Nasser El Sonbati was born in 1965 on October 13th. Since his mother was Croatian and his father was Egyptian, it can be considered that Sonbati has two bloods flowing in his veins. A little later, the international family moves to the beautiful town of Germany - Stuttgart. The youth of the growing bodybuilding athlete passed in this rather quiet city. Having entered the gymnasium, Nasser did well in all subjects, knowing that this was a real chance to achieve something in this difficult life. Having received a diploma with honors from the gymnasium, Sonbati continued his studies at the University of Augsburg for seven years.
Body-building
Rowing, football, wrestling, swimming are Nasser’s favorite activities since childhood. Since childhood, photographs of bodybuilders and the sport itself did not attract Nasser, but still, he went to the gym once. He liked bodybuilding because his muscles began to grow after the first workouts. Having tried to win local competitions, Sonbati fails and decides to go to Yugoslavia, where he becomes a prize-winner for the first time.
The athlete’s views and life have changed a lot. Now his goal was a pro card, which would give him the opportunity to participate in professional competitions. The athlete’s next beautiful victory was eighth place in Finland in 1990. After this, Sonbati performs in New York, where, with a mark of 110 kg, he looks quite thin and therefore the judges do not notice him. This is what the athlete himself suggested, and for the next tournament he claimed 133 kg for victory. " Now I was smooth“says the athlete. Therefore, he again failed to break into the top 15 leaders. Competitions became a big breakthrough in the life of an athlete “ Night of Champions", in which Sonbati suffered only defeats until 1994. But this time everything is different! Having 112 kg of weight and simply unique body contour, the athlete is one of the outsiders. Comes in second place. He failed to beat only Mike Francois, who became Nasser's close friend. This all led to Sonbati's fame. They wrote about him in magazines, but the main prize for the athlete was the opportunity to participate in the “” competition.
Having achieved seventh place, Sonbati was a little disappointed. This all happened due to losing 13 kg of weight before the competition. He consumed only 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. This led to weight loss. But the athlete did not despair and in the spring he will present the world with a new champion!
Death
Not long ago, on March 21, 2013, disappointing news was heard. Nasser El Sonbati has died. The cause of death was health problems caused by kidney failure. It’s a pity that the life of such a wonderful person and athlete was cut short so early, at only 47 years old.
(Nasser El Sonbaty) Germany
Height: 180 cm
Competition weight: 123 kg
Shin: 54 cm
Official website http://www.hugenasser.com
Nasser El Sonbati was born on October 15, 1965 in Stuttgart (Germany). Half Egyptian, half Croatian - perhaps that is why Nasser grew up as a very capable child. They say that mixing of blood is almost always successful. The boy studied very well, realizing that education is the only “ticket to a big life.” Excellent completion of the gymnasium allowed him to continue his studies at the University of Augsburg. Sonbati is called one of the most colorful figures in bodybuilding - and for good reason! Nasser is the owner of not only an excellent muscular form, but also scientific degrees in history, political science and sociology. In addition, the athlete speaks seven languages fluently. The most valuable thing in Nasser’s life is health (his own and that of his loved ones). According to the bodybuilder, without such capital as health, you cannot accumulate anything else. That is why he never risked his health for the sake of a sports career.
Sonbati began playing sports as a child. Football, rowing, swimming, wrestling - the future bodybuilder grew up as a truly active child. But he didn’t like bodybuilding at all in his teenage years. Having already become a student, he got involved in training, a couple of times, out of pure interest, dropping into the nearest gym. Nasser turned out to be naturally gifted - his muscles began to grow by leaps and bounds! Such high performance could not help but turn the head of the young bodybuilder, and he decided to try his hand at competitions in Germany, but failed. The athlete did not despair and went to conquer Yugoslavia. This is where recognition came to him - Sonbati became an IFBB professional.
For several years, the bodybuilder was naturally unlucky - he did not even make it into the top 15. And only at the “Night of Champions” was Nasser able to make a splash and take second place, losing only to Mike Francos, with whom he later became good friends. From that day on, Sonbati was talked about in the press and on television, but most importantly, he got the opportunity to take part in the Mr. Olympia competition. Seventh place at Olympia inspired the athlete, forcing him to throw himself into training. Already in May of the following year, 121.5 kg of Nasser El Sonbati's muscles were presented at the Houston Pro competition. The amazed judges could not help but give him the victory.
The victory won at the “Night of Champions” (three weeks after Houston) made Sonbati one of the main favorites of the upcoming Olympia. But the “divine peak” remained unconquered - Nasser lost to Dorian Yates and Kevin Levrone. The competition left Sonbati with a very ambivalent impression: on the one hand, third place at Olympia is something to be proud of, but on the other hand, he felt that he could have become first. However, the athlete did not make a single comment towards the judges or opponents. Nasser earned a reputation as a true gentleman. Until the next Olympia, Sonbati fanatically worked on his back, which many called his weak point, but again took third place. Amazed spectators expressed their outrage right at the competition until Nasser calmed them down. He knew how to withstand the blows of fate, and they were not long in coming. After a series of triumphant performances (in the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Russia), the athlete was announced that his results at Olympia would be canceled because a blood test was positive for diuretics.
