Even the most modest men rarely let height hold them back from greatness, and this list of famous short bodybuilders proves this.
A common misconception about short men and weightlifting is that the two aren’t compatible. We completely disagree with this thought. The reality is the opposite. Though debatable, it’s even possible that short men have an advantage when it comes to pumping iron and competing.
Men of modest height have been some of the best bodybuilders in the industry for years. And there’s no signs of them slowing down.
Are you looking for inspiration to grab a protein shake and hit the gym? Let this list of short bodybuilders encourage your next pump session.
Why Are Bodybuilders Short?
Bodybuilders aren’t always short; that’s a common misconception. Take Ronnie Coleman, Phil Heath, Chris Cormier, or Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example. All of these men are over 5’10”. However, many men of modest height who become bodybuilders are in on the secret. They know that short bodybuilders have a visual advantage over their tall counterparts.
A short height does not mean you can build muscle easily. But, you may appear bulkier in proportion to your height or have greater muscle density. For example, there’s less vertical space to disperse 5 pounds of muscle gain on a 5’5” frame than on a 6’1” physique.
In the gym, short male bodybuilders have a shorter range of motion, which gives you an advantage in specific exercises. You may be able to lift heavier weights since you don’t have to press or squat as far as men with tall builds.
It’s important to note that these are only slight and potential advantages. Really, it’s all about training, nutrition, and genetics. Height isn’t a determining factor in your success if bodybuilding is your end goal.
Is There a Best Height for Bodybuilding?
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There isn’t a best height for bodybuilding. While success is subjective, Phil Heath is a seven-time Mr. Olympia winner at 5’10”. Additionally, Flavio Baccianini is one of the most popular small bodybuilders at 4’10”. However, the most common successful heights for bodybuilders are between 5’8 “and 5’10”.
You shouldn’t let that deter you from bulking up, working on your physique, and competing. There’s a broad spectrum of heights on the stage. It’s genuinely about your commitment, dedication, and determination. And that’s far more impressive than how tall or short you are.
12 Famous Short Bodybuilders: The Modest Man List
We’ve already covered that height isn’t a mark of bodybuilding success. If you need a little more convincing, check out this list of famous short bodybuilders. They prove that height isn’t a mark of strength or success on the stage. These men have achieved extraordinary feats and undeniably left their mark on the sport.
1. James “Flex” Lewis, Height: 5’5.5”
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Flex Lewis has been lifting weights since he was 15 years old. He was also a semi-professional Rugby player in his native Wales. Lewis started playing Rugby at a young age. Rugby allowed Lewis to hone his ability to avoid tackles, earning him the nickname “Flex” at six years old.
His love for bodybuilding started at a young age as well. When he was 12, he stumbled upon a book about American bodybuilder Tom Platz and admired his large, muscular legs. Another one of Lewis’ idols was another popular bodybuilder. This time, hailing from Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger had Lewis glued to his television. With such big idols, it’s no surprise that Lewis followed in their footsteps.
Lewis is a six-time winner of Mr. Olympia 212, which some consider makes him the best modest-height bodybuilder. Flex announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding in May 2022.
2. Lee Priest, Height: 5’4”
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Hailing from Australia, Lee Priest’s bodybuilding path started at a young age. He won his first bodybuilding competition at the age of 13. As a child, Priest admitted to being a big Superman fan. His mother was also a bodybuilding competitor. I guess you could say he was raised on the stage. However, due to his age, he could not win his professional bodybuilding card in Australia.
He moved to the United States to further his bodybuilding career. At 20, Lee Priest entered the Niagra Falls Championship as an amateur. Shortly after, he was discovered and earned his pro card.
Outside of his successful bodybuilding career, Priest is a racing enthusiast who won the Rookie of the Year in 2005. He also won the SCEDA Racing Championship in Lancaster, CA. Priest also helped with the bodywork for the movie “The Hulk” and appeared in a local Australian TV show. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also a contributor and columnist for MuscleSport Magazine.
Lee Priest has placed in several bodybuilding championships and has a contest named in his honor: The Lee Priest Classic.
