Height is not something that can be improved with training. It is just an aspect that some people are endowed with. But as all know, bodybuilding is a sport of giants with exceptional physiques and there is always some enigma surrounding those who tower over others.
One more reason why tall bodybuilders are sensationalized may be because they are rarer in number as there are more bodybuilders who have an average height. This is why when the tall muscular person enters the stage, the audience cannot help but anticipate an excellent performance from them as being tall is often associated with exceptional physical abilities when it comes to endurance sports.
But as it happens, tall people do not fare well in bodybuilding and nobody over the height of 6’2’’ (189 cm) has ever won any IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) Pro League. However, that does not mean we cannot appreciate their physiques, efforts, and achievements.
What Will I Learn?
Top 11 Tallest Bodybuilders
There are a lot of amateur bodybuilding contests all over the world and the one thing that binds most of them together is that the participants are categorized in height or weight classes. The IFBB Pro League, however, witnesses bodybuilders of different height and weight classes clashing against each other. And the very top title of this contest is Mr. Olympia.
Among the 17 bodybuilders who have claimed the title of Mr. Olympia, the tallest of them is Arnold Schwarzenegger who is 6’2’’ (188 cm). The average height computed from all the contests held has been found to be around 5’10’’ or 178 cm.
That being said, people are always curious about the world’s tallest bodybuilder just like they are about tall athletes in general. So, here is a list of the best tall bodybuilders.
Maria Wattle
- Height: 6’ / 182.7 cm
- Year: 1980- present
This famous bodybuilder may be the shortest on our list but she holds the Guinness Book World Record for tallest female bodybuilder. She is a 41-year-old professional athlete, bodybuilder, personal trainer, and specialist model. She made her pro debut in the Women’s Physique Division in 2020, for which she finished in eighth place in the Romania Muscle Fest.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Height: 6’2” / 188 cm
- Year: 1947-present
People outside the bodybuilding community will recognize Arnold Schwarzenegger as a famous movie star who has graced the silver screen with globally acclaimed roles such as in The Terminator, Conan The Barbarian, True Lies, and The Predator, etc. But this man kickstarted his journey into the Hall of Fame with a prolific bodybuilding career. By the age of 20, he had already bagged the title of Mr. Universe.
He reached the zenith of his career as a bodybuilder with Mr. Olympia and is the only bodybuilder above the height of 6 feet to have won this title. This also makes him the tallest-ever winner of this prestigious trophy.
Apart from this, he is also an activist, and philanthropist and has also served as the Governor of California state in USA.
Greg Kovac
- Height: 6’4”/ 193 cm
- Year: 1968-2013
Greg Kovacs, a professional bodybuilder, was known for his massive size and weight. He was reported to weigh around 420 pounds during the offseason and up to 330 pounds on the day of the contest.
Although he won the 1996 Canadian Nationals, he failed to achieve success in the five pro shows that he competed in from 1997 to 2005. In 1997, Kovacs was featured on the cover of FLEX magazine with the tagline “Greg Kovacs: The New 320-Pound Monster Among Us.”
Quincy Taylor
- Height: 6’4” / 193 cm
- Year: 1969-present
At his peak, Quincy Taylor was literally the biggest bodybuilder around in the pro bodybuilding circuit. His body muscle was recorded as 360 pounds (offseason) and 300 pounds (contest) respectively.
He turned pro by placing first in the 2001 USA Championships. While Quincy Taylor never won a professional bodybuilding competition, he was a consistent top performer, placing second twice and third two other times.
He also competed in two Mr. Olympia competitions in 2005 and 2007 but failed to place. Despite this, he remains a highly respected figure in the bodybuilding community for his impressive contest performances. Currently, he works as a fitness trainer.
Jamie Christian
- Height: 6’5” / 195.6 cm
- Year: 1986-present
Jamie Christian, a bodybuilder from England, holds the title of the world’s tallest pro open bodybuilder. He gained his pro status in 2018 in the classic physique division but later competed in open bodybuilding contests in the IFBB Pro League.
Despite weighing 300 pounds, Christian has faced difficulties in making an impact in pro shows due to his long and lagging legs. However, his shoulder width and shoulder-to-waist ratio are some of the most extreme ever seen on a bodybuilding stage.
Lou Ferrigno
- Height: 6’6” /198 cm
- Year: 1951-present
If we look at contest statistics, then Lou Ferrigno is one of the most successful tallest bodybuilders of all time. Despite having a good bodybuilding career, many say that he could have achieved more had he not turned to Hollywood.
At the age of 21, Lou Ferrigno won both Mr. America and Mr. Universe titles, and the next year, he won the Mr. Universe and placed second in the Mr. Olympia tall class, losing only to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
After participating in the 1975 Mr. Olympia, he took a 17-year break from professional bodybuilding to pursue an acting career. Ferrigno returned to bodybuilding in his 40s and placed 12th in the 1992 Mr. Olympia, 10th in the 1993 Mr. Olympia, and second in the 1994 Masters Olympia.