And only the next year Sonbati’s patience ran out. After losing at the Arnold Classic, he posted on the winner's (Flex Wheeler) website, speaking harshly about many of his opponents. Nasser listed several "Olympians", focusing on their "weak points" and indignant that they were still awarded the victory. The main idea of the message was that no one talks about an athlete’s weaknesses while he himself remains silent about them. Well, from that moment on, Sonbati decided to follow the example of the others and consider that he had no weaknesses. Perhaps the performance had a kind of time-bomb effect. Despite the fact that at Olympia 97 Sonbati clearly looked worse than before, he took second place.
According to numerous foreign sources, on March 20, 2013, Nasser El Sonbati died of kidney failure.
Performance history
Competition - Place
Europe Supershow 2005-14
Power Show Pro 2004-14
Night of Champions 2004-15
Mr. Olympia 2002-15
Arnold Classic 2002-10
Mr. Olympia 2001-9
Mr. Olympia 2000-5
Grand Prix England 1999-6
World Championship Pro 1999-6
Mr. Olympia 1999-6
Arnold Classic 1999-1
Grand Prix Finland 1998-3
Grand Prix Germany 1998-3
Mr. Olympia 1998-3
Arnold Classic 1998-2
Grand Prix Russia 1997-3
Grand Prix Finland 1997-4
Grand Prix Czech Republic 1997-3
Grand Prix England 1997-3
Grand Prix Germany 1997-2
Grand Prix Spain 1997-2
Grand Prix Hungary 1997-2
Mr. Olympia 1997-2
San Francisco Pro 1997-2
Arnold Classic 1997-2
Grand Prix Russia 1996-1
Swiss Grand Prix 1996-1
Grand Prix Czech Republic 1996-1
Grand Prix England 1996-2
Grand Prix Germany 1996-2
Grand Prix Spain 1996-3
Mr. Olympia 1996-3
disqualified
Grand Prix Ukraine 1995-2
Grand Prix France 1995-3
Grand Prix Russia 1995-3
Grand Prix England 1995-4
Grand Prix Germany 1995-3
Grand Prix Spain 1995-3
Mr. Olympia 1995-3
Houston Pro 1995-1
Night of Champions 1995-1
Grand Prix France 1994-4
Grand Prix Germany 1994-4
Mr. Olympia 1994-7
Night of Champions 1994-2
Grand Prix Germany 1993-3
Grand Prix France 1993-3
Night of Champions 1992-16
Chicago Pro 1992-19
Night of Champions 1991 -
Grand Prix Holland 1990-8
Grand Prix Finland 1990-8
Grand Prix France 1990-7
Nasser El Sonbati in professional rankings
Nasser El Sonbati was born on October 15, 1965 in the German city of Stuttgart. He was half Egyptian, half Croatian - perhaps that is why Nasser grew up as a very bright child. They say that mixing of blood is almost always successful. The boy studied very well, realizing that education is the only “ticket to a big life.” Excellent completion of the gymnasium allowed him to continue his studies at the University of Augsburg, where he studied sociology, political economy and history.
Sonbati was called one of the most colorful figures in bodybuilding - and for good reason! He was the owner of not only an excellent muscular form, but also scientific degrees in history, political science and sociology. In addition, the athlete spoke seven languages fluently.
Sonbati began playing sports as a child. Football, rowing, swimming, wrestling - the future bodybuilder grew up as a truly active child. But he didn’t like bodybuilding at all in his teenage years. But already becoming a student, he got involved in training, a couple of times, out of pure interest, dropping into the nearest gym. I became interested in bodybuilding in 1983. As it turns out later, he will fall in love with this sport. But despite this love, Nasser El Sonbati was one of the small number of professional athletes who care about their health. According to him, he would never train at such an intensity that could seriously harm the body. And he is right - after all, if there is no health, then no matter what the title is (even Mr. Olympia), he will not be able to bring true pleasure from his presence. According to Nasser, the most valuable thing in life is health (your own and that of your loved ones). According to the bodybuilder, without such capital as health, you cannot accumulate anything else. That is why he never risked his health for the sake of a sports career. On March 20, 2013, Nasser died in his sleep. The cause of death was hereditary heart disease. Rest in peace.
5 rules for gaining weight quickly from one of the most famous bodybuilders in the world, Nasser El Sonbati:
Watch your calories. If you don’t have enough money for quality protein, you need to supplement your calories with carbohydrates. While you are thin, you can afford to eat everything.
Sleep at least 8 hours. You may get 6 hours of sleep, but growth hormone is produced during sleep. Don't refuse such a gift from nature!
Don't read any bodybuilding magazines. Everything that is written there in the training section is complete bullshit.
All you need is to divide the training into three types. Chest, back, calves on the first day, shoulders and arms on the second day, hips and neck on the third day. Two exercises of 5 approaches per muscle group. All!
And once again - watch your calorie intake! Eat like crazy!
Born into the family of a poor Egyptian engineer.
However, Sonbati can only be considered half Egyptian, since, thanks to his mother, Croatian blood also flows in his veins. Half Egyptian, half Croatian - perhaps that is why Nasser grew up as a very capable child. They say that mixing of blood is almost always successful. Quite soon, the international family moved to Germany, to the city of Stuttgart, where the future bodybuilding monster spent his youth. Nasser did very well in high school because he knew that a good education was his only chance to achieve something in life. The “golden” diploma of the gymnasium gave him the opportunity to continue his studies, and he spent seven years at the University of Augsburg, studying all the sciences mentioned above. Sonbati is called one of the most colorful figures in bodybuilding - and for good reason! Nasser is the owner of not only excellent muscular form, but also scientific degrees in history, political science and sociology. In addition, the athlete speaks seven languages fluently. The most valuable thing in Nasser’s life is health (his own and that of his loved ones). According to the bodybuilder, without such capital as health, you cannot accumulate anything else. That is why he never risked his health for the sake of a sports career.
