| Larry Scott | |
|---|---|
| Professional bodybuilder | |
 | |
| Personal info | |
| Nickname | The Legend, The Golden Boy |
| Born | (1938-10-12)October 12, 1938 Blackfoot, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | March 8, 2014(2014-03-08) (aged 75) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Best statistics | |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1] |
| Weight | Contest: 205 lb (93 kg) Off season: 215 lb (98 kg)[1] |
| Professional (Pro) career | |
| Pro-debut |
|
| Best win |
|
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | Sergio Oliva |
| Active | 1959–1966, 1979–1980 |
Larry Dee Scott (October 12, 1938 – March 8, 2014), nicknamed "the Legend" and "the Golden Boy," was an AmericanIFBBprofessionalbodybuilder. He won theinaugural 1965Mr. Olympia competition and defended the crown at the1966 Mr. Olympia contest before retiring. He also won the Mr. America title in 1962 and the Mr. Universe title in 1964. With his Olympia victory in 1965, Scott became the first man to win the three major titles of his era. A student ofVince Gironda, he became best known for his arm development, particularly his impressive and unusually long biceps. He was inducted into theIFBB Hall of Fame in 1999.
Larry Dee Scott was born inBlackfoot, Idaho, to Thea Scott and Wayne Scott, a machinist.[2] He began training at age 16 and won the Mr. Idaho competition in 1959 at age 20. After moving to California, he promptly won Mr. California (1960), Mr. Pacific Coast (1961), Mr. America (1962), and Mr. Universe (1964). WhenJoe Weider created theIFBB'sMr. Olympia title, Scott won the first two contests in 1965 and 1966. Although retiring after his 1966 Olympia win, he staged a brief comeback in 1979 before he finally retired from competition in 1980. He studied electronics at the California Air College, and was known to be a devoutMormon.[3] He married Rachel Scott (née Ichikawa).[4] The Scotts had five children: daughter Susan, and sons Erin, Nathan, Derek, and Michael. Derek died in a motorcycle accident in 1992, and Michael died in 1993.[2]
He played a minor role in the 1964 movieMuscle Beach Party. When he started weight training in 1956, his narrow shoulders were a particular weak spot. He trained withVince Gironda, a well-known bodybuilder of the time, and became best known for his arm development, particularly his impressive and unusually long biceps. He attributed his biceps to an exercise called the "Preacher Curl",[5] invented by Gironda, later known as the "Scott Curl" for its association with Scott.[6]
Scott stated in a 1965Iron Man interview that his diet consisted of "a lot of meat, cheese and eggs," coupled with protein supplements.[6] Scott was a popular physique model during the early to mid-1960s, working for the photographersBruce of Los Angeles, Don Whitman (of the Western Photography Guild), and Pat Milo. Milo introduced Scott to a larger audience and helped him hone his posing and photographic persona: the "boy next door".[7] Larry regularly appeared in all ofJoe Weider's bodybuilding magazines, includingMr. America andMuscle Builder, also appearing inDemi Gods,Muscleboy,Muscles a Go-Go andThe Young Physique.[8] As an IFBB member, he wrote exclusively for Joe Weider's publications.
From 1960 until his first retirement in 1966, Scott was bodybuilding's top superstar. Bodybuilding magazines soon began capitalizing on his clean-cut, all-American image. His popularity become known as "Larry Fever"[9] and reached its apex at the first Mr. Olympia competition in 1965, winning the "jewel"-encrusted crown againstHarold Poole. Scott defended his title and won the 1966 Mr. Olympia title, receiving a $1,000 prize.[10]
News of his retirement at the age of 28 shocked the sport, but he prioritized his second marriage and felt he had done all he could in competitive bodybuilding after two Olympia wins.
Rod Labbe, a freelance writer and fan, collaborated with Scott on five articles: a two-part interview inFlex magazine, two articles inIronman, the "Poetry in Motion" article inMuscleMag International, a promotional article/interview forScarlet: the Film Magazine aboutAmerican International'sMuscle Beach Party (1964), withDon Rickles.[11] Five years after Scott's death, Labbe wrote a Scott tribute article for the March 2019 issue of Muscle & Fitness entitled, "My friend, Larry Scott."
Scott retired toSalt Lake City, operating his personal training companyLarry Scott Fitness & Nutrition. The company manufactured and sold custom gym equipment and health supplements.[2][12] He was inducted into theIFBB Hall of Fame in 1999. His last public interview about his life was in 2012 on K-TALK Radio.[13]
On March 8, 2014, Scott died of complications fromAlzheimer's disease at his home in Salt Lake City,[4][14] at the age of 75.[2]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Mr. Olympia | ||
| Preceded by: none | First (1965) | Succeeded by: himself |
| Preceded by: himself | Second (1966) | Succeeded by: Sergio Oliva |
