Francis Benfatto Andrew Oye, Champion Bodybuilder Physique Icon, PPM Training Classic Posing Academy
Updated: Mar 20
Legendary IFBB Pro Francis Benfatto + Andrew Oye, PPM Training Academy Founder + Bodybuilding Champion + Physique Icon + Classic Posing Academy Founder
FRANCIS BENFATTO BIOGRAPHY: TRIBUTE TO A CHAMPION BODYBUILDER ANDREW OYE
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, on June 7, 1958, Francis Benfatto (nicknamed “The Sphinx,” per Andrew Oye) relocated to France in 1971 at 15. In addition to being impressed by Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger and French bodybuilders Leon Cesarion and Serge Nubret, he was inspired by his father’s commitment to training with barbells and dumbbells in his own small gym.
Benfatto entered his first bodybuilding contest in 1976 at 17 years old. A decade later, after competing around the world, he placed high at the 1987 World Bodybuilding Championships in Madrid, Spain, where he was discovered by Mr. Olympia founder Joe Weider and offered the opportunity to compete as a professional in the IFBB Pro League of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. For Benfatto, it was a dream come true.
In May 1988, Benfatto made his professional debut at the Night of Champions in New York City, facing competitors who outweighed him by nearly 50 pounds. He went on to compete at the prestigious Mr. Olympia contest in 1990 and 1991. In 1993, he retired from bodybuilding competition but continued to work as a highly sought-after and marketable fitness model. His aesthetics would create some of the most iconic photographic images in bodybuilding history. In 1997, he left the United States of America to return to France. In 2003, he made a bold move to South Africa, where he launched his sports-nutrition brand Benfatto Nutrition.
Benfatto performed and presented at many exhibitions and seminars, in high demand — then, as he is now — for his artistic-posing expertise, Golden-Era legend status, and training and nutrition knowledge. After 13 years of retirement, he launched a highly publicized and lauded comeback to competitive bodybuilding at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix, challenging some of the world’s young, rising talent, at a striking 48 years old, 5’6” and 200 pounds. “I was probably in the best shape of my life,” he recalls, dismissing the so-called limitations of age.
An ambassador for longevity, he founded Benfatto Enterprises in 2009, accepted the duty of Global Leader in Lifestyle Enhancement, and encourages others to lead long, healthy lives. Based on his own journey and decades-long experience, he shares his wisdom as a philosopher of human performance; improvement as a function of slow, sustained progression; and the development of mental qualities (courage, willpower, determination, discipline) and physical qualities (strength, power, stamina). These elements form what he calls the “puzzle of life.”
To help people everywhere build their puzzles and unlock their optimal health potential, Premier Lifestyle Coach Francis Benfatto founded the Benfatto PPM Training Academy and partnered with Director of Program Development Andrew Oye to present the Progressive Performance Methodology: The Gold Standard in Fitness Training. Contact us for more information. IFBB Pro Francis Benfatto is repped by Sports Manager Andrew Oye
WHO IS FRANCIS BENFATTO? Andrew Oye
Francis Benfatto is one of the greatest French athletes to have evolved in the world of bodybuilding. As a Mr. Olympia contender, Benfatto reached the highest level in the world due to hard work and his own bodybuilding techniques, including the Progressive Performance Methodology, which is the foundation of the Benfatto PPM Training Academy co-founded with good friend and training collaborator Andrew Oye (creator of The Pro Muscle Report and The IFBB Pro League Pro Athletes Roundup). Maintaining an exceptional physique into his golden years, Francis Benfatto is a true example for the young generation of bodybuilders.
THE CAREER OF FRANCIS BENFATTO
Francis Benfatto was born on June 7, 1958 in Casablanca, Morocco.
Arrived in France with his family during his youth, he enrolled in a gym in Toulouse when he was only 14 years old. There he met many bodybuilders and weightlifters. The latter quickly transmit to him the taste for effort and self-transcendence.