Sonbati has been involved in sports since childhood: football, rowing, swimming, wrestling. Bodybuilding did not appeal to him. Nasser recalls that at the age of 17 he first saw photographs of bodybuilders, and he really didn’t like them. But then, already as a student, he nevertheless looked into a nearby gym and got involved in training. Sonbati turned out to be a gifted athlete: his muscles grew by leaps and bounds! Inspired by success, he tries to compete at local competitions in Germany and fails. Then Nasser chooses a different path and goes to compete in Yugoslavia. And he manages to make it to the prize-winners!
The thorny path to glory
Nasser is no longer the same as before; he cannot imagine his life without bodybuilding and is seeking to obtain a pro card, giving him the right to compete in professional tournaments. In 1990, Sonbati made his debut at the Finnish Grand Prix and took eighth place. Frankly speaking, not a very successful start, but failures only strengthen him. In 1991, he decided to perform at the prestigious “Night of Champions” in New York. Another misfire: the 110-kilogram Sonbati did not make it into the top 15. The judges simply did not notice him, never calling him out for comparison with other athletes. Nasser rightly suggested that, apparently, he was too thin and brought 133 kg to the next “Night of Champions”! Sonbati recalls this performance with a smile: “I was “a little” smooth, and the judges again left me outside the top 15. The next “Night of Champions” turned out much more successfully for me, since I stayed at home. But Nasser’s performance at the “Night of Champions” ’94 created a sensation, as he managed to take second place, losing only to the rising star Mike Francois, with whom he became close friends. The 112-kilogram Sonbati amazed the judges and spectators with his super-reliable, hard muscles and very, very decent dimensions. They started talking about Nasser, his name appeared on the pages of “Kachkovsky” magazines, and most importantly, he received the right to take part in the Mr. Olympia competition. Seventh place at Olympia inspired Nasser and strengthened his growing ambitions. In preparation for these competitions, Nasser “slightly” lost muscle volume (a super-hard carbohydrate-free “pit”, when during the last week before the competition, while at the house of his friend Mike Francois Sonbaty, he consumed only 50 grams of carbohydrates per day, costing him a loss of 13 kg of “mass” ), and therefore immediately after Olympia he plunged headlong into training, wanting to show the whole world the new Sonbati next spring.
With Kevin Levrone and Dorian Yates on"Olympia" -95
The following May, just 8 months after the Olympia, Nasser put up 121.5 kg of pure muscle at the Houston Pro Invitational. Spectators and judges were shocked: no one could understand how he managed to do it. Of course, Sonbati won this tournament, simply overwhelming Vince Taylor, who was considered the favorite, with his volume. Vince and I are friends, and I respect him very much, but this was the very case when I wanted Vince to start respecting me, remembering the ups and downs of the fight at the Houston Sonbati tournament. Nasser explained the metamorphosis that happened to him by two circumstances: firstly, by the fact that he, together with his life partner named Bizera, moved to permanent residence in the USA (his choice fell on the Californian town of San Diego, which is very close to the legendary Santa Barbara ), where he had new opportunities in terms of training (in the States, unlike Germany, gyms are much better equipped, and they work almost around the clock, in addition, America is famous for its gigantic assortment of sports and dietary nutrition), and secondly, because he began to prepare for competitions differently. “I’ve been very big in the off-season before,” he admits. My usual mass weight ranges around 145-150 kg. However, before I could lose about forty kilograms in preparation for the tournament. In 1995, everything changed, and I lost no more than 20 kg, taking into account dehydration.
Three weeks after the competition in Houston, Sonbati easily wins the Night of Champions and becomes one of the main contenders for the Mr. Olympia title. Olympia-95 left Sonbati with conflicting feelings: on the one hand, he became third, losing only to the British monster Dorian Yates and the American Kevin Levrone, and it was he who received the most applause, but on the other hand, he felt that he could have been first. However, speaking on the pages of popular Kachkov publications, primarily Flex, he did not allow himself a single malicious remark towards his rivals or judges, thereby earning a reputation as a gentleman, noting only that even Yates can be beaten. Nasser is told that he has a weak back, compared to Yates, which is sorely lacking in detail, and for the next year he fanatically bombs his back. As a result, Nasser appeared at Olympia 96 in fantastic shape, with an improved back and weighing about 127 kg! Yates, with his 116 kg, is already quite lost against his background. However, Sonbati is again placed third after Yates and Ray. This news shocked the public so much that the audience, standing, expressed their indignation with a loud roar until Nasser calmed everyone down. No, he didn’t want conflicts and scandalous popularity, continuing to be a good guy in bodybuilding and facing the blows of fate with a smile. Sonbati received one of the most sensitive blows in October 1996, after his triumphant performance in the series of Grand Prix tournaments following the Olympia, where he won three victories: in the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Russia. Nasser was told that his Olympia performance had been annulled because his blood test tested positive for diuretics. Disqualification automatically deprived Sonbati of 30 thousand dollars, however, even here he resisted the vicissitudes of fate: I learned that the test would be carried out too late, and nothing could be corrected.
