Markus Rühl
{{Short description|German bodybuilder (born 1972)}}
{{Infobox bodybuilder
| name = Markus Rühl
| image = Markus Rühl.jpg
| caption =Rühl guest posing in Biberach an der Riss during 2005 off-season
| nickname = The Freak
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|02|22}}
| birth_place =Roßdorf, Darmstadt, West Germany
| height = {{height|m=1.78}}
| weight = Contest: {{convert|120-132|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}
Off season: {{convert|140-148|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}
| firstproshow =
| firstproshowyear = 1999
| bestwin = 2002 Night of Champions
| bestwinyear =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| yesorretiredyear = 1995{{ndash}}2011
}}
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.{{cite web|first=Greg|last=Merritt|url=https://www.muscleandfitness.com/flexonline/training/retro-athlete-markus-r-hl/|title=Retro Athlete: Markus Rühl The German mass monster who became a fan-favorite sensation.|work=Muscle & Fitness|date=24 April 2015}}{{cite web|first=Thomas |last=Bluhm|url=https://www.got-big.de/Blog/markus-ruehl-biografie/ |title=Markus Rühl Biografie – Sein Leben & Werdegang als Bodybuilder|work=
www.got-big.de|date=22 June 2011}}
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 football. Despite his lanky frame at a bodyweight of {{convert|54.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}, Rühl began training hard six days a week because he loved to go to the gym and to be a bit bigger than his friends. In five years he reached a level where 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 {{convert|117|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}.{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521215626/http://www.markus-ruhl.com/ |title=Der Weg zum Profi|author=Anon |website=www.markus-ruhl.com |access-date=22 January 2025}}
In 1998, Rühl took 9th place at the Night of Champions with an on stage weight of {{convert|120|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.getbig.com/results/e-mroly.htm |title=1999 Mr. Olympia Results - October 23, 1999 at Las Vegas, Nevada|author=Getbig.com |website=www.Getbig.com |access-date=22 January 2025}}
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 {{convert|129.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} on-stage, massive and ripped to easily win the competition.{{cite web|title=Night of Champions 2002, Posing Markus Ruhl |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlHi5xeTlDE |website=YouTube | date=12 October 2009 | access-date=23 January 2025}} Numerous critiques and fans rate this version of Rühl to be one of the freakiest and best bodybuilding physiques of all-time.{{cite web|url =https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/noc2002.htm |title =2002 N.O.C. Results!|first =Rafael|last =Santonja|website =www.bodybuilding.com|date =September 14, 2005}}
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 {{convert|127|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} 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'.{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113122951/http://www.markus-ruhl.com/sponsor-und-zukunft/|title=Markus Rühl – IFBB Professional Bodybuilder|author=Stefan Pohle |website=www.markus-ruhl.com |access-date=30 May 2018}}
Personal life
On 31 August 2017, Rühl married Alicja{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BYgaKM5gtyg/?taken-by=markusruehl |title=Meine wunderschöne FRAU alicjaruehl Jetzt offiziell Frau Rühl She said YES 31.08.2017 👰🏼🎩|website=Instagram, Markus Rühl |access-date=31 August 2017}} and they have a daughter.
Physical statistics
- Height: {{height|m=1.78}}
- Contest weight: {{convert|120-132|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}
- Off-season weight: {{convert|140-148|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}}
- Chest/ Back: {{cvt|150|cm}}
- Arms: {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}}
- Legs: {{convert|85-88|cm|in|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.markus-ruehl.de/biographie.html?&L=1 |title=Markus Rühl - IFBB Professional Bodybuilder |website=www.markus-ruehl.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205023030/http://www.markus-ruehl.de/biographie.html?&L=1 |archive-date=2004-12-05}}
- Waist: {{convert|91-97|cm|in|abbr=on}}
Bodybuilding chronology
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Competition !Result |
| 1998
|Night of Champions |9th |
| 1999
|English Grand Prix |7th |
| 1999
|Night of Champions |4th |
| 1999
|DQ{{refn|group="note"|Rühl was disqualified from the 1999 Mr. Olympia contest after testing positive for diuretics.}}http://www.getbig.com/results/e-mroly.htm GetBig.com Olympia results |
| 1999
|Joe Weider's Pro World |7th |
| 2000
|Toronto Pro |style="background: gold;"|1st |
| 2000
|Night of Champions |style="background: silver;"|2nd |
| 2000
|English Grand Prix |5th |
| 2000
|Joe Weider's World Pro Cup |5th |
| 2000
|7th |
| 2001
|14th |
| 2002
|Toronto Pro Classic |style="background: silver;"|2nd |
| 2002
|Night of Champions |style="background: gold;"|1st |
| 2002
|8th |
| 2003
|style="background: #c96;"|3rd |
| 2004
|5th |
| 2005
|15th |
| 2006
|8th |
| 2006
|Austria Pro Grand Prix |style="background: #c96;"|3rd |
| 2009
|New York Pro |style="background: #c96;"|3rd |
| 2009
|15th |
| 2010
|Europa Super Show |7th |
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Film !Ref. |
| 2000
|Markus Rühl: XXXL |https://www.videofight.com.br/produto/markus-ruhl-xxxl-bodybuilding/ MARKUS RUHL – XXXL BODYBUILDING |
| 2004
|Markus Rühl: Made in Germany |
| 2007
|Markus Rühl: Big and loving it |https://www.amazon.com/Markus-Ruhl-Big-Loving/dp/B009MZX088 Markus Ruhl Big and Loving It |
| 2010
|Markus Rühl: Ruhling 4 Ever |
See also
Notes
{{Reflist|group="note"}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.markus-ruhl.com/ Markus Rühl's website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070117193307/http://www.markus-ruehl.de/ Markus Rühl's old website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061122010223/http://www.pumpedvideo.com/2006/11/04/markus-ruhl-mr-olympia-2006/ Video Clip of Markus Rühl posing at the 2006 Mr. Olympia contest]
- [https://www.builtreport.com/markus-ruhl-gallery/ Markus Ruhl Bodybuilding Gallery]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruhl, Markus}}
Category:German male bodybuilders
Category:Professional bodybuilders
Category:Sportspeople from Darmstadt
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