Markus Rühl (born 22 February 1972, in Roßdorf, Darmstadt, West Germany) is a retired IFBB professional bodybuilder, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest "mass monster" bodybuilders of all time.
Early life Rühl began training at the age of 18 following a doctor's recommendation to build some muscles in his legs after sustaining an injury in his left knee while playing soccer. Starting with a bodyweight of , Rühl began training hard six days a week. In five years he started competing at professional level.
He also worked as a used-car salesman and an office clerk.
Bodybuilding career In 1997, Rühl won the Hessian state championship and the German championship as an amateur. He then received the IFBB professional card and started bodybuilding as his profession. At the 1997 Pro Grand Prix in Germany he took 10th place. His on stage weight was .
In 1998, Rühl took 9th place at the Night of Champions with an on stage weight of . In 1999 IFBB English Grand Prix he placed 7th, took 4th place at the 1999 Night of Champions and qualified for the 1999 Mr. Olympia but tested positive for diuretics and was disqualified.
In 2000, he excelled his placings at the Night of Champions to 2nd place, placed 5th on 2000 English Grand Prix and won 2000 Toronto Pro. At 2000 Mr. Olympia he placed 7th behind Ronnie Coleman, Kevin Levrone, Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Nasser El Sonbaty and Lee Priest. In 2001 Mr. Olympia Rühl hit a downfall with 14th place.
In 2002 Night of Champions, Rühl brought up his best physique ever weighing a staggering on-stage, massive and ripped to easily win the competition. Numerous critiques and fans rate this version of Rühl to be one of the freakiest and best bodybuilding physiques of all-time.
In 2003 Arnold Classic Rühl emerged 3rd and placed 5th in 2004 Mr. Olympia behind Coleman, Jay Cutler, Gustavo Badell and Dexter Jackson, which is his highest placing ever at the Olympia. He weighed on stage.
Among Rühl's higher placings thereafter were 3rd in 2006 IFBB Austria Pro Grand Prix and again 3rd in 2009 New York Pro. His final Olympia was the 2009 Mr. Olympia competition.
Other ventures From 2006 to 2007, Rühl ran a sports studio in Kelsterbach together with his colleague Stefan Hammerschmiedt. He signed sponsorship deals with Ultimate Nutrition in 2008, BMS in 2014 and All Stars Supplements in 2015. He also ran a fitness studio called 'Rühl's fit&fun' in Darmstadt-Nord until 2017. In 2018 Rühl started his own supplement company 'Rühl's Bestes'.
Personal life On 31 August 2017, Rühl married Alicja and they have a daughter.
Physical statistics Height: Contest weight: Off-season weight: Chest/ Back: Arms: Legs: Waist:
Bodybuilding chronology YearCompetitionResult1998Night of Champions9th1999English Grand Prix7th1999Night of Champions4th1999Mr. OlympiaDQhttps://www.getbig.com/results/e-mroly.htm GetBig.com Olympia results1999Joe Weider's Pro World7th2000Toronto Pro1st2000Night of Champions2nd2000English Grand Prix5th2000Joe Weider's World Pro Cup5th2000Mr. Olympia7th2001Mr. Olympia14th2002Toronto Pro Classic2nd2002Night of Champions1st2002Mr. Olympia8th2003Arnold Classic3rd2004Mr. Olympia5th2005Mr. Olympia15th2006Santa Susanna Pro2nd2006Mr. Olympia8th2006Austria Pro Grand Prix3rd2009New York Pro3rd2009Mr. Olympia15th2010Europa Super Show7th
Filmography YearFilm2000Markus Rühl: XXXLhttps://www.videofight.com.br/produto/markus-ruhl-xxxl-bodybuilding/ MARKUS RUHL – XXXL BODYBUILDING2004Markus Rühl: Made in Germanyhttps://gmvbodybuilding.com/bodybuilding-videos/male-bodybuilders/male-bodybuilding-dvd/markus-ruhl-made-germany-dvd/?v=d0fa06cd9333 Markus Ruhl – Made in Germany (DVD)2007Markus Rühl: Big and loving ithttps://www.amazon.com/Markus-Ruhl-Big-Loving/dp/B009MZX088 Markus Ruhl Big and Loving It2010Markus Rühl: Ruhling 4 Everhttps://www.ruehl24.de/de/Video-DVD/markus-ruehl-ruhling-4-ever-dvd.html Markus Rühl - Ruhling 4 ever - DVD
See also List of male professional bodybuilders List of female professional bodybuilders
Notes
References
External links Markus Rühl's website Markus Rühl's old website Video Clip of Markus Rühl posing at the 2006 Mr. Olympia contest Markus Ruhl Bodybuilding Gallery