The end of gentlemanliness
However, when in the spring of next year at the Arnold Classic tournament, the second most important competition in professional bodybuilding, the victory and a check for 100 thousand dollars were given to the elegant, but very nondescript American Flex Wheeler compared to the 130-kilogram Sonbati, Nasser’s patience ran out. He made a sharp statement on the pages of the Flex website in which he branded everyone and everything: both the judges and his friends and rivals on stage: If you don’t talk about the fact that you have weaknesses, then the rest will also keep quiet about it. Take any of Olympia's top six. Wheeler? Take away his arms and deltoids and there will be nothing left. Ray? He's incredibly narrow and his upper legs are too long. Levron also has problems with width and has no calves. Yates? Everyone seemed to have forgotten that his arms look simply ridiculous against the backdrop of his hypertrophied back and delts. However, no one talks about this. So: now I will also say that I have no weaknesses! Oddly enough, the effect of the performance was amazing: despite the fact that at Olympia-97 Sonbati looked worse than before, he managed to take second place. It turns out that being a bad guy is more profitable?
The following spring, Sonbati again made an attempt to win the Classic and again Flex Wheeler, who was in fact in excellent shape, became an insurmountable obstacle on his way. This time, Sonbati does not complain about the bias of the judges and focuses all his attention on preparing for the Olympia. The sudden retirement of British lion Dorian Yates makes him one of the favorites in the race for the most honorable title in professional bodybuilding. Flex magazine experts estimate Sonbati's chances as 1 in 3, only Wheeler is rated higher. However, fate had its own way: Ronnie Coleman won a sensational victory, and Nasser fell back to third place, letting Wheeler take second.
Is the star setting or is everything just beginning?
In the spring of 1999, Wheeler's conscience apparently bothered him, and he decided not to go to the Classic and Sonbati finally managed to win the coveted title. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory: speaking at Olympia in the fall, Nasser fell back to sixth place. At two subsequent competitions: the World Pro Cup in Rome and the English Grand Prix in Manchester, he also finished sixth, managing to lose even to the not-so-strong pro Milos Sarcev. Already at Olympia-98 it was noticeable that he began to change not for the better, and at the Classic this trend intensified. Ron Coleman, Flex Wheeler, Paul Dillett and Shawn Ray, who were present in Columbus as spectators, unanimously declared that the best on the podium was the incredibly improved Cormier, and not Sonbati. However, Nasser is not giving up, and rest assured that he will make his presence known again. I'm not going to hang up my swimming trunks, he says. I enjoy living the lifestyle of a professional bodybuilder, traveling, meeting people, learning a lot of new things. Plus, I still believe I can win the Olympia.
Not like everyone else
To tell the truth, today’s professional bodybuilding would lose a lot in the person of Sonbati. Nasser is a personality with a capital P, and that says it all. It’s not for nothing that not a single self-respecting Kachkov magazine can do without his photographs or articles about him, and Nasser has already appeared on the cover of Flex five times! The fact that Sonbati is one of the most prominent figures in the world of pros is recognized even by Austrian Oak Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has fired many critical arrows at modern pros. And the point here is not even Sonbati’s education and intelligence, his ability to communicate with people. Among other things, Sonbati is interesting because his judgments are sharp and frank and often diverge from generally accepted ones. For example, he refused to be the subject of a popular traditional column in Flex magazine, which provides biographical information about professional champions, as well as their answers to the questions: What is your favorite color, what is your favorite car, etc. I don't care what color my car is , says Sonbati, black, red or white. And I don't have a favorite movie. And in general there is nothing favorite. I don’t want to repeat after someone, like a parrot, that my favorite vacation spot is Hawaii. I've been to Hawaii ten times, it's just boring. And in general, people are interested in their own passions, and not mine or anyone else’s. But that’s not all: being one of the greatest athletes of our time, Sonbati openly admits his hatred of iron: When you are at the beginning of the journey and work with light weights, all this is a joy, but when you are forced to hang on weight in pursuit of mass barbell more and more weights, when you have three centners on your shoulders, you only think about how to quickly complete the workout and rush away from this damned gym! It sounds a little unusual, but it’s frank. And this is what Sonbati is all about.
Workout
Sonbati is a strong strongman who prefers to train with heavy weights. If I don't lift heavy weights, I lose stiffness pretty quickly, much faster than other, less massive athletes, he admits. Nasser usually trains 4-5 days a week, working 1-2 muscle groups in one session, usually one large and one small. However, it is impossible to present Sonbati’s clear training scheme here, since he, listening to his body, constantly rearranges his training schedule. For example, in one session he can work the chest and biceps, and the next time he will train the deltoids along with the chest muscles. Sonbati also changes complexes for individual muscle groups all the time. For example, he can start training the same chest with barbell presses on an incline bench, or maybe with dips. However, the exercises themselves almost always remain the same: When you rush between different movements, it is quite difficult to track progress in strength indicators. In my opinion, you need to work on the same complex for at least three weeks. As for training principles, Nasser is very fond of the pyramid, performing 5-6 approaches in almost every exercise, starting with light weights, which he lifts 12-15 times, and reaching heavy weights, with which he does two or three sets of six repetitions. From time to time, Sonbati does forced repetitions, and before competitions he includes supersets and trisets. Are you wondering what kind of weights this giant, respectfully dubbed Masser by fellow pros, dabbles with? Please: In his letter to me, dated November 1996, Sonbati wrote that he squats 310 kg for one rep and bench presses 235 kg for eight reps. As for other movements, in lying dumbbell lifts he works with fifty kopecks, in seated dumbbell presses he uses seventies, and in the deadlift he overcomes 350-360 kg several times.
