Mike Matarazzo
Encyclopedia
Michael Richard Matarazzo is a former American IFBB
professional bodybuilder.
Born on November 8, 1965 and originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Matarazzo moved to Venice, California to further his bodybuilding career. Formerly a boxer
, Matarazzo first won the 1989 Gold's Gym Classic in Massachusetts. He competed for the first time in the Mr. Olympia
contest in 1991. Known primarily for his massive arms, his best placing (out of seven total appearances) in the Mr. Olympia competition was 9th, in 1998.
Matarazzo's last appearance in a professional bodybuilding event was the 2001 Mr. Olympia, where he placed 21st. He was forced to retire due to having open heart surgery on December 8, 2004 as a result of clogged arteries caused by steroid use. He is currently residing in Modesto, California
and was last reported to be working as a bail bondsman for AJ's Bail Bonds.. He has since discontinued working as a bail bondsman, due to limitations on physical activity related to his 20% heart function. On November 8, 2007, Matarazzo suffered a heart attack, his second cardiac-related problem since his surgery in December 2004.
Worst were the chemicals. I have so many memories of being alone in a hotel room the week, five days or two days before a contest, and doing unspeakable things to my body—steroids, growth hormones, diuretics—anything and everything that we as bodybuilders do to achieve a certain look.
It has affected my whole life, so to all those guys who are on an eternal quest to have 21" arms and 20" calves, and who are so vain about their never-say-die attitude, I say, "Change your attitude." Worry about keeping that body of yours as healthy as possible, because it's going to have to last you not just through your next contest or to the end of your bodybuilding contract, but for a long time. And a long time for a human being is nothing. It goes by real quick, even quicker when your health is gone and you have nothing to stand on.
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
professional bodybuilder.
Born on November 8, 1965 and originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Matarazzo moved to Venice, California to further his bodybuilding career. Formerly a boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, Matarazzo first won the 1989 Gold's Gym Classic in Massachusetts. He competed for the first time in the Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
contest in 1991. Known primarily for his massive arms, his best placing (out of seven total appearances) in the Mr. Olympia competition was 9th, in 1998.
Matarazzo's last appearance in a professional bodybuilding event was the 2001 Mr. Olympia, where he placed 21st. He was forced to retire due to having open heart surgery on December 8, 2004 as a result of clogged arteries caused by steroid use. He is currently residing in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
and was last reported to be working as a bail bondsman for AJ's Bail Bonds.. He has since discontinued working as a bail bondsman, due to limitations on physical activity related to his 20% heart function. On November 8, 2007, Matarazzo suffered a heart attack, his second cardiac-related problem since his surgery in December 2004.
Contest history
- 1991 NPC USA Championships, Heavyweight, 1st and Overall
- 1991 Mr. Olympia, Did not place
- 1992 Arnold ClassicArnold ClassicThe Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States.-History:...
, 15th - 1992 Ironman Pro InvitationalIronman Pro InvitationalThe Ironman Pro Invitational is a IFBB bodybuilding contest held every year. It began in 1990 and is considered one of the top professional bodybuilding events, with the top five finalists qualifying for the Mr. Olympia contest....
, 5th - 1993 Marissa Classic, 6th
- 1993 Night of ChampionsNight of ChampionsNight of Champions is a bodybuilding contest held every year in New York City, USA. It began in 1978 and is considered one of the top professional bodybuilding events, with the top five finalists qualifying for the Mr. Olympia contest....
, 8th - 1993 Mr. Olympia, 18th
- 1993 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational, 2nd
- 1994 Arnold Classic, 9th
- 1994 San Jose Pro Invitational, 8th
- 1995 Florida Pro Invitational, 7th
- 1995 South Beach Pro Invitational, 7th
- 1996 Grand Prix Czech Republic, 9th
- 1996 Grand Prix Russia, 9th
- 1996 Grand Prix Switzerland, 9th
- 1996 Night of Champions, 5th
- 1996 Mr. Olympia, 13th
- 1997 Canada Pro Cup, 2nd
- 1997 Grand Prix Germany, 11th
- 1997 Grand Prix Hungary, 10th
- 1997 Grand Prix Spain, 10th
- 1997 Night of Champions, 4th
- 1997 Mr. Olympia, 13th
- 1997 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd
- 1998 Night of Champions, 3rd
- 1998 Mr. Olympia, 9th
- 1998 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 7th
- 1998 Toronto Pro Invitational, 3rd
- 1999 Mr. Olympia, 11th
- 2000 Night of Champions, Did not place
- 2000 Toronto Pro Invitational, 6t
- 2001 Night of Champions, 5th
- 2001 Mr. Olympia, 21st
Quotes
Oh, god, where do I begin? I'd have to say that everything that led to my heart problem began the minute I started getting serious about competitive bodybuilding. In order to get bigger, I'd eat five, six, seven pounds of red meat a day, no vegetables. And I'd stay away from fruits because of their sugar.Worst were the chemicals. I have so many memories of being alone in a hotel room the week, five days or two days before a contest, and doing unspeakable things to my body—steroids, growth hormones, diuretics—anything and everything that we as bodybuilders do to achieve a certain look.
It has affected my whole life, so to all those guys who are on an eternal quest to have 21" arms and 20" calves, and who are so vain about their never-say-die attitude, I say, "Change your attitude." Worry about keeping that body of yours as healthy as possible, because it's going to have to last you not just through your next contest or to the end of your bodybuilding contract, but for a long time. And a long time for a human being is nothing. It goes by real quick, even quicker when your health is gone and you have nothing to stand on.
See also
- Arnold ClassicArnold ClassicThe Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States.-History:...
- Ironman Pro InvitationalIronman Pro InvitationalThe Ironman Pro Invitational is a IFBB bodybuilding contest held every year. It began in 1990 and is considered one of the top professional bodybuilding events, with the top five finalists qualifying for the Mr. Olympia contest....
- List of male professional bodybuilders
- List of female professional bodybuilders
- Mr. OlympiaMr. OlympiaMr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
- Night of ChampionsNight of ChampionsNight of Champions is a bodybuilding contest held every year in New York City, USA. It began in 1978 and is considered one of the top professional bodybuilding events, with the top five finalists qualifying for the Mr. Olympia contest....
- San Francisco Pro InvitationalSan Francisco Pro InvitationalThe San Francisco Pro Invitational is an IFBB professional bodybuilding contest.-Winners:-See also:*List of male professional bodybuilders*List of female professional bodybuilders...
External links
Alternative information/tribute sites:- http://www.bodybuildingpro.com/mikematarazzo.html
- http://www.criticalbench.com/Mike-Matarazzo.htm
- http://forum.bodynet.nl/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/786
- BodyBuilder Webmagazin entry
- Mike Matarazzo Gallery