I am Lori Braun, founder and owner of femalemuscle.com .
I met Steve Stone when I returned to New York City after graduating college. I began training at Pumping Iron Gym, then located in Manhattan on 94th Street and First Avenue.
I had always loved bodybuilding, and thought it best to train with the best. Back then, Steve was a superstar trainer at Pumping Iron, a trainer to both the rich and famous and young neighborhood men and women seeking to become bodybuilders. At that time the stars were just starting to dig the idea that having muscles was a cool and healthy thing.
Pumping Iron was a world of its own. It was just like a Showtime soap opera starring bodybuilders both female and male. I practically lived in that gym and eventually became a personal trainer myself.
Steve Stone was my go to guy when I had questions about everything and anything.
He knew how to train, how to lose body fat, how to gain muscle mass and how to keep and get the best clients. He always looked amazing himself.
Iris Kyle completely dominated the female bodybuilding division - which is no easy feat as the entire lineup consisted of the best of the best.
In Olympia judging, the lower the score the better and in all 4 rounds Iris recieved 5 points - meaning perfect scores across the board, and was the only Olympia champion to do so of any division. Berry Adkins, Iris’s closest competitor in her division, came out with 62 points.
Take a careful look at the photo below. It’s a photo we “doctored” of the Olympia lineup. Pay special attention to the bodybuilder on the far left….
Click to enlarge, Iris superimposed into the whole lineup, original on right for reference.
Is it just me, or does Iris hold her own in the mens lineup?
Some tributes posted around the net from IFBB pros about Steve Stone…
Lee Priest
Great guy will be missed alot…always smiling and ready to help……….Steve was always smiling back stage and running around crazy trying to help everyone…….very big loss for the bb community…but nothing like the loss to his family and friends……..god bless you all
Shawn Ray
I have known Steve since I turned Pro back in 1987, which qualifies me as a “Friend” in more ways than one. From what I know, Steve was genuine, athletic, caring, giving, insightful, appreciative, educated, thoughtful, and many more things I love in people who are “REAL” as I know them to be.
Isabelle Turell
Steve was a great man. I really liked Steve a lot. He was a wonderful person and had a big heart. I am very sad to hear the news as again he was a great person and friend. He will be missed dearly.
Cynthia Herdon
It’s so hard to believe. My condolences to his family and those who got the opportunity to know Steve… it is truly a loss. Something tells me though that Heaven will be run a little more smoothly with Steve there.
Mandy Polk
Steve was the sense of sanity behind the curtain at the contests. Contests aside, he was a great man. It seems so awful to say “was” and “did” when it comes to talking about Steve Stone. What a tragedy. He will be missed.
Luke Wood
Oh man! he was so helpful to me at the Atlantic City show when i was feeling like crap! Terrible news! Condolences to his family
Heather Foster
I am deeply saddened by this tragic news, we all are. Steve Stone was such an awesome guy, he was one of us. I can’t stop the tears as I write this, but I would like to take this time to show my appreciation and affection for the man that kept things running smoothly at the NPC/IFBB shows. He was a competitor, a commentator, an avid supporter of all the athletes, and had true passion for the sport. I can’t find anyone who has anything bad to say about Steve. Read full text here
Steve Stone, one of my best friends in the bodybuilding industry died this weekend in Las Vegas. In truly tragic circumstances, Steve, Chief Expeditor of the Olympia Weekend, collapsed and died today during the prejudging section of the women’s competition. The cause of death was pulmonary embolism. Steve, 51, had been Chief Expeditor of the Olympia since 2004 and has performed that same role at all major NPC shows since the early 1990s.
[Read full article here]
Mass/Service 10 am Thursday October 2nd, 2008
Saint Margarets Church
115 W Central Avenue
Pearl River, NY 10965
845-735-4746
Okay, yes I am biased I have long been a Dexter fan, so it truly makes me happy to report than Dexter Jackson won his first ever Olympia title. Defending champion Jay Cutler placed 2nd, with newcomer Phil Heath in 3rd in his rookie showing [the highest showing by a rookie in over 15 years].
After 10 Olympia appearences and 47 contests overall, Dexter finally claimed the biggest prize in bodybuilding. The 38 year old Jacksonville Florida native and father of four wins $155,000, and as he is sponsored by Muscletech he also recieves a healthy bonus from them for this win making it a huge payday for him.
Mr. Olympia Final Results
1. Dexter Jackson
2. Jay Cutler
3. Phil Heath
4. Dennis Wolf
5. Toney Freeman
6. Melvin Anthony
7. Silvio Samuel
8. Dennis James
9. Mo Elmoussawi
10. Gustavo Badell
11. Darrem Charles
12. Johnnie Jackson
13. Craig Richardson
14. Ronny Rockel
15. David Henry
16. Kevin English
17T. Fouad Abiad
17T. Sergey Shelestov
17T. Leo Ingram
Steve Stone, one of my best friends in the bodybuilding industry died this weekend in Las Vegas. In truly tragic circumstances, Steve, Chief Expeditor of the Olympia Weekend, collapsed and died today during the prejudging section of the women’s competition. The cause of death was pulmonary embolism. Steve, 51, had been Chief Expeditor of the Olympia since 2004 and has performed that same role at all major NPC shows since the early 1990s.