About strengths and weaknesses
Sonbati's back is actually his Achilles heel. It is quite broad, but lacks detail, Nasser admits. Obviously, this is due to the fact that for most of my career I did only basic movements for the back with a barbell and dumbbells, consigning the work on blocks to oblivion. Now I'm trying to somehow catch up. If we talk about strong points, then there are many of them. First of all, these are the hips. Many experts agree that Sonbati’s quadriceps are perhaps the best in modern bodybuilding. Approximately the same can be said about the Nasser deltas, which are developed surprisingly evenly; no one bundle is ahead of the other in development and, of course, about the abdominal press. Perhaps no one has cubes this thick! Of course, if an ordinary person were to measure the waist of this monster, he would probably faint; it would be no less than a meter, but against the backdrop of monstrously wide shoulders, it looks more than impressive, and it’s not for nothing that Nasser regularly beats such aesthetes as Ray and Levron. Sonbati's hands cannot be called outstanding, but their size is impressive. I remember how at the Russian Grand Prix-95 the fans, shocked by the size of Nasser, with difficulty returning their slack jaws to their original position, squeezed out: Ask how much his arm is? I asked. Somewhere around 58-60 cm, Sonbati rumbled. The boys felt even worse. They could understand; they had never seen anything like it before.
Performance history
| Competition | Place |
| Europe Supershow 2005 | 14 |
| Power Show Pro 2004 | 14 |
| Night of Champions 2004 | 15 |
| Mr. Olympia 2002 | 15 |
| Arnold classic 2002 | 10 |
| Mr Olympia 2001 | 9 |
| Mr Olympia 2000 | 5 |
| Grand Prix England 1999 | 6 |
| World Championship Pro 1999 | 6 |
| Mr. Olympia 1999 | 6 |
| Arnold classic 1999 | 1 |
| Grand Prix Finland 1998 | 3 |
| Grand Prix Germany 1998 | 3 |
| Mr. Olympia 1998 | 3 |
| Arnold classic 1998 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Russia 1997 | 3 |
| Grand Prix Finland 1997 | 4 |
| Grand Prix Czech Republic 1997 | 3 |
| Grand Prix England 1997 | 3 |
| Grand Prix Germany 1997 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Spain 1997 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Hungary 1997 | 2 |
| Mr. Olympia 1997 | 2 |
| San Francisco Pro 1997 | 2 |
| Arnold classic 1997 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Russia 1996 | 1 |
| Swiss Grand Prix 1996 | 1 |
| Grand Prix Czech Republic 1996 | 1 |
| Grand Prix England 1996 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Germany 1996 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Spain 1996 | 3 |
| Mr. Olympia 1996 | disqual. |
| Grand Prix Ukraine 1995 | 2 |
| Grand Prix France 1995 | 3 |
| Grand Prix Russia 1995 | 3 |
| Grand Prix England 1995 | 4 |
| Grand Prix Germany 1995 | 3 |
| Grand Prix Spain 1995 | 3 |
| Mr Olympia 1995 | 3 |
| Houston Pro 1995 | 1 |
| Night of Champions 1995 | 1 |
| Grand Prix France 1994 | 4 |
| Grand Prix Germany 1994 | 4 |
| Mr Olympia 1994 | 7 |
| Night of Champions 1994 | 2 |
| Grand Prix Germany 1993 | 3 |
| Grand Prix France 1993 | 3 |
| Night of Champions 1992 | 16 |
| Chicago Pro 1992 | 19 |
| Night of Champions 1991 | |
| Grand Prix Holland 1990 | 8 |
| Grand Prix Finland 1990 | 8 |
| Grand Prix France 1990 | 7 |
Nasser El Sonbati in professional rankings
| Place | Rating | Rating date |
| 119 | 2006 IFBB Male Bodybuilding Professional Rankings | 25.12.2006 |
| 3 | 1998 IFBB Male Pro Bodybuilding Rankings | 10.06.1998 |
Interview before AK 2010.
Nasser El Sonbati will go down in history as the man who introduced extreme mass into bodybuilding while maintaining the aesthetic quality of his physique.
Since Nasser was an outspoken champion, he was deprived of much success, as many believe he should have won the Mr. Olympia title several times.
But he won one significant tournament, the Arnold Classic. The clear winner of this show, Nasser, became the talk of the town. He combined gigantic size and excellent symmetry that made him one of the most popular bodybuilders of those times.
Q: Nasser, how does your Arnold win compare to your other wins?
The Arnold Classic is the second most important show after the Olympia. The third “challenging” show was Night of Champions held in New York, which I also won (1995). But Night of Champions no longer exists since great promoter Wayne DeMiglia left the IFBB circus. Yes, from the circus, not the organization (circus and organization are similar words in English circus, circuit). Successor
Some text is hidden.