Pavel Szotkowski
- Height: 6’6”/ 200 cm
- Year: 1991-present
Pavel Szotkowski, a professional bodybuilder from the Czech Republic, holds the distinction of being the tallest pro bodybuilder in any division. He is tied with Ralf Moeller as the tallest pro of all time. Despite his lengthy limbs, Szotkowski has a symmetrical body and is known for his high-definition conditioning.
He competes in the classic physique division and weighs over 300 pounds. Szotkowski earned his pro card in 2019 and has already achieved high placements in the IFBB Pro League classic physique division, including a fourth-place finish out of 30 competitors in the 2020 Europa Pro.
Aaron Reed
- Height: 6’7”/ 200.6 cm
- Year: 1981-present
Aaron Reed comes from a family of tall and muscular men. Coupled with that was his love for idols such as Arnold Schwarzenegger that brought him towards bodybuilding- but not without challenges. He battled leukemia as a kid but beat it and by 19, he had won Mr. Teen Colorado.
Reed competed in bodybuilding for 14 years without much success, until he won the classic physique overall title at the All-South Championships in 2016. He is now pursuing an acting career, having appeared in the 2021 film Free Guy despite his massive 315-lb. frame.
Martyn Ford
- Height: 6’8”/ 203 cm
- Year: 1982-present
Martin Ford is a well-known name in the bodybuilding community because of his towering physique and full body of tattoos. He is often called by his nickname “The Nightmare” due to his intimidating stature.
Although he has never competed on stage, he is still one of the most followed bodybuilders in recent times. He has acted in several TV Shows and Movies and he is an avid Instagram user keeping his fans engaged with posts of intense training and luxurious lifestyle.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
- Height: 6’9” / 206 cm
- Year: 1988-present
This man needs no introduction as he is super popular both within and outside the sports community due to his incredible physique. Those who are not into bodybuilding can recognize him from his role as Ser Gregor Clegane or “The Mountain” in the globally acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones (2011-2019).
Hailing from Iceland, this professional strongman and bodybuilder is widely recognized as one of the greatest strength athletes to ever exist. He has accomplished the rare feat of winning the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man, and the World’s Strongest Man competitions in the same calendar year, a feat that no one else has ever achieved.
His list of accolades includes multiple world records and numerous Strongman titles from multiple strength federations.
With 30 international competition wins, he stands as the third most decorated strongman in history, surpassed only by Lithuania’s Žydrūnas Savickas and Poland’s Mariusz Pudzianowski. Many strength analysts and strongman experts consider him the strongest man to have ever lived, in terms of pure brute strength.
Olivier Richters
- Height: 7’2’’ / 218.3 cm
- Year: 1989-present.
As of 2021, Richters holds the record for being the tallest professional bodybuilder. He is 12.7 centimeters (5.0 inches) taller than Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. In November 2018, he appeared on the cover of the Netherlands’ edition of Men’s Health and was also the subject of a documentary by the magazine.
Richters has mentioned that his inspiration for bodybuilding was Richard Kiel, the actor who was of equal height and had played the role of Jaws, the henchman, in two James Bond films.
Who Is The Tallest Bodybuilder Ever?
The “Dutch Giant” Olivier Richters is considered the tallest bodybuilder according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He stands at a towering height of 218.3 cm or 7’1.9” as verified on April 2021 in Eemnes, Netherlands.
However, he is not a competitive bodybuilder as he works for the Hollywood film industry. He may not compete on stage but trains and diets like any other bodybuilder and has played many roles in popular film franchises such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU).
His big-break role was Ursa in Black Widow (2021) and his other notable roles include Duncan in Gangs of London (2020) and in the film – The King’s Man (2021).
Who Is The Tallest Mr. Olympia?
The tallest Mr. Olympia winner was Arnold Schwarzenegger at 6 ft 2 in (188cm).
Most of us will recognize this name as a famous actor who is the face of the Terminator franchise, Conan The Barbarian as well as more than 40 other action and non-action genre movies. He was born in Austria and started lifting as a teen.
After a brief time in the Austrian military, he turned to competitive lifting, and by the age of 20, he had the titles of Mr. Germany, and Mr. Europe under his belt. He has had a long and successful career both as a bodybuilder as well as an actor the peak of which is obviously winning Mr. Olympia and a Golden Globe Award respectively.
Apart from this, Arnold Schwarzenegger is also an activist and has served as the Governor of California, USA.
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To Conclude
Even though tall bodybuilders may not have as much success in professional bodybuilding competitions, they still deserve admiration for their impressive physiques and dedication to the sport.
The world’s tallest bodybuilders, such as Lou Ferrigno and Aaron Reed, have made a significant impact on the bodybuilding community and continue to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter their height or physical stature.
Additionally, the fact that tall bodybuilders are relatively rare adds to the intrigue and fascination surrounding them. As the sport of bodybuilding continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if more tall bodybuilders emerge and if they are able to break the mold and achieve professional success.
Regardless, we can appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into building a massive and impressive physique.
