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Markus Rühl (born 22 February 1972, in Roßdorf,
Darmstadt Darmstadt () is a city in the States of Germany, state of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Area, Rhine-Main-Area (Frankfurt Metropolitan Region). Darmstadt has around 160,000 inhabitants, making it the ...
, West Germany) is a retired IFBB professional
bodybuilder Bodybuilding is the practice of progressive resistance exercise to build, control, and develop one's muscles via hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. It is primarily undertaken for aesthetic ...
, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest "mass monster" bodybuilders of all time.


Early life

Rühl began training at the age of 18 following a doctor's recommendation to build some muscles in his legs after sustaining an injury in his left knee while playing football. Despite his lanky frame at a bodyweight of , Rühl began training hard six days a week because he loved to go to the gym and to be a bit bigger than his friends. In five years he reached a level where he started competing at professional level. He also worked as a used-car salesman and an office clerk.


Bodybuilding career

In 1997, Rühl won the Hessian state championship and the German championship as an amateur. He then received the IFBB professional card and started bodybuilding as his profession. At the 1997 Pro Grand Prix in Germany he took 10th place. His on stage weight was . In 1998, Rühl took 9th place at the Night of Champions with an on stage weight of . In 1999 IFBB English Grand Prix he placed 7th, took 4th place at the 1999 Night of Champions and qualified for the 1999 Mr. Olympia but tested positive for
diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics ...
s and was disqualified. In 2000, he excelled his placings at the Night of Champions to 2nd place, placed 5th on 2000 English Grand Prix and won 2000 Toronto Pro. At 2000 Mr. Olympia he placed 7th behind
Ronnie Coleman Ronald Dean Coleman (born May 13, 1964) is an American former professional bodybuilder who is widely regarded as the greatest Bodybuilding, bodybuilder of all time. Known as "The King", Coleman shares the all-time record for most Mr. Olympia ...
, Kevin Levrone, Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Nasser El Sonbaty and Lee Priest. In 2001 Mr. Olympia Rühl hit a downfall with 14th place. In 2002 Night of Champions, Rühl brought up his best physique ever weighing a staggering on-stage, massive and ripped to easily win the competition. Numerous critiques and fans rate this version of Rühl to be one of the freakiest and best bodybuilding physiques of all-time. In 2003 Arnold Classic Rühl emerged 3rd and placed 5th in 2004 Mr. Olympia behind Coleman,
Jay Cutler Jay Christopher Cutler (born April 29, 1983) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. A member of the Chicago Bears for most of his career, he is ...
, Gustavo Badell and Dexter Jackson, which is his highest placing ever at the Olympia. He weighed on stage. Among Rühl's higher placings thereafter were 3rd in 2006 IFBB Austria Pro Grand Prix and again 3rd in 2009 New York Pro. His final Olympia was the 2009 Mr. Olympia competition.


Other ventures

From 2006 to 2007, Rühl ran a sports studio in Kelsterbach together with his colleague Stefan Hammerschmiedt. He signed sponsorship deals with Ultimate Nutrition in 2008, BMS in 2014 and All Stars Supplements in 2015. He also ran a fitness studio called 'Rühl's fit&fun' in Darmstadt-Nord until 2017. In 2018 Rühl started his own supplement company 'Rühl's Bestes'.


Personal life

On 31 August 2017, Rühl married Alicja and they have a daughter.


Physical statistics

*Height: *Contest weight: *Off-season weight: *Chest/ Back: *Arms: *Legs: *Waist:


Bodybuilding chronology


Filmography


See also

*
List of male professional bodybuilders This is a list of male professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders. A * Fouad Abiad * Manohar Aich, "Pocket Hercules" * Abdulhadi Al-Khayat * Achim Albrecht * Troy Alves * Charles Atlas * Art Atwood * Dayo Audi B * Jim Badra * William Bankie ...
*
List of female professional bodybuilders This is a list of female professional female bodybuilding, bodybuilders. All people listed here have an International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness, IFBB pro card. {{incomplete list, date=January 2025 A * Heather Armbrust * Lisa Auklan ...


Notes


References


External links


Markus Rühl's website

Markus Rühl's old website

Video Clip of Markus Rühl posing at the 2006 Mr. Olympia contest

Markus Ruhl Bodybuilding Gallery
1972 births Living people German male bodybuilders Professional bodybuilders Sportspeople from Darmstadt {{bodybuilding-bio-stub