Who is Matt Mendenhall?
Along with Lee Haney, Matt Mendenhall (also known as Mr. Genetics) was one of the most promising young people in 1982. He is regarded as the greatest bodybuilder who never entered the professional ranks.
Early Life of Matt Mendenhall
Matt Mendenhall suffered from several unlucky diseases that prevented him from fulfilling his potential and becoming a professional.
Despite all of his misfortune, he persisted in believing in his dream until he was forced to because, after years of rigorous bodybuilding, his body began to malfunction.
Body Measurements of Matt Mendenhall
| Full Name: Matt Mendenhall |
| DATE OF BIRTH: 1960 |
| ERA: 1970, 1980, 1990 |
| PROFESSION: Bodybuilder, Personal Trainer |
| NATIONALITY: American |
| ALIAS: Mr. Genetics |
| HEIGHT: 5’11” (180cm) |
| WEIGHT: 235 – 245lbs (106.6 – 111.1kg) |
Accomplishments
- 1978 Mr. Ohio High School, 1st
- 1979 Teenage Mr. Ohio, 3rd
- 1980 Teen Mr. Metropolitan, 1st and Open winner
- 1980 Mr. Ohio Association, 3rd
- 1981 Mr. Cincinnati 1st,
- 1981 Buckeye Open, 1st
- 1982 NPC Nationals, 2nd
- 1983 NPC Nationals, 4th
- 1984 NPC Nationals, 2nd
- 1985 NPC USA Championships, 1st
- 1985 IFBB World Games, 2nd
- 1986 NPC Nationals, 2nd
- 1987 NPC Nationals, 10th
- 1988 NPC Nationals, 11th
- 1991 NPC Nationals, 5th
Biography of Matt Mendenhall
Young Years
Matt Mendenhall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and came from a fitness-obsessed family; three of his siblings were bodybuilders, and two of them were competing while he was a kid.
Early in life, Matt broke with family customs. He was an avid pole vaulter and football player.
But thanks to his incredible genetics, he was able to build a fantastic physique without ever setting foot in a gym.
Injury and Entering the Gym
When Matt was 15 years old and practicing pole-vaulting, a significant forearm injury occurred. He was on the verge of having his forearm amputated at this time, and the doctor warned him that it wouldn’t entirely recover.
His siblings, though, urged him to persevere. He visited the gym and started using weights for recovery under their direction.
It didn’t take him long to disprove his doctor; he had fully recovered forearm function and had added an incredible amount of muscle bulk to his physique.
First Competition
After 3 years of weightlifting at the gym, Matt had sculpted an amazing physique. He had more muscle than any of his classmates in his senior year and already had the appearance of an accomplished bodybuilder.
At the age of 17, Matt entered his first contest—the Mr. Ohio High School show—in 1978 with the support of his family and the sports teacher at his school.
Matt Mendenhall won the competition despite having no prior training, posing expertise, or tan. He left his debut with the trophy in hand.
At this point, Matt began to see his potential for success in the field.
A Series of Unlucky Occurrences
In the following seven years, Matt participated in a total of 9 competitions, winning 4 of them. Even though he frequently finished second, Matt lost very admirably; in 1982, when he was just 22 years old, he was defeated by future great Lee Haney.
However, a slew of severe diseases and events prevented him from realizing his genetic potential.
He contracted the illness 3 weeks before the NPC Nationals in 1983. While recuperating, he lost a lot of weight and condition, but once his parents showed up at the competition eager to watch him fight, he took the stage.
He was thrown out of his front window after a car crash a year later. Even though he recovered and competed in his best shape, Mike Christian controversially defeated him for the top spot; the crowd was incensed and this choice would be questioned for years to come.
But in 1985, when he was only 25, Matt experienced uncommon success. He participated in the NPC USA Championships and won the heavyweight division. He was admitted to the World Games that year as a result of his triumph.
Quick Break
When the 1985 NPC World Games rolled around, Matt was jet lagged and worn out from his trip to London. He lost against a shredded Berry Dewey as a result of retaining a lot of fluid for the contest.
Matt became ill once more following another second-place finish at the 1986 NPC Nationals. He began to think of hanging up his boots since his body was having trouble handling the demands of competitive bodybuilding.
The lowest finishes of his career, 10th, and 11th in the 1987 and 1988 NPC Nationals, finally convinced him to take a break from the sport.
He enrolled at a college for the following three years to study homeopathy, and he also launched his own supplement business.
Season finale and retirement
Matt took the stage at the 1991 NPC Nationals after being urged repeatedly to return to professional bodybuilding by Joe Weider. Despite finishing last, he had a respectable fifth-place finish.
Matt made his final stage appearance at the age of 31.
Matt left the sport and settled in Texas where he started a personal training business. Regardless of his competitive experience, Matt had nonetheless retired from the industry as a legend.
Death
Matt passed away on August 28, 2021, at the age of 61. His cause of death has not yet been made public as of the time of writing.