Francis Benfatto trained tirelessly until winning his first major competition in 1982, Mr. France. 3 years later, he took part in his first world championship, in the -80 kg category. He finished in a nice 5th place.
Francis Benfatto is one of the greatest French athletes in the world of bodybuilding.
In 1986, he finished on the 3rd step of the podium of the European championships and the world championships. He came 2nd in the following edition, confirming his good progress. Francis Benfatto was rewarded for his investment and became a professional IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) that same year.
For his first professional competition, he ranks 9th in the night of champions and goes on to win the Grand Prix (6th at the French Grand Prix, 4th at the German Grand Prix, 8th at the Spanish Grand Prix and 7th at the Swedish Grand Prix).
Francis Benfatto has also participated several times in the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition. He is also one of the rare French athletes to have succeeded in such performances:
12th in 1989 (with contenders Mr Olympia Lee Haney, Lee Labrada, Vince Taylor, Rich Gaspari, Mohammed Benaziza, Samir Bannout, Andreas Munzer, Pavol Jablonicky)
6th in 1990 (with contenders Mr Olympia Lee Haney, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray, Rich Gaspari, Frank Hillebrand, Samir Bannout, Andreas Munzer, Jean Luc Favre)
7th in 1991 (with contenders Mr Olympia Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Vince Taylor, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray, Sonny Schmidt, Thierry Pastel, Achim Albrecht, Rich Gaspari, Samir Bannout, Pavol Jablonicky, Wilhelm Jasinowski, J J Marsh, Geir Borgan Paulsen)
15th in 1992 (with contenders Mr Olympia Dorian Yates, Kevin Levrone, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray, Mohammed Benaziza, Vince Taylor, Sonny Schmidt, Porter Cottrell, Steve Brisbois, Henderson Thorne, Ronnie Coleman, Mirosław Daszkiewicz)
His performance in 1990, his best at the Olympia, enabled him to obtain a sponsorship contract with the brand of the legendary Joe Weider.
Francis Benfatto's track record is full. He has competed with some of the greatest bodybuilders on the planet. When he finished 15th in Mr. Olympia in 1992, he was ahead of the legendary Ronnie Coleman, for example. The latter won the competition 8 times in a row between 1998 and 2005, which says a lot about the level of the Frenchman.
Also that same year, other great athletes such as the British Dorian Yates, the French Thierry Pastel or the Americans Kevin Levrone, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray, Vince Taylor, and Lou Ferrigno participated in the event.
Tired of certain judgment criteria set up by the judges during the competitions, Francis Benfatto finally retired.
But he made an extraordinary comeback in 2006. At the age of 48, he finished 6th in the Australian Grand Prix, sporting an even more impressive physique than that of the 1990s.
The superb performance of Francis Benfatto during his comeback in 2006.
EXCEPTIONAL PHYSIQUES
During his career, Francis Benfatto has always distinguished himself thanks to an aesthetic and harmonious physique, in the line of Serge Nubret.
While displaying a superb V-shaped silhouette, he managed to find the perfect compromise between developed muscle mass and proportionate curves.
Francis Benfatto's measurements bear witness to this subtle balance:
Height: 170cm
Weight in competition: between 88 and 93 kg
Bust: 129cm
Waist circumference: 74 cm
Arm circumference: 51 cm
Thigh circumference: 68 cm
Calf circumference: 46 cm
To achieve such a result, the French bodybuilder has developed over the years a very special training technique: PPM, for Performance Progressive Methodology.
RESISTANCE - TRAINING + STRENGTH - TRAINING PROGRAM
THE TRAINING METHOD OF FRANCIS BENFATTO IN BODYBUILDING
Francis Benfatto is among the professional bodybuilders known for devotion to a signature resistance-training or strength-training philosophy (such as Mr. Universe IFBB Pro Mike Mentzer with Heavy Duty HIT High Intensity Training).
Francis Benfatto's training is based on a method that promotes lasting muscle hypertrophy. Its objective is that each athlete or trainee practicing weight training or bodybuilding can reach his full genetic potential, while limiting fatigue and injuries as much as possible.