3. Mohammed “Momo” Benaziza, Height: 5’3”
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Mohammed Benaziza, lovingly called Momo, was born in Algeria in 1959. As a child, he was an avid soccer player. As he grew, Momo started working out to complement soccer. Eventually, he left his soccer roots behind to focus solely on bodybuilding.
Momo won several competitions during his career, most notably placing first in numerous Grand Prix competitions in 1990.
Benaziza died on October 4th, 1992. Reportedly, he wasn’t feeling well, and he took an unknown injection administered by an unidentified person before a competition.
At his peak, he placed 5th in the 1992 Mr. Olympia competition.
4. Danny Padilla, Height: 5’2”
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Danny Padilla is another bodybuilder of modest height who started training at a young age. Padilla was born in Rochester, New York, and started working out at 7. Like most children who look up to their older siblings, Padilla watched his big brother lift weights. His brother gave him a rusty barbell, and he started working out with the goal of becoming the next Mr. America.
At 23, Danny Padilla decided to compete in the International Federation of Bodybuilders. He took the overall title in his first competition and won his lightweight division. Padilla had a career that was both successful and full of hardship. However, he is one of two men in the IFBB history to win a Mr. Universe and Mr. American in the same year.
5. Franco Columbu, Height: 5’5”
Like Momo Benaziza, Francesco Maria Columbu’s start was in a different sport entirely: boxing. Italian-born Franco was born in 1941 and was pushed around a lot as a child. He began boxing to protect himself, and during his boxing career, he won over 30 fights. He transitioned to weightlifting and bodybuilding after deciding that boxing was too hard on his body.
After moving to Germany, Columbu befriended Arnold Schwarzenegger and began a lifelong friendship. The duo moved to California in the 1960s to continue their bodybuilding journeys.
Columbu was known for his incredible strength. In 1977, he placed fifth in the World’s Strongest Man competition. The four men who placed ahead of him outweighed him by 100 pounds. Additionally, he had a bench press record of 525 pounds, a squat record of 655 pounds, and a deadlift record of 750 pounds. Franco was 5’5” and between 185 and 195 pounds.
He died in 2019 after feeling sick while swimming in Sardinia. At the time of his death, he had appeared in over 20 different movies and TV shows and was a qualified chiropractor.
6. Shawn Ray, Height: 5’5”
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Shawn Ray received his Pro Bodybuilding certification in 1987 and subsequently competed in Mr. Olympia contests over three decades. He was a top-five finisher in almost every Mr. Olympia from 1988 through 2001. The only year he didn’t compete was in 1990. Also, the only year he didn’t place in the top five was his first year, 1988.A shift occurred in the bodybuilding world in the early 1990s.
Many bodybuilders were tall and large, overpowering the smaller bodybuilders of earlier days. Ray stayed true to his goals, and his focus was to “do the work, don’t complain, and fight like hell.”
While Ray certainly was not as tall as his competitors during his career, he was mentally as large, if not bigger.
Shawn has also been active in the media, co-hosting bodybuilding competitions on ESPN and as an analyst and commentator for several media companies.
7. Aleksey Lesukov, Height: 5’7”
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Aleksey Lesukov, born in 1988 in Russia, started bodybuilding at a young age. While the public knows little about Lesukov, he continues our streak of impressive bodybuilders who excel at other activities. He graduated from music school and played the piano. He’s also an avid dancer.
Bodybuilding enthusiasts know Lesukov for his exceptional muscularity and strength. He’s competed in various competitions.
8. Flavio Baccianini, Height: 4’11”
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One of the shortest bodybuilders on our list is also the shortest pro bodybuilder to make it on the Mr. Olympia stage. Flavio Baccianini was born and raised in Italy surrounded by a rich culture rooted in sports and fitness. This culture became his source of inspiration.
Baccianini placed in several bodybuilding events, including four Mr. Olympias from 1999 through 2003. Most important is what Baccianini represented in the bodybuilding world. He was a star because he fought against common stereotypes regarding height and bodybuilding. He was hardworking, resilient, and dedicated to his craft.
