FORTITUDE CREATES CHAMPIONS

By Mario Strong

If there’s one word to describe Joe Carrero, it’s POSITIVE. Joe Carrero believes in himself! He believed in his ability to succeed in bodybuilding in 1978 when he joined my Staten Island Bodybuilding Club, and he still believes today with his strong will and positive attitude on life. I first met Joe in August of 1978, when he joined my gym and expressed a desire to be a competitive bodybuilder. At the time Joe was just 14 but showed tremendous genetic potential for his chosen sport. Having previously trained home with a 110 lb. barbell set his parents bought for him when he was 13, Joe already had the ‘‘iron bug’’ deep in his heart and was ready to take on all challenges. After evaluating Joe, I put him on a six days a week training schedule and monitored his progress through the coming weeks. Within a few months Joe was full squatting 260 lbs., leg pressing 520 lbs., and benching 210 lbs. for 3 sets of 10 repetitions. It was amazing to watch him train for he was becoming stronger with each workout, which further motivated him to pursue a competitive goal.

In October of that same year, Joe asked me about the possibility of his competing in Dan Lurie’s upcoming W.B.B.G. Mr. Staten Island Bodybuilding Competition which was scheduled for May of 1979. Seeing Joe’s competitive spirit I thought it would be a good idea for the kid to get some experience on the posing dais, not realizing what a big impact he would soon make at the show. By February, Joe’s bodyweight was a solid 175lbs. and was ready to be molded and refined for the upcoming competition. He was now 15 and was training relentlessly while following a nutritional program I designed specifically for him. On the day of the show Joe weighed in at a muscular and symmetrically polished 150lbs., looking far superior to competitors who out weighed him by 40-50 lbs. His physique’s balance and poise awed the savvy New York crowd, and more importantly the judges who awarded Joe 2nd place to a seasoned Lou DeBella whose time had come to take the crown. Also on this night were 78 other competitors who competed in Dan Lurie’s W.B.B.G. Mr. New York City Show, which included the city’s five boroughs. Joe would out score many of the competitors and go on to take top honors by winning trophies for Best Back, Abs, and Posing. Remember Joe Carrero was just 15 years old! To say Joe’s ego grew from this experience would be an understatement. He was ready to take on the World and wasted no time getting back to the gym and pumping out the iron. His competitive career would span 14 years across a nation of physique artist, one of which would go onto become a multi I.F.B.B. Mr. Olympia winner.

In 1991, Joe trained extremely heavy and bulked up to a massive 238lbs. during the off season, dieting down to a ripped 214lbs. on a 5’6 1/2’’ frame to compete in the heavyweight class of the N.P.C. Mr. USA . At the time, Joe was 27 years old and was told by the judges that he was to big for his height, which in today’s android world would be unheard of. An interesting point to this is that Joe placed higher than most competitor’s that day, one in particular, who would go on to be the most massive and recognized bodybuilder in the World during his reign. I’m speaking about one Ronnie Coleman, a future I.F.B.B. Mr. Olympia, who on this day was bested by Staten Island bodybuilding legend Joe Carrero.

Some of the other well known bodybuilders Carrero has competed against include Rich Gaspari (N.P.C. 1982 Teen American Championships) and Ken “Flex” Wheeler (N.P.C. 1989 California State Championships) who both narrowly beat Joe for the overall mentioned titles. In 1990, this writer nearly had a stroke while watching the California State Championships on a national T.V. broadcast, where Joe Carrero placed first in the Light-Heavyweight Class and Chris Cormier placed first in the Heavyweight Class. It was as clear as Schwarzenegger’s right bicep that Joe was the better man on this day, possessing a fuller, more muscular and symmetrical physique as compared to Cormier’s, and yet the powers that be gave Chris Cormier the nod creating one of the most controversial decisions in the history of the sport. After this controversial placing, Joe was photographed by ace lens men Art Zeller and Ralph DaHaan at various gyms and locations in Los Angeles and San Diego . The photos would soon find their way into many physique publications including Flex Magazine and the UK ’s Body Power Magazine, giving Carrero the international spotlight he so richly deserved.

In the years to follow, Joe Carrero’s fortitude would branch out into different arenas of the bodybuilding spectrum. Besides becoming a well known national physique champion in the 1980-90’s, Joe would go on to design individual weight training programs for corporate America while also serving as guest speaker for enthusiastic crowds everywhere. His brother John, also a competitive bodybuilder, would carry on in the family tradition by promoting natural physique and Fitness America competitions annually in Folsom, California . In 1996, during the Staten Island Bodybuilding Championships, N.P.C. bodybuilding promoter Mark Delio presented Joe Carrero with the Staten Island Bodybuilding Award, for excellence in a career that inspired many home town muscle builders to train harder and believe that they too could accomplish their dreams with the same fortitude and positive attitude that Joe transpired. After the show, a special dinner was given in Joe’s honor with Staten Island legends Leon Brown, Charlie Williams, and Mario Strong in attendance, to name a few.

Today, Joe Carrero continues to train with the same hunger that brought him to the national stage during his competitive career. He has made a successful living in the posh environment of Silicon Valley, California ; bringing the same discipline and determination that has earned him so many titles and awards in bodybuilding into his chosen financial career. Although Carrero doesn’t compete anymore on the physique stage, he continues to spread the good will about muscle building. Recently he has ventured into the cyber arena with his ever popular Web site JoeCarrero.com (see links page), which will undoubtedly become a success like all of his other pursuits. With his Fortitude Creates Champions attitude, Joe Carrero is a shining example of one who marches forward, refusing to succumb to any misfortune, as he knows deep within himself, that he is a CHAMPION.

To view Mario Strong's heartfelt message to Joe Carrero CLICK HERE

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