Francis Benfatto has developed a bodybuilding training technique, the Progressive Performance Methodology (PPM), with his good friend and PPM Training Academy collaborator Andrew Oye, who is also co-founder of the Classic Posing Academy for coaching bodybuilders and physique athletes. Andrew Oye coined the STAT (Slow-Tempo Attentive Training) protocol that merges with Francis Benfatto's ART (Auto-Regulated Training) protocol to constitute the PPM.
Francis Benfatto's PPM seeks to maximize the muscle recruitment of each muscle, while saving the athlete's resources to allow him to better recover and ensure his longevity. To do this, this protocol favors work in isolation of the different muscle groups.
In addition to developing this method with Andrew Oye, Francis Benfatto is now specialized in sports coaching. He also leads numerous seminars dedicated to physical activity and nutrition.
CONCLUSION
With his harmonious and elegant physique, Francis Benfatto is undoubtedly part of the history of French and world bodybuilding. His career is a model of success and longevity, and his comeback in 2006 a real source of inspiration for younger generations of athletes.
Francis Benfatto est l’un des plus grands athlètes français à avoir évolué dans l’univers du bodybuilding
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATHLÈTES ET COMPÉTITION
QUI EST FRANCIS BENFATTO ? ANDREW OYE
Francis Benfatto est l’un des plus grands athlètes français à avoir évolué dans l’univers du bodybuilding. En tant que concurrent de M. Olympia, il a atteint le plus haut niveau mondial grâce à son travail acharné et à ses propres techniques de musculation, y compris la méthodologie de performance progressive, qui est le fondement de la Benfatto PPM Training Academy co-fondée avec son bon ami et collaborateur de formation Andrew Oye (créateur de The Pro Muscle Report et The IFBB Pro League Pro Athletes Roundup). Conservant un physique exceptionnel jusque dans ses années dorées, Francis Benfatto est un véritable exemple pour la jeune génération de bodybuilders (culturistes).
LE PARCOURS DE FRANCIS BENFATTO
Francis Benfatto est né le 7 juin 1958 à Casablanca, au Maroc.
Arrivé en France avec sa famille durant sa jeunesse, il s’inscrit dans une salle de sport à Toulouse alors qu’il n’a que 14 ans. Il y fréquente de nombreux pratiquants de culturisme et d’haltérophilie. Ces derniers lui transmettent rapidement le goût de l’effort et du dépassement de soi.
Francis Benfatto s’entraîne sans relâche jusqu’à remporter sa première grande compétition en 1982, Mr. France. 3 ans plus tard, il participe à son premier championnat du monde, dans la catégorie des -80 kg. Il termine à une belle 5e place.
Francis Benfatto est l’un des plus grands athlètes français dans l’univers du bodybuilding.
En 1986, il finit sur la 3e marche du podium des championnats d’Europe et des championnats du monde. Il arrive 2e lors de l’édition suivante, confirmant sa belle progression. Francis Benfatto est récompensé de son investissement et passe professionnel IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) cette même année.
Pour sa première compétition professionnelle, il se classe 9e de la nuit des champions et enchaîne les grands prix (6e au Grand Prix de France, 4e au Grand Prix d’Allemagne, 8e au Grand Prix d’Espagne et 7e au Grand Prix de Suède).
Francis Benfatto a également participé à plusieurs reprises au prestigieux concours Mr. Olympia. Il est d’ailleurs l’un des rares athlètes français à y avoir réussi de telles performances :
12e en 1989
6e en 1990
7e en 1991
15e en 1992
Sa performance de 1990, sa meilleure à l’Olympia, lui permet d’obtenir un contrat de sponsoring avec la marque du mythique Joe Weider.