9. Choon Tan, Height: 4’10”
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UK bodybuilder Choon Tan was diagnosed with a genetic deficiency that results in impaired bone growth. However, he doesn’t let his x-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda hold him back. People know Tan as the smallest competitive bodybuilder in the UK.
Choon looked to bodybuilding to build his confidence and become an “improved and better version” of himself. He also finds bodybuilding a mood enhancer, keeping his depression at bay and keeping him mentally and physically strong. Ultimately, Tan focuses on things he can control and doesn’t worry about everything else.
10. Aditya “Romeo” Dev, Height 2’9”
Aditya Dev may not have graced the Mr. Olympia stage, but he’s certainly made a name for himself in his short life. He was born in Phagwara, India, in 1988. He was diagnosed with a form of dwarfism, but he didn’t let his stature hold him back.
The 2006 Guinness World Records recognized Aditya as the world’s smallest bodybuilder. Although he weighed only 30 pounds and was 2’9 “, he could shoulder press almost 4.5 pounds or a quarter of his body weight.
As a part of Aditya’s Primordial Dwarfism, he suffered from aneurysms. Sadly, Aditya died in 2012 from a ruptured brain aneurysm. He’s the best example of the strength of short male bodybuilders, even if you don’t have the biggest stature.
11. Tom Platz, Height: 5’8”
Tom Platz is one of the only Americans on this list of the best short bodybuilders. A Mr. Universe magazine influenced Platz to become a bodybuilder at a young age. Bodybuilder enthusiasts know Platz for his legs. He was crowned with the nickname The Quadfather because, at one point, his thigh circumference was over 30 inches.
Platz has placed in several bodybuilding competitions, including eight Mr. Olympians and other IFBB and AAU competitions. In addition to a long, successful bodybuilding career, Tom also acted in a few films and holds two Master’s Degrees in Fitness Science and Business Administration.
12. Jose “The Boston Mass” Raymond, Height: 5’4”
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Jose Raymond didn’t have a warm and fuzzy upbringing. He found himself and his siblings in and out of foster homes, sometimes without food or electricity and often around violence and addiction. Due to his upbringing and social experiences, he suffered from anger management issues. A social worker suggested working out an outlet. This outlet started the trajectory of his bodybuilding success.
From 2012 through 2018, Jose has been in 19 IFBB events. Although he has never won the Mr. Olympia title, he’s still considered one of the best.
Height Doesn’t Matter: A Conclusion on Short Bodybuilders
This list isn’t all-inclusive, and we realize we’re missing a few greats. However, we want to highlight that being a man of modest height does not hold you back. You can be a great athlete or, in this case, a great short bodybuilder regardless of height.
The men featured in this article compete with the greatest giants at the highest echelons of competition. They also have broad interests ranging from film to dance and journalism.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to have your moment on the competition stage and need a little push, this is it. These men prove that your mindset is the only thing holding you back.
What do you think about this list? Let us know in the comments below.
Shivam patel says
my height is 169 cm and weight 55 kg this is a perfect weight and height bodybuilding
David says
tom platz (guess by extension alexey lesukov too) shouldnt be on this list, they are like pretty much average height, especially in a list that has someone who is 2’9
Brian Graham says
I think Dexter Jackson should have been included. He was a Mr O one year as well and is about 5 foot 6 or so.
GJ says
Jimmy Canyon
Moraitis says
Regarding FLAVIO BACCIANINI: I think we just found our new MCU Wolverine.
Smithdeon says
Mohamed El makkawy is 5″3 (160cm) he is don’t in the list
Kenton Curtis says
Freddie Ortiz??
Noah says
Don’t forget John Citrone
JohnS says
CANNOT leave out Lee Labrada and Mohamed Makkawy
Martin Goc-Matis says
Lee Labrada and Steve Brisbois
GR says
Danny Padilla totally awesome from the 70’s and 80’s.
Brian Gogal says
Freddy Ortiz
Element Sarms says
Well written and to the point. I appreciate the detail in this article!
Atul Sikarwar says
Don’t forget the great Indian body builder Mr. Manohar Aich. He was just 1.5 m and was given the name of “Pocket Hercules”.
