[Photo credit: Pedro Virgil Photography]
RIP Zyzz – Death of an Australian bodybuilding icon
No doubt you’ve already heard by now about the sad and untimely death of 22 year old body builder, Zyzz Shreddedshian. For those that haven’t, Zyzz was arguably a modern-day Arnie in so much that he inspired thousands of young and aspiring body builders to hit the gym and do so with some serious vigor and intensity.
Sure, Zyzz admitted to using anabolic steroids and HGH, but he never once condoned their use nor ‘pushed’ them onto his legion of fans.
Do I believe their presence in his lifestyle caused his Death? No. Do I believe they had something to do with bringing an underlying heart condition to the fore? Possibly.
It’s hard to deny the fact that anabolics allow you to ‘push’ past most limits that confine pretty much any non-user. There’s a pain threshold and a recovery threshold that those who aren’t on the gear have to aim for. Once you hit the gear however, those goal-posts are moved.
I will not for one second, entertain the thought that anabolics are the easy way out
They just aren’t.
Sure, you can train for harder and longer, but that doesn’t make it a breeze. Just look at a sample of Zyzz’s routine, and you’ll see the guy was in the gym 6 days a week doing some pretty long sessions.
Sound ‘easy’ to you?
Zyzz caused polarisation
You either loved or hated Zyzz – there doesn’t seem to be a middle-ground. One side of the fence hated him for being a poser, showy, full of himself and a steroid abuser, whilst the other side almost worshipped him. Most of the arguments for and against are riddled with either ignorant anti-steroid comments such as “he got what he deserved. Steroids, hello!” – whilst others went that one step too far and labeled him a god.
My take on Zyzz
No I didn’t see him as a god. He was purely a character – An hilarious persona which he executed PERFECTLY. At first glance, it was easy for me to shun everything he stood for and label him a complete Jesery Shore wanker – but after watching his videos and reading a lot about him, I’ve since changed my tune.
Sure Zyzz was over the top – but he was also fricken hilarious
Stopping traffic and doing pushups in the middle of the road. Flexing and posing at every chance. It wasn’t just the ‘doing’ of these things it was the execution. His buddies and wannabes tried to copy his every move and in doing so, seemed to fail miserably.
It looks like there can only be one Zyzz afterall.
Tall poppy syndrome
When someone rises to notoriety, it seems we are quick to cut them down. It’s purely a reflection of our own jealousy and lack of self-worth. The guy had some eighty-thousand friends on facebook and a legion of posts about him on bodybuilding forums. Popularity and controversy all wrapped up in an hilarious parody of every gym douche-bag ive ever come across.
RIP Zyzz Shreddedshian
So to Zyzz – you will undoubtedly be missed by your legion of fans. Its hard to deny the almost ‘Arnold-like’ inspiration that you managed to attain through social sites and the like. And for that, you will be sorely missed by those of us that want to train hard every single day.
Rest in Peace Zyzz.
Sad news indeed. It’s hard to write off use of anabolics in the cause of his death completely. Regardless, he was a legend.
I suggest everyone that reads this goes and watches the documentary ‘Bigger, Stronger, Faster’.
A great look at both sides of the steroid story.
Wow I live in Australia and I have never even heard of this guy! But he sounds larger than life.
OS I guess without knowing too much he sounds like a douche bag but the way you explain maybe there is more to him.
The papers said they found him in a Thai Sauna? Sounds suspect who goes to Thailand for a sauna?
Anyhow whatever he did he certainly had a lot going for him …pity we probably wont get to see his potential.
Raymond
I heard about the guy. Very impressive physique. Regarding his use of anabolics – he obviously did it right (no HGH gut, no man boobs) . I know a LOt of young guys that messed up their bodies and health by juicing the wrong way. Not that I condone this practice in any way.
His persona was douchie, but loveable.
Rest in peace.
In 10 weeks, testosterone users put on 3.2kg muscle and increased their bench press by 10kg, and that is without lifting a single weight. The testosterone users who did lift put on 6.1kg muscle and increased their bench by 20kg. Sounds exactly like the easy way out to me… The ones who lifted without testosterone injections gained less than the testosterone users who didn’t even lift in most metrics. The study results are here – http://www.sportsscience.co/supplements/the-effect-of-testosterone-on-strength-and-size-6kg-muscle-in-10-weeks/
Zyzz was such a legend! I was reading up on him at http://www.azizshavershian.net and I didn’t know he was an ex WOW player!? Wow