The show Night of Champions is a show by Steve Weinberger - New York Pro that he created a couple of years ago. However, as a former newspaper truck driver, he suffers from anger and behavioral problems. A bad show and a bad promoter who needs to manage his anger and swear and threaten less. I finally won the Arnold Classic hosted by Mr. Jim Lorimer - a very good man in 1999 after finishing second to Flex Wheeler every time in 1998 and 1997. Finally the judges let me win in 1999. I was experiencing drains of energy as well as motivation because that I have competed in every Olympia since 1994, as well as most of the post-Olympic shows in Europe. It is very important to have the Arnold Classic title under your belt to be recognized as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Another very interesting fact is that I am the only person who won the Arnold Classic (1989-2009 which is held once a year for 21 years) who was born in Europe and was not a former NPC participant.
Q: Were you at your best when you won the Arnold Classic title?
No, I don't think I was at my best at the 1999 Arnold Classic. Yes, I was definitely the heaviest of all the shows, but not in the best shape. I think I've looked better in most post-Olympic shows over the years compared to the 1999 Arnold Classic. I entered the 1999 Arnold weighing 290 pounds. However, many people in general, and especially in bodybuilding, did not pay attention to this. They don't remember my best performances on shows outside the United States. Also, many people think that only American Pro shows are important. And many are still too young and stupid to understand this. I was here (Columbus, Ohio) in 1999 for the third time in a row to compete and win this title, which is close to the title of World Champion. I have not seen anyone better in 1999 who could have been the clear winner. I think the judges couldn't help but notice my absolute dominance that day on the show. I also didn't like the fact that the "Most Muscular" title was stolen from me. How could Kevin Levrone win that title that day? And how could Flex Wheeler receive this title in previous years? Wheeler, with the same height as me, was 22 kilograms lighter and less muscular than me and the rest of the competitors. Wheeler was tougher in the back. But he is narrow and has very soft hamstrings and little muscle for his growth. His arms overtook the development of the chest, shoulders, and width in the lat position in front. I'm not trying to insult the Sultan of Symmetry and the Arnold Classic record holder but please understand that everyone has weaknesses. I'm talking about top-class muscle groups. Wheeler and the other 10 tallest bodybuilders had to be born a couple of centuries ago so that experts would not say anything bad about them. Most of the guys who try to disgrace the best bodybuilders are simpletons with a lack of common sense and physical and mental complexes that they would like to hide. You also need to take into account that Wheeler and Levroni are former NPC champions and all the judges pay attention to this. Because of this, Levroni won the Most Muscular title at the 1999 Arnold Classic.
Q: What key moments do you remember, Nasser, about Arnold 1999, on stage and off?
In fact, there were many different things there. The funniest thing was that while Levroni was competing on stage, his underpants were worn backwards to front. Then he was already confident in his victory and told Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger about how he consumes fish by the truckload. Only later during the Pose-down did I realize that there was also the square Mister Jay Cutler on stage. I hadn’t noticed it before, or let’s say better, I hadn’t noticed: “Little Red Riding Hood.” I named Mister Jay Cutler that because the only muscle group he had was his red, blood-filled face. I only saw competition from Mr. Cormier and Mr. Levroni. Not only because they looked great, but also because they were members of the United States being judged by judges from the United States. Another thing I noticed while looking from the stage at the judges' panel was that the judges were laughing hysterically and making jokes while athletes like Roland Kickinger and Jeff Long were performing. If you compete long enough as a pro you can often see what the judges do. From the stage I saw how the judges looked, looked too long at each other's scores. I prepared for the show with the goal of winning. By that time I already had a reputation as a person who says what he thinks. Sean Ray was the only guy whose tongue the judges were afraid of and they often rewarded him even for sarcastic words; this they wanted to show that there were no punishments even after his words towards the judges. I told myself: if I win the Arnold Classic, it's a sign that they will never let me win the Olympia. If you've ever wondered how many guys have won the Arnold Classic and Olympia? Only Cutler, Dexter Jackson and Ronnie Coleman. So I had mixed feelings preparing for Arnold. Also, almost all Arnold Classic participants use diuretics in preparation for the show, I would say 95 percent. They used diuretics that were just removed from the list of prohibited drugs to make the second most important tournament “clean”. I also remember a guy I respect is Vince Taylor, the uncrowned Mr. Olympia. Not only was his body one of the best, but he was also polite, helpful, and calm. Vince is a smart man - despite his many victories (almost 25 pro victories!) - he has had victories taken away from him many times because he is not a brown-noser.
Q: And for you, Nasser, the Arnold Classic was the impetus for winning the Mr. Olympia title, many believe that you should have won it at least twice?
in the 90s the goal as a serious pro competitor was to win the Night of Champions. There were great winners at this tournament before me such as: Benaziza, Yates, Levroni. The next step was the goal of winning Mr. Olympia or Arnold Classic. But “they” gave Yates a foothold at the Olympia, and so to make money, even more money and gain fame, you can try to win the Arnold Classic. In this way, you can compensate for the loss at Olympia, at least financially, because if you look back, there was no way to remove the current Mr. Olympia while he was competing. Regarding Yates, people say that even in a wheelchair he would win with excellent points. And it is true. Unfair refereeing would allow it. And if someone like me said this, they would make him guilty. And so the title was stolen from Levroni, Shawn Ray, and me. Wheeler never received the title either.
