Gordon Ryan Willing to Sacrifice 20 Years of his Life with PED Use to Become BJJ’s Greatest

Gordon Ryan, one of the most decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes in history, has always been outspoken, and his recent statements about performance-enhancing drug (PED) use have only added fuel to the fire. For Ryan, the use of PEDs is not just a strategy but a necessary sacrifice to secure his place as the greatest of all time (GOAT). He openly admits to using these substances and embraces the risks involved, viewing them as a means to an end.

“People can make arguments where it’s not healthy for you and there are long-term side effects and things like that. I understand that, but at the same time, Michael Jordan quote: I am trying to win at all costs,” Ryan said.

While Ryan dismisses accusations of cheating, his justification is simple: PEDs are not illegal in his sport, and he is willing to take extraordinary measures to achieve his goals. “I’m not going to do things where I’m cheating. I’m not going to grease and things like that, but these aren’t illegal. So I’m gonna do everything that I can to be the best athlete that I can be,” he stated.

For Ryan, this pursuit of excellence comes with no regrets, even if it shortens his life. “Even if it were to take 20 years off of my life, I wouldn’t regret doing the things that I’ve done to become the greatest of all time in this sport. Because ultimately when I die, my legacy is what’s going to be remembered,” he said.

A Sacrifice for Greatness

Ryan’s philosophy sets him apart from most athletes, as he willingly accepts the risks associated with PED use to build a lasting legacy. “I would rather die with a legacy at 50 years old, than just be a normal guy dying at 70 or 80 years old,” he explained. “That’s not a sacrifice that people are willing to make, and that’s why they’re not Gordon Ryan.”

Despite his bravado, Ryan has faced significant health issues over the years, including debilitating stomach problems. However, he maintains these were unrelated to PED use, attributing them instead to recurring staph infections and the overuse of antibiotics that damaged his gut biome.

“I Don’t Need Steroids to Be the Best”

While Ryan champions PEDs as a way to maximize athletic performance, he also insists they aren’t essential to his success. “Do you need steroids to be the best athlete in the world? No, I don’t think so. I think that I could have done all this natural, and I could have been the best in the world without steroids,” Ryan claimed. “What I do believe is that you need steroids to be the best version of yourself as an athlete. That’s just a fact. They’re performance-enhancing drugs. You’re always going to be better as an athlete taking steroids than you would be if you weren’t.”

Ryan claims he did not start using PEDs until after winning the EBI 11 title in 2017 at 170 pounds, when he began moving into heavier weight classes. “My first introduction to PEDs, steroids, whatever we’re gonna call them, was after I had won EBI at 170. I cut the weight, did EBI at 170, and then after that I started going up in weight and getting to a higher weight class,” he explained.

Pre-Steroid Success

Critics often argue that Ryan’s dominance is solely due to his PED use, but he refutes this by pointing to his accomplishments before ever using such substances. “Your whole argument that ‘Gordon wouldn’t even be good unless he was on steroids’ … I was submitting ADCC champions and medalists way before I was ever on steroids,” Ryan said.

He highlighted victories over Yuri Simoes, Keenan Cornelius, and Vagner Rocha as examples of his natural abilities. “While I was natural, these guys were juiced up. Natural, I submitted Yuri (Simoes), Yuri was the reigning ADCC champion at the time… Then I submitted Keenan, I submitted Vagner. I submitted all these guys natural, having just gotten my black belt,” he said.

Ryan’s technical skill was undeniable even in those early years, but it’s worth noting that his most iconic victories and seven ADCC titles came after he began using PEDs. His six-year unbeaten streak, dominance at the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, and his reputation as the best in the sport all align with his PED use timeline.

A Controversial Legacy

Gordon Ryan’s admissions have sparked debates within the BJJ community. While many see PED use as a form of cheating, Ryan frames it as a calculated sacrifice to achieve greatness. Whether or not one agrees with his choices, his impact on the sport is undeniable, and his legacy will be debated long after his career is over.

Ultimately, Ryan’s approach to competition reflects his unrelenting desire to be the best, no matter the cost. “When I die, my legacy is what’s going to be remembered,” he said.