Le palmarès de Francis Benfatto est bien rempli. Il a concouru avec certains des plus grands bodybuilders de la planète. Lorsqu’il termine 15e de Mr. Olympia en 1992, il devance par exemple le légendaire Ronnie Coleman. Ce dernier remportera le concours 8 fois d’affilée entre 1998 et 2005, ce qui en dit long sur le niveau du Français.
Toujours cette même année, d’autres grands athlètes tels que le Britannique Dorian Yates, le Français Thierry Pastel ou encore les Américains Kevin Levrone, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray, Vince Taylor, et Lou Ferrigno participaient à l’événement.
Lassé de certains critères de jugement mis en place par les juges lors des concours, Francis Benfatto prend finalement sa retraite.
Mais il réalise un extraordinaire come-back en 2006. Alors âgé de 48 ans, il se classe à la 6e place du Grand Prix d’Australie, arborant un physique encore plus impressionnant que celui des années 1990.
La superbe performance de Francis Benfatto lors de son come-back en 2006.UN PHYSIQUE EXCEPTIONNEL
Durant sa carrière, Francis Benfatto s’est toujours distingué grâce à un physique esthétique et harmonieux, dans la droite lignée d’un Serge Nubret.
Tout en affichant une superbe silhouette en V, il a réussi à trouver le compromis parfait entre une masse musculaire développée et des courbes proportionnées.
Les mensurations de Francis Benfatto témoignent de ce subtil équilibre :
Taille : 170 cm
Poids en compétition : entre 88 et 93 kg
Tour de poitrine : 129 cm
Tour de taille : 74 cm
Tour de bras : 51 cm
Tour de cuisses : 68 cm
Tour de mollets : 46 cm
Pour parvenir à un tel résultat, le bodybuilder français a mis au point au fil des années une technique d’entraînement bien particulière : la PPM, pour Performance Progressive Methodology.
VOIR LES PROGRAMMES DE MUSCULATION
LA MÉTHODE D’ENTRAÎNEMENT DE FRANCIS BENFATTO EN MUSCULATION
L’entraînement de Francis Benfatto est basé sur une méthode permettant de favoriser durablement l’hypertrophie musculaire. Son objectif est que chaque sportif pratiquant la musculation ou le bodybuilding puisse atteindre son plein potentiel génétique, en limitant au maximum la fatigue et les blessures.
Francis Benfatto a mis au point une technique d’entraînement en musculation, la méthodologie de performance progressive (la PPM), avec son bon ami et collaborateur de la PPM Training Academy Andrew Oye, qui est également co-fondateur de la Classic Posing Academy pour coacher les bodybuilders et les athlètes physiques.
La PPM de Francis Benfatto cherche à maximiser le recrutement musculaire de chaque muscle, tout en économisant les ressources de l’athlète pour lui permettre de mieux récupérer et d’assurer sa longévité. Pour ce faire, ce protocole privilégie le travail en isolation des différents groupes musculaires.
En plus de développer cette méthode avec Andrew Oye, Francis Benfatto est aujourd’hui spécialisé dans le coaching sportif. Il anime aussi de nombreux séminaires dédiés à l’activité physique et à la nutrition.
CONCLUSION
Avec son physique harmonieux et élégant, Francis Benfatto fait incontestablement partie de l’histoire du bodybuilding français et mondial. Sa carrière est un modèle de réussite et de longévité, et son come-back en 2006 une véritable source d’inspiration pour les jeunes générations d’athlètes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BENFATTO BRIEF:
Francis Benfatto, CEO of Benfatto Enterprises, CEO of Benfatto Nutrition (BN), Creator of Benfatto Progressive Performance Methodology (Benfatto PPM), Lifestyle Coach, Global Wellness Leader, IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Classic Bodybuilding Legend, Physique Icon. | www.Francis-Benfatto.com
Francis Benfatto is represented by Andrew Oye at ACCSELerator (Advanced Creative Consultant in Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle), VP, Global Director of Development, Creative Services + Marketing at Benfatto Enterprises, Benfatto PPM Training Academy, and the Classic Posing Academy (Pose Like A Pro, Bodybuilding Posing Coach).