Who is Paul Grant?
Welsh bodybuilder Paul Grant competed in the Golden Era and trained alongside athletes like Lou Ferrigno and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Paul achieved titles including Mr. Wales, Mr. World, Mr. Europe, and Mr. Britan during his prime bodybuilding years. He finished second twice in the Bodybuilding World Championships.
Short Career of Paul Grant
Along with bodybuilding, Paul Grant was a renowned food shop proprietor and a participant in the venerable 1976 documentary Pumping Iron.
Paul’s life did contain a few “dark periods,” though. He was given a significant renal disease diagnosis when he was 30 years old.
He was forced to spend eight hours a day tethered to a renal dialysis machine as a result of this affecting his eyesight.
Paul passed away on November 23, 2003. (aged 60). He is survived by his bodybuilding competitive wife Christine Mason.
Body Measurements of Paul Grant
| Full Name: | Paul Grant |
| WEIGHT: | 215-225lbs (93.0 – 102.1kg) |
| ERA: | (1970–1990) |
| PROFESSION: | Bodybuilder and actor |
| NATIONALITY: | Welsh |
| HEIGHT: | 5’11” (180cm) |
Accomplishments
Competitions
1970
- Mr. Universe – NABBA, Tall, 6th
1971
- Mr. Britain – NABBA, 2nd
- Mr. Europe, Tall, 1st
- Mr.Europe, the Overall Winner
- Mr. Universe – NABBA, Tall, 2nd
- Mr. World – AAU, Tall, 1st
- Mr. World – AAU, 2nd
- Mr. World – AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
1972
- Mr. Britain – NABBA, Winner
- Mr. Universe – NABBA, Tall, 1st
1973
- Mr. Universe – NABBA, Tall, 1st
- Pro Mr. World – WBBG, 2nd
1974
- Universe – IFBB, Tall, 3rd
1975
- Universe – IFBB, Tall, 3rd
1977
- European Amateur Championships – IFBB, HeavyWeight, 2nd
- Universe – IFBB, HeavyWeight, 3rd
1978
- USA vs the World – IFBB, HeavyWeight, 4th
Biography
Aspiring Entrepreneur
The second-largest city in Wales, Swansea, is where Paul Grant was born. He was a very spirited young man who did well in school and in sports like cross-country running.
Paul was so enthusiastic about life that he quit school at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of opening his own business. His first business venture, creating a bread delivery service, was launched quickly.
His interest in bodybuilding increased as his entrepreneurship drive did. He put a lot of effort into growing his business during the day and spent his evenings becoming bigger and training out.
Late Shows
Paul married his bikini contestant wife Christine in 1967. Paul grew increasingly intrigued by the idea of taking the stage as a result.
Paul participated in his first-ever competition, the 1970 NABBA Mr. Universe, and finished sixth in the Tall class. His passion for bodybuilding only intensified after that.
The year after that was among the most prosperous in his whole bodybuilding career. Paul competed in four competitions that year, winning the Mr. Europe and Mr. World titles in two of them.
He narrowly lost the Mr. Universe competition that year, falling short by one spot. He was able to bounce back a year later in greater shape, capturing the 1972 Mr. Universe and Mr. Britain titles.
Acting and friendship with Arnold
While everything was going on, Paul and Arnold Schwarzenegger grew close. The two frequently exercised together in the renowned Venice, California, Gold’s Gym.
They both later made an appearance in the 1976 bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron.
Paul worked for Joe Weider while he was residing in California.
Future Contests
In 1973, Paul successfully defended his NABBA Mr. Universe crown by outlasting Lou Ferrigno, who had been his greatest rival.
He competed at the IFBB Universe a year later and finished third this time.
Paul concluded that his competitive bodybuilding days were over in 1978. His most recent competition was the IFBB USA vs. the World, where he placed fourth in the heavyweight division.
Kidney Issues
Paul’s early retirement from sports was also brought on by a renal condition he experienced in his early 30s.
His eyesight was significantly impaired by this unusual ailment, which required him to spend many hours a day, three days a week, hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine.
Entrepreneur
Paul returned to his business ventures in 1985 after having a kidney transplant; he first opened a health food store and then a gym. He was elected WFBB’s president as well (Welsh Federation of Bodybuilders).
Paul oversaw countless Mr. Wales and Mr. Britain competitions during his more than 25 years with the WFBB.
Death
On November 23, 2003, Paul Grant passed away at the age of 60.
Training
Paul used mild to moderate weights to break down his muscular fibers when he first started his bodybuilding quest. He claimed that the majority of newcomers made the error of utilizing large weights, leading to damage.
However, when Paul was at his best, he trained with very heavy weights and little repetitions (5-8). He discovered that this was the most effective method for him to develop a gigantic frame.
Mass-Building Strategy
Warm-up exercises include bent-knee sit-ups, one set of 25 to 50 barbell squats, five dumbbell pullovers, ten presses behind the neck, five rows at the end of a barbell, five lying triceps presses, five barbell curls, five calf raises, and twenty-five burpees.
Nutrition
“You must always give your body more muscle-building and energy-producing nutrients than you burn up throughout your workouts and other everyday activities,” was the number one rule Paul followed whenever he wanted to acquire mass.
This makes it obvious that Paul followed a straightforward, traditional diet. Paul Grant planned to eat a lot of calories from natural foods and increase his weight by about 2 pounds a week.
Any more than that would result in him gaining too much body fat, something he strove to avoid at all costs.
It was more difficult in Paul’s day to gain muscle; it required a lot of discipline and commitment. You too might emulate his lifting and diet habits by adopting his fundamental strategies.