re: Why are Mr. Olympia Body Builders so respected?

I knew a couple, nice folks, he was former body builder and she was fitness or physique I think.

Over a few years got to know them well enough to have good conversations. He said you needed 3 things to do well, he had the first 2. 1st commitment and work ethic; 2nd good to insane genetic bodyshapes, and 3rd high drug tolerance, i.e. the ability to take a lot of drugs while managing the side effects and long-term damage. He said he could only take the light stuff in low does, anytime he tried to use the legit stuff his body couldn't handle it. Last I heard from him years ago both of them had retired from bodybuilding style competitions.