If Yates had risen in the rankings as slowly as I did, he would never have become Mr. Olympia. And also many would defeat him in the process! But the goal was to establish the white Englishman as the invincible and irrepressible champion. But Yeats, with his English name, was in the right place at the right time. Manion and company no longer wanted to see a black Mr. Olympia like the 8x Lee Haney after Yates. For the industry, blacks bring in less money than whites. If you win the Arnold Classic, theoretically it should bring you closer to winning the Olympia, but in my case it turned out the opposite. Levroni, Wheeler and I understood this. By letting you win the Arnold Classic, dishonest judges seemed to say to you: “Bye Olympia, Bye, Bye!” This later changed with a new white hope - Jem Cutler. And then they also did it with Dexter Jackson so it looked like it didn't matter what color the champion was.
Q: Nasser Exactly how much did you weigh at that Arnold Classic, and what improvements did you make over the years to win?
I think my weight was somewhere around 131 kilograms. I don't know if I improved from previous shows. I took pharmaceuticals in the same way as other participants, I used Insulin, GH, Ephedrine, Caffeine. But I have never taken amphetamines, nubaines, ketamines and cocaine. I also used Esiclene but not Synthol because I think Esiclene is more effective. I'm just telling you what I took and what I didn't. Only idiots, people who don't understand bodybuilding and people who don't like bodybuilding (because they are jealous) try to humiliate athletes who use synthol. If someone thinks that this will help in achieving high places, this should be done. Also at the 1999 Arnold, my friend Chad Nichols came into my hotel room and suggested I carb load my baby food, I took his advice and guess what, it worked well. Besides, Chad is a very nice and smart guy. And if someone receives advice or help from him and it doesn’t help him, then Chad is not to blame. He doesn’t know what you are doing besides his advice and what you “forgot” to tell him. He is also not a Mom to adult performing athletes. All I'm saying is that it's not Chad's fault that Dennis Wolf came in last at the 2009 Olympia.
Q: To most people here, you were the clear winner at the 1999 Arnold Classic. What was it about your physique that influenced the judges and they gave the title to you?
Of course, consistency in your performances is important. Improvements also play a role. I was full, hard and massive, I just crushed everyone on stage.
As a rule, when competing in the USA, I came out on the podium 5 kilograms lighter than in Europe. From experience I knew that they liked to underestimate me even though I was not in the best shape. Others were allowed to appear in poor condition, as for me, I had to always be in excellent shape for the result to be good. Also, I’m not the person who calls “them” and reminds them of themselves. This has been the reality for so many years. However, I decided to be as big and tough as possible. And I decided that in 2000 I would not return to the Arnold if they did not let me win in 1999. I thought they wanted and could put me second or third. But Mr. Jim Manion and Mr. Wayne DeMiglia talked to their colleagues and they did their job. I could also follow the path of Chris Cormier, who finished second six times in a row (2000-2005). Again, I deserved to win this show without any doubt, but in bodybuilding the strongest does not always win. Only the naive and those who believe in fairy tales think that everything happens as it should.
Q: The last time you competed at the Arnold, was everything as you expected? What key moments do you remember about this event?
My last performance at the Arnold Classic was 2002. Compared to previous performance, I didn't look good. I wasn't tough enough, I wasn't big enough, and I didn't have the motivation. It's not easy to become a professional, I became one in 1990 and it's impossible to perform and perform and perform year after year and stay motivated. A bodybuilder is not a machine into which chemicals and protein are thrown, from which you can always expect maximum output. I had absolutely no motivation for this show. I was going through divorce proceedings and also had abscesses on my deltoids and forearms. These abscesses were getting bigger and bigger by that time. These abscesses are the result of local anabolic steroid injections over the years. Some hit the buttocks, calves, quads, and back, while others don't. To prevent the appearance of these abscesses, you need not only to change the injection sites, but also to have different people give them to you: a friend, partner, wife, girlfriend, and also massage in these places. I'm outraged why even former professionals like the little boy Shawn Ray made the stupid statement that it was traces of synthol use, and that that's why I had surgery in 2003. Shawn Ray is only smart to drink with the judges. Before this Arnold Classic, several people massaged my rear delts to ensure proper blood flow. This always helped, but the problem is that the skin tore due to pressure and I began to bleed. So at night, when I slept on my back, the whole sheet was soaked in blood, and it began to bleed even more when I got up. It was painful. But a bodybuilder always goes through pain, it's normal. And of course, on Arnold, my fist-sized red bleeding spot was not only shown on the screen but also enlarged. I was 10th at that Arnold.
Q: Nasser, do you think Arnold Classic has improved over the course of production or in any other aspect?
