Dennis James is doing a lot of good with “The Threat Podcast.” The platform allows him to bring in guests to share their stories and introduce a new generation of fans to the legends who helped make bodybuilding what it is today.
One of those legends is Tony Pearson, who joined James along with fellow panel members Chris Cormier and Milos Sarcev. Pearson competed in the IFBB Pro League from 1981 to 1994. His roots in the sport go back even further, to Arnold Schwarzenegger in fact.
“Arnold discovered me on the beach. He came over and said, ‘I’ve been watching you for months,’ Pearson recalled. “He then said, ‘Let’s get to practice.’ We did chest and triceps.
Pearson felt that Schwarzenegger served as his mentor, and the seven-time Mr. Olympia even introduced Pearson to Joe Weider. They would continue to work together during Pearson’s career. It would kick off a career and a life of which he is very proud. While Pearson’s last IFBB contest was in the 90s, he did other shows. His last show was in 2020, nearly five decades after his first.
“I was 63, and that was it, I retired after that,” he told James. “I was in competition from 1976 to 2020.”
Pearson may have hung up his pose suits, but he’s still very active in the fitness industry as a trainer. He also follows the sport today, although he calls it “a different world.” He looked up to Derek Lunsford, who came second at the 2022 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, NV.
“I like his physique. The guy has great lines, is really conditioned and knows how to present it very well.
For more on Pearson’s appearance on TMP, subscribe to the Muscle & Fitness YouTube Channel so you can see the full episode and catch future episodes when they air every Sunday.
