George Peterson Bodybuilding Bio

George Peterson, an award-winning, classic physique bodybuilder, he hailed from New York. He died on the 6th of October 2021 of a sudden cardiac dysrhythmia as a result of hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

About George Peterson​

Popularly called “Da Bull”, George Peterson was born on the 20th of June 1984 in New York City, United States. Little to no information is known about his parents or siblings, as he cherished being discreet about his personal life

George Peterson was popularly known for bodybuilding as he competed in numerous bodybuilding competitions, he won a good number of them, and was among the top contenders in most of the competitions. He was a professional in the field of bodybuilding and gained great fame in his career. One thing notable about George was his physique - unique and incredible.

As not much is known about his personal life, all that is known about George Peterson is that he attended a high school in New York and it is believed that he proceeded to complete his university education at the University of New York.

George Peterson as a bodybuilder​

Da Bull to take on a building career by Bruce Lee. He went on to take Shotokan Karate training, where he realized that his punches and kicks were not strong enough, and decided to take it a notch higher by venturing into weight lifting in the gym, in a bid to get stronger.

This marked the beginning of George’s career in weightlifting, as he visited the gym consistently 5 times every week. Alongside the functional training to build his body, he also lifted heavy weights to increase the strength of his punches. Months after he started the gym sessions, George noticed tremendous improvements in his physique. His arms and chest had grown much bigger, and his shoulders had broadened.

The notable changes in George’s body were noticed by everyone around him. He was always complimented on his physique. His very close friend inquired if George now participates in bodybuilding shows. That sparked George’s interest in bodybuilding, after which he decided to consider a career in it.

His friend was instrumental in aiding his understanding of the basics of bodybuilding, from how to train, and what his diet should look like, to every piece of relevant information to participate in bodybuilding competitions. He noticed early enough that bodybuilding was not an easy task and had to make necessary sacrifices in his personal life to be able to meet the demands of his profession.

The first bodybuilding contest George Peterson participated in was in 2008. That day stood out as a defining moment for him, as he figured he wanted to go pro in bodybuilding. He had to make a decision on which category of bodybuilding he would want to compete in. Judging by his profound muscle buildup and his weight of over 220 pounds, he chose to stick with the Men’s Open bodybuilding category.

George Peterson's Switch to the Classic Physique Category​

He had fascinating results in the Men’s Open bodybuilding category. However, in 2016, George decided to switch to the Classic Physique category when he was certain he had shown his maximum potential to succeed in the category. He sure made the right decision to switch because, in the same year, George came in first place in two shows consecutively, most especially in the classic Physique National Championship, where he won his Pro Card.

He was the first-ever Men’s Classic National Champion. Conspirators say that George is probably an incarnate of Lee Haney, as there’s an excellent similarity in George’s victory to that of Lee Haney in 1982, when Lee was proclaimed the first NPC National Champion. When he was asked about his experience switching to the Classic Physique category, George said it was quite difficult as he had to intentionally lose 30 lbs. He, however, mentioned that it was worth it, as he felt lighter and better as well.

In 2017, he came in second place in his debut competition, the New York Pro. He went on to win the Tampa Pro Competition after a brief period. He also came third in Joe Weider’s Mr. Olympia, going home with a bronze medal. Mr. Olympia is one of George’s most important events.

George Peterson as a Professional ​

Da Bull finished second in a row in the top three at the 2018 Olympia. He later won the 2019 Arnold Classic Physique competition held in Columbus, Ohio. He also came in third place at the 2019 Olympics. No doubt, George Peterson has won numerous awards in his lifetime. At the close of the 2019 season, he made a move to join the 212 category, as there was difficulty in gaining weight in the Classic Physique category. Joining this category also saw him excel, as he won the 2020 Tampa Pro.

He used to compete at the very highest level in the world of professional bodybuilding. He had a proportionate and conditioned physique and a very strict work ethic, which allowed him to achieve his goals , including the hope of coming first in the classic physique Olympia one day. He sure gave everything he had throughout his preparations for every competition he participated in.

George Peterson’s Training​

George has adopted different training forms and techniques. In his training for the Men's Open Bodybuilding competitions, he had to lift a lot of weight to build as much muscle as possible. However, when he made the switch to Classic Physique, his approach to training slightly changed. He still had to train hard and heavy, but his training focus was more centered on refining and shaping his physique than increasing weight.

He trained with a series of isolation moves, which helped him focus on the specific muscle group he wanted to build without involving any other group of muscles. George's typical pet set was 8-12. His rest times varied from 45 to 90 seconds. When he draws close to the date of a competition, he takes longer rest periods. This helped in preventing any injury from overloading the muscle while on a calorie deficit.

George Peterson’s Leg Workout Routine​

He began with warmups which were followed by leg workouts with heavy squats. He squats over 495 pounds during his work sets. He then proceeded to the leg press, which focused on heavyweights. His leg workout routine always ended with several sets of leg extensions and curls. With these exercises, George reduced his weight and focused on muscle contraction.

• Warm-up
• 5 sets of Squats, with 8 to 12 reps
• 5 sets of Leg Press, with 8-12 reps
• 3 sets of Leg extensions, with 8 to 12 reps
• 3 sets of Horizontal leg curl, with 8 to 12 reps

George Peterson’s Nutrition​

Much like his training, George's diet changed throughout his bodybuilding career. While competing in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding, he burned excessive calories to help build his massive physique.

When he made the switch to competing in the Classic Physique division, his diet was a little different. He was still very cautious of macros, however, he consumed fewer calories. His favorite pre-competition foods were chicken breast, brown rice, salmon, and avocado. However, when out of season, George followed a less restricted diet. He indulged in one or the other cheat when he felt like it.

George Peterson’s Death​

George Peterson, Da Bull passed away on the 6th of October, 2021, of a sudden cardiac dysrhythmia from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. George Peterson was only 37 at the time of his death. George was found dead in his Florida hotel room, with his face on the ground. He was only found after his coach tried to reach him several times to no avail.

The Outlet claimed to have seen blood around his nose, which could have been an aneurysm, which is basically a bulge in a blood vessel as a result of weakness in the wall of the blood vessel. An autopsy revealed that his death could have been caused by an anabolic use of steroids.

He was preparing for the final of Mr. Olympia which was to be held from October 7th to 10th. It would have been his fifth consecutive Olympia appearance and he looked forward to coming first in the competition. It was confirmed by Rodger Lockridge of Muscle and Fitness that Da Bull was considered a favorite to win Mr. Olympia before his unfortunate death.

On a Final Note​

George Peterson lived a life of sacrifice. Here's what we can learn from George Peterson; It is important to learn to adapt to life's changes. One may come across situations and circumstances where adaptation would be the only means if one must make progress.

No doubt, change is not always pleasant, but it can provide an opportunity to grow stronger and gain more experience. This invariably helps one face bigger challenges and goals head-on on their way to success, just like George Peterson. He has exemplified discipline and sacrifice. His life stands out as one worthy of emulation.