I can't say anything constructive here because I haven't been to this show for several years. After all these years, there is no incentive for me to even go to this show. 30 years in bodybuilding has made me “less hungry” for competition. I'm tired of looking at tanned faces, smelling protein farts, tired of hearing vows to win the next competition and listening to questions about how to make a good course. Moreover, I have no desire to see other bodybuilders because most of them are too preoccupied with this sport and psychologically belong to this unhealthy area. There must be another factor for me to go there. I don't like winter in Columbus. Another thing that has not yet improved is the referee's thinking. Having competed in so many shows, I still saw the same attitude of individual judges who do everything just to get more money, some leave this circus, they hate each other.. pitting and scheming against each other. For a bodybuilding fan this is certainly not visible. I don't turn my back on all this, but I don't try to be close either. This distance has been good for me for many years. When I remember how a couple of years ago I was “invited” to a meeting of all the former winners. Yes, this is all very cool, but why should I pay for myself there? I was not interested in shaking the sweaty hand of those who make money from me and “reward” me for what I deserved several times more, namely: more victories and fair, civilized treatment. The “invitation” I received was not official and was made by someone in charge. What was the problem? Why didn’t any official write to me? I received an email from a fan saying I was “invited.” I have not received any email or phone call from the IFBB. And to be completely happy, I myself had to look for a hotel room in an already crowded city and pay for the flight myself. For what??? This is not all about money, but because of principle and respect for the athlete. The NFL and other organizations invited their stars at their own expense to the “meeting of the winners.” Seems like an immature attempt by the idiots at the NPC/IFBB to benefit, at least in a physical sense, by bringing all the champions together. By the way, I have nothing more to give to this sport. But bodybuilding owes me something. Or maybe “they” will pay for kidney transplants, new livers, hearts, pancreases, and testosterone therapy for their former stars? Or maybe they’ll just send a one-time meal coupon to each of their super champions? If I give something it is only to good fans, children, Wider, but not to these thieves who chew and spit out IFBB champions. It is also very interesting that I was not even named as a former Arnod Classic champion and my photos were deleted.
Q: Quite a bold statement, Nasser. And what is the positive thing, many athletes consider the Arnold Classic one of the best spectacles today?
Personally, I think Arnold is the best show organizer in the IFBB. This is a very structured event, not only in terms of accommodating participants, but also to make as much profit as possible in Columbus IFBB. This is the biggest show of the entire year. The main difference from other events is that you have a hall that has everything just for this show. It is very spacious and is on one level. It's not as crowded as most shows because there are so many rooms. They also have a team of people who help you with makeup, water, towels, there is even a doctor here. There is also an oxygen tank. Very, very useful things. If you are not familiar with IFBB tournaments in the US or outside you would think that bodybuilders are treated very well. When you enter the Hotel where the participants live, you will also say that everything is well organized. You have both a refrigerator and a microwave in your room. You also have quick and good access to products and every couple of minutes you can take a bus to the EXPO directly from the Hotel, which lasts three days. For the general public, EXPO Olympia lasts only 2 days and the Olympic atmosphere is inferior to that of the Arnold Classic despite the fact that the Arnold is held in the frosty first days of March each year. Many people at this exhibition feel special because Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger is right there and will take a photo with you (for $50 at the time). Then he runs around the EXPO with his security guard and you can look at him. It's funny that people try to blame Lou Ferigno for taking pictures with people for money, but people don't complain about Arnold when he does the same thing for a lot of money. Maybe this makes Arnold greedy for money but not Mr. Ferigno.
Q: Nasser, what did you receive for your victory at the 1999 Arnold Classic?
It's very nice as a winner to receive a Hummer. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive it, this prize was introduced a year later, and I also didn’t receive the expensive watches that people received after me. In return I received a mountain bike and one hundred thousand dollars. We can say that in the following years after 1999, the amount of winnings is more than the Olympic one. Some Arnold champions sold their Hummers to make more money.
Q: What are your views on the level of competition today compared to your era, Nasser?
The lineup for the 2010 Arnod Classic is very impressive. Exceptionally compared to previous years. However, the 90s were the golden era of bodybuilding. I criticize my colleagues, but they looked great compared to me and I don’t argue with that. However, since 2000 we haven't seen another Shawn Ray, Wheeler, Levroni, Yates, Cormier, Dillet, Fuchs, Rhule, Coleman, Priest, Benaziza, Vince Taylor and myself. These guys were the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Today I see only Kai Greene, Martinez, Dexter Jackson and Heath who can be classified as a group of the 90s. And there's nothing on the horizon. There are so many guys who have been competing in NPCs for the last two decades and none of them are great or outstanding at all. I don’t want to be arrogant or humiliate someone’s dignity, but in the 90s there were genetics, some unique images that don’t exist now. This is a fact.
Q: Nasser, who do you think can win the 2010 Arnold Classic and why?
The top three are Green, Heath, Dexter Jackson with Warren, Rockel and Freeman sixth and fifth. The problem, however, is that Mr. Manion does not want to put Warren in the top 3, many people will even say that it was Manion who “put” him in second place at the 2009 Olympia. Also, Warren could be put in fourth to make the top 3 consisting of black guys to reverse the injustice of the 2009 Olympia Tough Warren must be under the impression that he can win the Arnold, otherwise there is no point in participating here. I think that Mr. Manion suggested that he participate so that the top 6 would not be completely black. Rockel is just a small German, even if symmetrical. It does not satisfy any bodybuilding goal. He is cosmetic to compete in the top6. If Rockel is not in shape, then Melvin Anthony will be in the top 6. Freeman was near the target for too long despite excellent data. If Warren is lucky and in good shape, the Heat will be in fourth place and Warren will be in third place. Dexter will do everything possible to get Warren to follow him. If Branch is outside the top 3, it does not mean that he will not enter it at Olympia.
Q: And so Nasser is making predictions. What does your top 6 look like (in order)?
2.Kai Green
3. Heath (still paying the price for calling himself “Dar”, but if Jackson and Green are out of shape, he can win)
4. Warren (White Hope, can be tough, but there are gaps in the structure. He was 2nd at Olympia and this plays a role!)
