Underrated "Mass Monster":World Bodybuilding Federation Champion, Gary Strydom

[MCWAY]

Christian and Strydom were very close competitively.  Always splitting those Grand Prix shows. Christian probably looked his absolute best at the drug tested Mr Olympia and got shafted in the final placing. Strydom was wider but Mike had the better back. Mike's legs were always a bit too small as well.

The WBF only had 2 shows but it changed bodybuilding forever,  for better and for worse.

Indeed! Christian placed 2nd to Strydom at the 1991 WBF Championship. After the drug testing started, I said Christian looked like a crackhead at the 1992 show (not knowing how right I actually was at the time). Then, Jim Quinn was hyped as the only guy who could challenge Strydom. Quinn could match size-wise; but he was too blocky and Strydom beat him.

Quinn was also a pre-Yates mass monster. I liken him to a giant Rich Gaspari. But, Strydom's size and shape was more mind-blowing.

[njflex]

If you think about it, some of the newer pros that went to WBF like Aaron, Baker and David dearth looked good in those shows, and then went on to do better again when they went back to IFBb, Eddie Robinson after his contract was up and he was drug tested during those years by Ico pro, he did well in like 96 to 97 season came back looking as big as ever and in great shape and some of those shows. The May never recovered Azucar Lado competed but didn’t do anything either he couldn’t hang with those I have BB pros by then.

[MCWAY]

If you think about it, some of the newer pros that went to WBF like Aaron, Baker and David dearth looked good in those shows, and then went on to do better again when they went back to IFBb, Eddie Robinson after his contract was up and he was drug tested during those years by Ico pro, he did well in like 96 to 97 season came back looking as big as ever and in great shape and some of those shows. The May never recovered Azucar Lado competed but didn’t do anything either he couldn’t hang with those I have BB pros by then.

Baker was never in the IFBB prior to joining the WBF; so why he got punished is absurd. Same goes for Jim Quinn and Troy Zuccolotto.

Baker claimed that, unlike some WBF guys, he did not follow Dipasquale's anabolic diet and credited that for his 3rd-place finish at the 1992 show. Plus, he was tested at the 1990 USA when he turned pro. So having to train for a show drug-free wasn't an issue for him. The 1990 North American Championship was also drug-tested when Jim Quinn won it. He claimed he simply had size to spare at 300 in the off-season. So, the testing didn't bother him either; he lost some weight but was still pretty big.

[kreator]

The schmoes were probably hosed down with cold water after his showing. They really got fired up

[Brenda Steunbeer]

Strydom kept in better shape than 99% of all bodybuilding pro's
He was 47 years old in this photo

[Brenda Steunbeer]

Promotional photos I think from 1982

[French]

 

[falco]

[oldschoolfan]

Strydom kept in better shape than 99% of all bodybuilding pro's
He was 47 years old in this photo

looked way better in his comeback than levrone did

[Rambone]

I wonder if Gary would’ve accepted a better back under the condition that he could never wear a hat or a wig ever in his life. This is the stuff that keeps me awake at night.

[NarcissisticDeity]

Promotional photos I think from 1982

Not from 82. Gary won the Nationals in 87 and got his hair transplant afterwards around 1988. 1982 is when Brian Moss started Better Bodies

[NarcissisticDeity]

Gary Like Paul Dillett was a potential Mr O winner from the front
& a also ran finisher from the back.

Better Than Dorian Ha, ha ha      Nope.

Looked fantastic from the front & sides but like you said

[falco]

Promotional photos I think from 1982

Bertil had killer arms.

[wes]

Bertil had killer arms.

Literally !! 

[Humble Narcissist]

Promotional photos I think from 1982

Who is that monster in the middle?

[NarcissisticDeity]

Who is that monster in the middle?

That's Brian Moss who started Better Bodies gym in NYC he dated Gladys Portuguese   

[Brenda Steunbeer]

Gladys Portugues in her prime was worth it:





Nice daughter too

https://nypost.com/2016/05/08/van-dammes-daughter-is-even-more-badass-than-he-is/

[Humble Narcissist]

^^^ So hot Van Damme married her twice!

[falco]

Who is that monster in the middle?

Their hormone dealer.

[Humble Narcissist]

Their hormone dealer.

That's why they showed him so much love.

[BB]

Who is that monster in the middle?

That's Brian Moss who started Better Bodies gym in NYC he dated Gladys Portuguese   

That dude must've got so much fitness poontang. If you remember those pics (Dettweiler, etc...) that looked like they were shot in a schmoe's basement, that was his later stuff. He also does a lot of the Animal Pak stuff.

https://www.betterbodies1982.com/photos/ .

[Humble Narcissist]

That dude must've got so much fitness poontang. If you remember those pics (Dettweiler, etc...) that looked like they were shot in a schmoe's basement, that was his later stuff. He also does a lot of the Animal Pak stuff.

https://www.betterbodies1982.com/photos/ .

I actually liked the Animal Pak supps although it was like swallowing horse pills.

[oldschoolfan]

I actually liked the Animal Pak supps although it was like swallowing horse pills.

they actually worked animal makes good stuff

[NarcissisticDeity]

 

[MCWAY]

1991 WBF Posing Routine:

Interview:

Top 5 Posedown (vs. Mike Christian, Jim Quinn, Berry DeMey, and Eddie Robinson).....NEW CHAMPION!!