"10" times 2

Flex, Jan, 2009 by Julian Schmidt

Short of winning the 2008 Mr. Olympia, Darrem Charles at least deserves a gold watch. It was his 10th Mr. Olympia appearance. Furthermore, as bodybuilding aesthetics go, he's a bona fide "10," leaving him justifiably sanguine about his longevity. "Looking back on my Mr. Olympia career, I'm happy to see in the physiques a more streamlined standard, getting away from that stomach thing and back into pleasing bodybuilding," he says. That being the case, he adds, "I'm going to keep on going as long as the good Lord gives me. I don't think about quitting. If you look at my body, I take care of myself."

Proof that Charles' DNA is pedigreed can be found in his son, Renel. When daddy entered his first Mr. Olympia in 1995, Renel was a mere five years old. In 2008, Renel won five bodybuilding shows. "I'm proud of him," Darrem beams. "I'm excited for him and excited for me. You'll be seeing a lot of him soon."