Mid 90's. Golds Venice. when it comes to top bodybuilders at a ripped bodyweight, nobody ever came close to what I witnessed Rory Leidelmeyer do over some of those workouts.
He did 5 supersets of Flat Barbell Bench Presses with 495lbs for sets of 10 reps and immediately followed it with seated simultaneous Dumbbell curls with 110lb Dumbbells for reps that were clearly over 10 per set. He must have rested no more than a minute in between and kept going like a maniac.
The next memorable thing that i saw him do a few days later was a superset of Dumbell Side Laterals followed by seated front military presses. For the side laterals Rory used a loose form with 80lb dumbbells in each hand for high reps. At least 12. He then went immediately to the seated rack to Military barbell Press 365lbs for high reps. He did 5 cycles of this at a breakneck pace.
This was mid 90's and Rory was looking for a comeback that didnt pan out. But man did he look like a beast in the gym. He was shredded and full. Not an inch of disgusting GH belly.
Rory has myth like stories about his workout poundages and routines. trust me , they are true. He is one of the most powerful bodybuilders ever. And Rory took shit compared to the current guys. Just ask those who knew him well. Real basic gear and realistic cycles. But he trained like a ####. Old School. Guys today couldnt hold his jockstrap.
I never saw Rory train and know nothing about his strength levels........
BUT, I have seen Mike Christian train, and I personally saw him and a workout partner in 1982, after he had won the Cal, do sets hitting 405 for 8-10 reps on Inclines followed by 495 bench presses. Not supersets. 4 sets on inclines, then on to the flat bench.
Unreal, one of the strongest benches in Gold's Gym Venice.
you're a good guy Joe but i'm calling bullshit on 495 for 10, sorry, i'd give Rory 495 for a good single in off season condition but no fuccking way 10 reps.
Then you were never in the Mecca of BBing-Gold's Venice. Numerous guys could hit 405 inclines fro 6-10 reps- 25+ years ago. That big fat powerlifter who trained there, Grizzly Brown or whatever his names was (since died) could slam 405 inclines like it was 135.
