Where Are They Now?
The Tony Pearson Story
By
Shawn Ray
Tony Pearson by all accounts was a Man among Men! Not only did he slay some of the Giants of his time in head to head competition, he also won a slew of Mixed Pairs Competitions with World Class Female Bodybuilders in the process! “I garnered six Pro World Mixed-Pairs titles with different partners in 1982 and '83 (Shelley Gruwell), '84 (Carla Dunlap), '85 (Tina Plakinger), '86 (Juliette Bergmann), and '88 (Carla Dunlap).” Tony came up in the sport back in the mid 70’s yet had a career that spanned well into the 90’s.Tony also competed in the now defunct World Bodybuilding Federation's shows launched by wrestling mogul Vince McMahon. They dubbed him, “THE JETMAN!” Tony is currently a Personal Trainer and Nutritional Consultant to the stars both in Los Angeles and in Europe.
In 2007, Tony was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame and here is his story….
SR: What lead you into bodybuilding, and what was the bodybuilding climate was like back when you started?
TP: I injured my knee wrestling in high school and had to have surgery. The doctor recommended weight training for rehab.
I was in the gym every day - that’s how it all started!
In 1974, when I started training in St. Louis, no one really understood what bodybuilding was all about.
Promoters would put on weightlifting competitions with the bodybuilding shows on the side. You really needed to be in California, where all the Bodybuilders trained.
SR: How much was a gym membership, and what kind of supplements were popular?
TP: In those days, a membership was about ten to fifteen dollars a month.
There was nothing special. They offered a lot of free weights, with a few machines.
I don't remember seeing any cardio machines.
Most of the guys were taking liver tablets, wheat germ, B-Complex, and multi-vitamins, and they were eating dairy products, red meat, and lots of eggs.
The whole idea was to get BIG – it was not about definition at that time.
SR: Share your first contest victory with us. What was it like?
TP: My first win was the Mr. Venice Beach in 1976. I was nineteen!
I was very excited, I thought I had done something, and it made me want more!
My first show was the Mr. St. Louis, where I placed third. Getting a win felt really good!
SR: At some point, you got into mixed pairs competition, which is no longer. As an athlete, how different was that for you?
TP: I am more of a creative type of person. For me, mixed pairs came naturally; I love the art of posing.
It’s really important to find someone compatible with you, and together you create this presentation that tells a story - almost like a dance.
SR: Due to your creativity and the ability to pick the right partner, it seemed you were unstoppable in mixed pairs competition. How did you feel when it was canceled?
TP: I was surprised because mixed pairs really opened up bodybuilding to a wider audience.
We got so much press through the magazines and television programs like NBC Sports World.
But I understood the situation; it was very difficult to get athletes to work together.
SR: Think back to the most exciting contest you’ve ever competed in and share that experience with us.
TP: For me it was the 1978 Mr. America!
I was twenty-one years old, and the underdog.
No one thought I could win against Ron Teufel, because he had just won the CAL and the USA, while I had won the Jr. USA. and the Jr. America that year.
It became a fight - real drama on stage!
SR: You competed in countless contests all over the world. Tell me about your weight - what was your biggest off-season and best competition weight?
TP: My biggest weight was about 212 to 214 pounds.
For contest, I would come down to 205 to 208 pounds.
There was never a real off season for me in the whole twenty years.
I always tried to stay close to contest shape. That was just my understanding of being a professional bodybuilder!
SR: Share your training style with us briefly. What kind of bodybuilder were you -strong, lots of reps and sets, fast paced, slow, lots of workout partners, train at a bunch of gyms? What?
TP: I have always done lots of reps and sets with a fast pace.
At times, I would put some heavy sets in there to shock the muscle.
I lost a lot of workout partners in the beginning of my career, because of the fast pace.
These days, I’m doing my own thing. I’m still training twice a day, six days a week, for about one hour and fifteen minutes each time.
I’m not doing cardio. Weight training is cardio, and we know dieting is always number one.
SR: In 1990 you switched over to the WBF Bodybuilding Federation with Vince McMahon. How was that experience for you?
TP: It was a great experience; the whole concept of the WBF was about showmanship!
I helped write my own rap song and created the JETMAN.
We had the freedom to do whatever we wanted, and, of course, put on a good show!
SR: At some point, you decided you had enough and called it a day. What was that moment like, as a professional, for you?
TP: I just got the feeling the time had.
It was kind of a surreal moment for me.
That was in 1994.
I realized that in order to be competitive, I would have to get bigger, which I believe would be counterproductive for my body type and frame.
SR: You moved to Las Vegas, leaving California behind to pursue personal training. How was that?
TP: I had a great time in Las Vegas.
I loved the people there, and Vegas was a lot of fun! I trained a lot of people in those years.
SR: At 54 years old you look like you’re contest ready. What gives?
TP: Yes, I’m 54 and in contest shape.
I’m really thinking about competing.
SR: Will we ever see you on another bodybuilding stage?
TP:Yes, hopefully by the end of the year.
Recently, I did some guest posing.
I posed with Juliette Bergmann at her show in Holland, and I posed at the German Championships.
SR: In short, how would you sum up bodybuilding today as a sport?
TP: Bodybuilding is a sport – just like any other sport.
The guys today have to work just as hard, not only to get to the top, but to stay there.
I have nothing but respect.
SR: Where are you at the moment? Is life good for you? Are you happy? Any regrets?
TP: I’m in a good place in my life.
Things are good; I’m very happy about my comeback.
I have no regrets. Would I have changed some things along the way? Maybe…
Overall, I have no regrets. This is what I was supposed to do in my life.
SR: You have the last word. What would you like your fans to know about you? Who would you like to thank?
TP: I must give thanks to my first trainer back in St. Louis, George Turner, for telling me you are doing everything wrong, on my first day at his gym.
I also need to thank Arnold for what he said to me on Muscle Beach. He told me, “You could be a champion some day.” From that day on, I believed.
Last, I want to thank the “Black Prince,” Robby Robinson, for kicking my butt and teaching me mind over muscle.
There were always highs and lows in my career, but my fans have always been consistent. That is what keeps me going! I’m so grateful!
Thank you Tony for the memories, looking forward to your Competitive Return to the Bodybuilding Stage soon!
SR
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