Tim says
Jack Lalanne!
Michael Eagan says
Yes! Another vote for 5-6 Jack LaLanne (pronounced La-Lane). The Godfather of Fitness, sporting more of a Men’s Health kind of build. Thanks for adding him Tim!
Joey says
I can’t believe you left out one of the best bodybuilders in the 90s competing against Lee Haney.
Eddie V says
Shout out to all my short body building beats mofckas!!!
Martin says
I believe a nice-looking, well defined body should be the result and not the primary purpose of any physical activity. Also, appearance shall never override health and yes, I fully agree with Matt, supplements can be harmful over time.
Having said that, if men of modest height want to appear taller, it is a great asset to develop a slim waist and large shoulders: this V-shape will boost the tapered look our clothes give us. A good gym coach can show you the according exercises.
As far as I am concerned, rather than just lifting weights, I favor dynamic exercises like Kettlebell-Swings or working out on a power rack while standing on a balance board or rubber mat. Just for fun, do some squats while standing on an upside-down Bosu ball! This really improves my sense of balance (which makes me feel more confident on many occasions). The other benefit is that it develops not just one but a variety of muscles with just one exercise (including deep tissue muscles which you would not reach otherwise).
Though I am 46 with some mild scoliosis, I don´t suffer any back pain and my posture is a lot better, as long as I keep working out once to twice a week (I do some running and kickboxing otherwise, also did some horseback riding in the past). But this is nothing compared to another 5´5 guy in our gym: he is 92, i.e twice my age and what he still does really blows me away! Should I mention that this guy has overcome WWII injuries as well as the passing of his wife of 60 years and he still rocks? They should have made the movie “Little big man” about him!
Mr. Miller says
Who cares about your opinions. Blah blah blah…..waste of my oxygen.
Matt says
I am not sure if most of us would want to aim for the kind of bodybuilding presented by these athletes as having quite some background myself in Kinesiology many of these athletes could not look like they do without taking perfomance enhancing substances which I am sure we want to avoid.
Being short does not mean we should avoid hitting the gym and as Brock points out there are lots of advantages being short. As we have less mass the say a guy of 5’11” it takes less time to develop muscle.
I am 5’5″, weigh 140lbs and around 15% body fat and have been working out since the early 90s. If I go a couple of days without hitting the gym I feel it so I encourage you to include working out into your
lifestyle. In fact my mantra is build my lifestyle around diet and exercise ( in that order). Happy to offer any tips especially if you are unsure about getting started.
Chase Molenaar says
Same thoughts. It would be better if he posted natural body builders instead. I am currently trying to solidify a consistent workout regimen after intermittent training over 1 year. How do you best stay consistent and have the willpower to diet and push yourself daily?
Bobo says
In my younger days, Franco Columbu was my role model. As I’ve gotten older (63 years), I started to concentrate more on body weight exercises (e.g., pull-ups, TRX). I still go to the gym 6 days a week, but avoid heavy lifting because it’s too hard on my old joints. Since I’m no longer bulking up, I’ve lost 30 pounds and now look more like a gymnast. The downside is that all my old clothes no longer fit.
Luka Đopa says
I recommend everyone to check out outalpha.com
I am currently running his novice program, and it is phenomenal! Overall strength and conditioning program, awesome stuff.
He is a fellow modest man, 5’5 or 5’6, but strong as hell.
Mike Fraser says
Josh Bridges, not a bodybuilder but elite Crossfit athlete! I think he’s around 5ft 4, in fact the optimal height for Crossfit is around 5ft 8. So not really land of the Giants
Christopher Rusho says
If lifting is something you’ve just gotten into, I’d be more interested in hearing about your experiences with it, mental hurdles, issues, routines etc. And the eventual pain of having to redo all the custom shirt and suit measurements lol.
Bruce says
Don’t forget Jack Lalanne, who had a health/exercise television show for decades. He also performed amazing feats of strength well into his 80’s.
Jack was a towering 5’6”.
Michael Eagan says
Yes! The Godfather of Fitness!