Robby Robinson - Pumping Iron's Black Prince of Bodybuilding

The movie Pumping Iron brought to public attention numerous body builders who represented the cream of the crop of the sport.  As these amazing athletes competed for the Mr. Universe competition, the audience of Pumping Iron got a glimpse into not just amazing physical specimens but men of remarkable courage, character and determination.  One man who exemplified the pure discipline of bodybuilding that did not get the notoriety of fellow Pumping Iron bodybuilders Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lou Ferrigno was Robby Robinson who went on to become known as the "Black Prince" of bodybuilding.

Over the 30 years of his primary career in bodybuilding, Robby Robinson became known as the most decorated bodybuilder in the sport.  He also was well known for being a role model for pure dedication to the discipline of bodybuilding.  To Robby Robinson, there was no "off season" to his discipline. 

He maintained himself in tiptop physical condition whether he was training for a competition or not.  Robby Robinson showed that the sport of bodybuilding only recognized a devotion to physical fitness and weight training that was a lifestyle, not something he did to win prizes and to be in big documentary films like Pumping Iron.

For a black man who was born and raised in the deep south, bodybuilding was certainly not a route he would be drawn to.  But after being inspired by Jack La Lanne, Robby Robinson began a lifestyle of physical fitness and weight training at the age of 12 that would eventually lead him to the Mr. Universe competition and his own role in the most famous movie about bodybuilding ever, Pumping Iron. 

Robby Robinson conquered racial prejudice and poverty to succeed as a youth.  He even had to make his first set of weights out of scarp metal that he found at an abandoned sawmill.  But through sheer force of will and determination, Robby went on to win over 300 competitions in bodybuilding while he was attending art school in his amateur status.

It was in 1975 that Joe Weider "discovered" Robby Robinson and brought him to California where he continued to train at the famous Gold's Gym on Muscle Beach in Venice California.  Robby found the perfect environment in Venice California where he could excel because of his talent and ability in bodybuilding.  He went on to greatness because of this break to win numerous competitions including IFBB Mr. America, Mr. World and then on to the prestigious Mr. Universe competition which provided him the chance to be part of the Pumping Iron documentary film that only added to his fame.

During these years, Robby Robinson earned his reputation as the "bad boy of bodybuilding" and as bodybuilding's "Black Prince:" but not for reasons you might expect.  He earned those titles because he stood up against corruption in the bodybuilding community and speaking out against steroid use to become a champion of pure weight training and honesty and integrity.

It is easy to think that bodybuilders pursue their discipline out of vanity.  Robby Robinson defies that stereotype as he has gone on to defy other stereotypes throughout his life.  To Robinson, the body is a work of art and bodybuilding is a way to "sculpt" that wonderful gift of nature into something truly amazing. 

Watching Robby Robinson in the movie Pumping Iron or as he has gone on to continued success since the movie, he represents the best of what the sport has to offer.  In doing so, Robby Robinson is a worthwhile role model for any young athlete who wants to excel in the challenging sport of bodybuilding.  That is because Robinson is not only a role model of strength and success in the discipline of bodybuilding, he is a role model for integrity and honesty that any up and coming athlete would do well to copy.