to such activities. Such an approach, in his opinion, is not appropriate.