Training of Matt Mendenhall
Depending on the activity, Matt would execute anywhere from 6 to 30 reps in sets of 4.
He enjoyed working out until he was exhausted and performing forced reps on all exercises except legs.
Chest (Monday and Thursday)
• Incline dumbbell press: 5 sets x 6 to 8 reps with 130 lb [59 kg]
• Flat dumbbell press: 5 x 6 to 8 with 130 lb [59 kg]
• Flat or incline flies: 5 x 6 to 8 with 70 lb [32 kg]
• Barbell decline press: 4 x 6 with 340 lb [154 kg]
• Dumbbell pullovers: 4 x 10 with 130 lb [59 kg]
• Cable crossovers: 4 x 10 with 120 lb [55 kg]
Back (Monday and Thursday)
• Wide–grip chins 4 x 8 to 10
• T–bar rows: 4 x 8 to 10 with 275 lb [125 kg]
• Lat pull–downs (front): 4 x 10 with 250 lb [114 kg]
• Seated rows: 4 x 8 with 250 lb [114 kg]
• Lat pull–downs (rear): 4 x 10 with 200 lb [91 kg]
• Hyperextensions: 4 x 12
• Dumbbell bent–over rows: 4 x 10 with 120 lb [55 kg]
(Note: Deadlifts are a major part of my back training, but I stop doing them about 6 weeks before the contest to avoid injury.)
Shoulders (Tuesday and Friday)
• Behind–neck press: 5 x 8 with 190 lb [86 kg]
• Side lateral raises: 5 x 8 with 50 lb [23 kg]
• Rear delt bent–over laterals: 5 x 8 with 80 lb [36 kg]
• Shoulder shrugs: 5 x 8 with 405 lb [184 kg]
• Upright rows: 3 x 8 with 145 lb [66 kg]
Biceps (Tuesday and Friday)
• Standing dumbbell curls: 4 x 8 with 65 lb [29 kg]
• Preacher curls: 4 x 8 with 120 lb [54 kg]
• Standing barbell curls: 4 x 8 with 150 lb [68 kg]
• Concentration dumbbell curls: 4 x 8 with 40 lb [18 kg]
Triceps (Tuesday and Friday)
• Lying French extensions: 4 x 8 with 140 lb [64 kg]
• Seated French extensions: 4 x 8 with 130 lb [59 kg]
• Pushdowns: 4 x 8 with 150 lb [68 kg]
• Dumbbell extensions: 4 x 8 with 40 lb [18 kg]
Forearms (Friday)
• Reverse curls: 4 x 8 with 100 lb [45 kg]
• Wrist curls: 4 x 12 with 100 lb [45 kg]
Thighs (Wednesday and Saturday)
• Squats: 5 x 6 to 10 with 405 to 550 lb [184 to 250 kg]
• Hack squats: 4 x 8 with 250 lb [114 kg]
• Leg curls: 5 x 10 with 120 lb [54 kg]
• Thigh extensions: 5 x 10 with 200 lb [91 kg]
(Note: For the last 3 weeks I add 4 sets of front and side lunges for separation.)
Calves (Wednesday and Saturday)
• Standing calf machine: 5 x 10 with 800 lb [364 kg]
• Seated calf raises: 5 x 8 with 300 lb [137 kg]
• Toe raises on leg press: 5 x 10 with 400 lb [182 kg]
• Donkey raises: 5 x 10 to 12
Abs (every day)
• Hanging leg raises: 4 x 30
• Sit-ups: 4 x 30
• Lying leg raises: 4 x 30
Nutrition
To be in top shape while competing, Matt would maintain an 1800-calorie diet. He had fully eliminated junk food from his diet and limited the amount of fat he consumed.
Matt Mendenhall, however, never counted his carbs as other bodybuilders did. Lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables were the foundation of his nutrition plan.
Matt used a steamer to prepare all of his meats and vegetables.
Diet Plan
Matt’s diet would’ve looked something like this:
- Meal 1 – Protein shake with banana, apple juice, and ice
- Meal 2 – Piece of fruit
- Meal 3 – Fish or chicken with vegetables
- Meal 4 – Fish or chicken with vegetables
Supplements Stack:
- Whey Protein
- Multivitamins
- Minerals
- Lecithin
- Choline
- Inositol
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
Influences and Idols
Matt’s family has supported him ever since he started lifting weights; he lists them as his biggest sources of inspiration.
He was introduced to bodybuilding by his brothers, who continued to train with him throughout his career.
What is there that Matt Mendenhall can teach us?
No matter what happens, Matt Mendenhall has taught us to never give up on our dreams. Despite having experienced sad occurrences just a few weeks prior, he yet took the stage at multiple competitions.
The moral of Matt’s story is that success in life isn’t all about winning awards. He didn’t pursue a career in bodybuilding and finished second on numerous occasions, but he is still regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport.