Anthropometric data
- Height: 177 cm
- Weight: 127 kg (competition), 145 kg (off-season)
- Chest: 148 cm
- Biceps: 57 cm
- Thigh: 84 cm
Biography of Markus Rühl
This athlete was born in Germany, in the city of Darmstadt, on February 22, 1972. His childhood was notable for the fact that he never had to deal with street bullies or find ways to resolve such issues. Typically, young people go to gyms to stand up to them. As a result, in his childhood, Markus had no desire to visit a gym or engage in any other sport. This indicates that Markus had a peaceful and happy childhood, especially since he grew up in a complete family. Besides him, his parents raised two other children, his brother Thomas and sister Petra. Markus only started training at the age of 19. Many people think this is late, but nonetheless, his personal interest played a role. After reading various magazines, he decided to give it a try and also to adjust his physique, as there were some issues. At the same time, he never thought this sport would help him make a living, let alone become world-famous.
After four years of intense bodybuilding, Rühl decided to participate in competitions because the results of his training were significant and noticeable. He competed in the city championship of Hesse. Naturally, he lacked the experience of participating in competitions as well as in training processes. He usually worked with heavy weights. Due to a shoulder injury, he was unable to fully show what he was capable of. First and foremost, he needed to recover from the injury, after which he resumed his grueling workouts. His first significant performance was at the tournament in the city of Babenhausen. This was in 1995, and here, everything went well for him. He took the coveted 1st place and was thrilled with this achievement.
His subsequent victories at the Hesse city championship and the German National Championship in 1997 greatly motivated the athlete, and he continued his training with even more determination to win. He received professional athlete status immediately after the National Championship and became the first German to earn such a rank. This status opened up much greater opportunities for Markus. He could now compete in more prestigious competitions. However, this required even more effective training. Markus Rühl competed in the “Grand Prix of Germany” that same year, but only managed to place 10th. After this, he decided to gain another 15 pounds of muscle mass to pose a serious challenge to all bodybuilders in Germany. Starting in January 1998, Markus began serious preparation for the “Night of Champions” tournament, held in New York City. There, he achieved only 9th place, which greatly disappointed both his fans and the athlete himself. However, he did not give up and began preparing for new competitions. This athlete stood out for his philosophical approach to failures, always returning to training with even greater dedication.
In 1999, he again participated in the “Night of Champions” competition, aiming to secure one of the top spots. Unfortunately, he was just a few points short and placed 4th, right behind Dexter Jackson. Despite this, finishing 4th indicated significant and consistent progress in the athlete’s performance. Everyone noticed this, and he was invited to compete in the “Mr. Olympia” contest, to which he agreed. Afterward, he frequently competed in this tournament but without success.
At this tournament, Rühl didn’t even make it into the top ten bodybuilders. His lack of experience and weak preparation played a major role here, although no one’s first participation in Olympia had ever been a success. Despite the clear failure in his performance, Markus realized that he still had a lot of work to do on himself. He promised his fans that he would return next time to claim victory. This earned him the nickname “The German Beast.”
During preparation for the 2000 competitions, the athlete seriously injured his shoulder. Doctors forbade him from training, but the athlete decided to continue his preparation after a five-day break. As it turned out later, the intense training paid off, and he won his first victory at the “Toronto/Montreal Pro.” It can be said that 2000 was a rather successful year for the athlete. At the “Night of Champions” tournament, he secured 2nd place, which Markus was genuinely happy about. That same year, 2000, he decided to compete in “Mr. Olympia” again since he was in great shape. Rühl hoped to take a top spot this time, as he was the heaviest competitor compared to the others. However, he didn’t manage to secure a podium finish and settled for 7th place, but he was pleased that he had made it into the top 10 this time.
Markus Rühl always struggled during rest and recovery periods. In the spring of 2001, he tore his abdomen while preparing for another competition. He had a strong desire to conquer Olympia, which once again led to injury due to intense training and heavy weights. Nevertheless, he participated in Olympia, but he only managed to place 14th, a result that reflected his less-than-optimal condition, though he was puzzled by the judges’ decision.
After such negative results, Markus Rühl considered quitting the sport, feeling that the energy and effort he was putting into preparing for each tournament weren’t worth it. Despite these discouraging thoughts, he was supported by friends, family, and loved ones, and the “German Beast” began a new round of preparations for competitions.
Hard work paid off, and he secured 1st place at the “Night of Champions” in 2002. Fans and experts unanimously agreed that when Rühl stepped on stage, it was clear to everyone that he would be the winner of this tournament. After the competition, Markus pointed out that for the first time, the judges had properly recognized his efforts.
That same year, in 2002, he placed 2nd at the “Toronto/Montreal Pro,” finishing behind Art Atwood. The athlete was not disappointed since he hadn’t even expected to place 2nd. The “German Beast” is known for one particular trait: sometimes he views things rather pessimistically, although this could be seen as a healthy outlook for an athlete. He was always pleased with any podium finish.
He often competed in Olympia, but it never yielded victory for him. Credit must be given to this athlete, as he always aimed for the win, but in the event of a loss, he never despaired and would start training with renewed energy. He had strong support from his wife, Simone, who always helped him in everything. She often attended his gym workouts. Markus Rühl keeps animals and birds at home, as he loves them.
Key Achievements
Unfortunately, despite Markus Rühl’s impressive athletic abilities, his number of first-place finishes was relatively few. In this sport, the competition has always been intense. Nevertheless, he was always a serious contender for other athletes, as he was consistently well-prepared for any high-level competition. His physique had no noticeable flaws, in terms of both symmetry and proportions. The year 2002 was the most successful for Markus Rühl, as he achieved his first Pro Division victory that year at the “Toronto/Montreal Pro” tournament. The competitors in this tournament were extremely formidable: Dexter Jackson, Markus Rühl himself, the massive Orville Burke, and others. In 2002, Markus secured his second victory at the “Night of Champions” tournament, as he virtually had no rivals. This was his last victory in competition, after which he frequently placed second, third, fourth, and so on. Markus Rühl first appeared at “Mr. Olympia” in 1999, but he did not make it into the top 10.
At the next Olympia, he placed 7th. At the 2001 Olympia, he placed 14th, which indicated his poor condition at the time. In 2004, he managed to secure 5th place at Olympia, just behind Dexter Jackson, who took 4th. In 2009, he competed in the tournament for the last time and finished in a disappointing 15th place.
Markus Rühl’s Training Program
This athlete trained intensively, especially during competition preparation. He was at the gym every day, and sometimes twice a day, to do cardio, work on voluntary exercises, practice posing, or focus on smaller muscles.
- Monday — Chest.
- Tuesday — Back.
- Wednesday — Biceps.
- Thursday — Triceps.
- Friday — Deltoid muscles.
- Saturday — Legs.
- Sunday — Triceps.
By working on triceps twice a week, he aimed to improve his proportions, as his biceps were dominant.
During the off-season, Markus continued training, but only five times a week. He chose more complex exercises and worked with heavier weights.
- Monday — Chest.
- Tuesday — Back.
- Wednesday — Arms.
- Thursday — Rest.
- Friday — Legs.
- Saturday — Deltoid muscles.
- Sunday — Rest.
At the beginning of his career, as Markus himself mentioned, his shoulder muscles were lagging behind, so he had to correct this by using heavier weights, especially in exercises like barbell presses from the chest. He also used dumbbells. As a result of this approach, he managed to build up his deltoid muscles, which eventually became a dominant feature of his physique.