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

[oldschoolfan]

From all reports he trained his back hard just didn't have the genetics there.

ha what  a shame the dude had everything the weiders where looking for to, my buddy who was in the business told me when they resigned him in 92 they really didnt care if he competed or not they threw him on magazine covers and they sold well,  he made more money from the wbf than any of those guys weider made in there whole career in that era . he was one of the few smart ones.

[Humble Narcissist]

From all reports he trained his back hard just didn't have the genetics there.

That must be torture to have almost perfect genetics for bodybuilding except one big part like back.

[illuminati]

That must be torture to have almost perfect genetics for bodybuilding except one big part like back.

No more so Than say a national level bodybuilder having the Grit/ Determination
/ Mental attitude & train real hard & consistent year after year & not get
anywhere near the size or physique Gary had, that's the Genetic lottery.

[Humble Narcissist]

No more so Than say a national level bodybuilder having the Grit/ Determination
/ Mental attitude & train real hard & consistent year after year & not get
anywhere near the size or physique Gary had, that's the Genetic lottery.

It would be much worse because he knows he was so close but one body part kept him from the top of the mountain.

[illuminati]

It would be much worse because he knows he was so close but one body part kept him from the top of the mountain.

opinion varies

[NarcissisticDeity]

 

[njflex]

ONE OF THE BEST SIDE CHESTS AND HAND MMUSCULARS EVER,,LAT SPREAD AND REAR DB EHHH...

[pamith]

Back in the day, the only one that could beat Strydom was Lee Haney

[oldschoolfan]

Back in the day, the only one that could beat Strydom was Lee Haney

what is even more ironic those are two of the very few from that era that managed there money well.  and are still alive for that matter

[NarcissisticDeity]

Back in the day, the only one that could beat Strydom was Lee Haney

Back in the day people who beat Strydom, Phil Williams, Lee Haney, Rich Gaspari, Berry DeMey, Lee Labrada, Robby Robinson, Mohammed Benaziza, Nimrod King , Mike Christian, Flex Wheeler, Ronnie Coleman, Don Long , Milos Sarcev , Mike Matarazzo , Derrick Whitsett , J D Dawodu , Pavol Jablonicky ,Eddie Robinson , Achim Albrecht , Gunter Schlierkamp , Shawn Ray, Vince Comerford , Mike Asley , Phil Heath , Darrem Charles , David Henry , Marcus Haley , Bill Willmore , Rodney St Cloud. Other than those people he was untouchable 

[oldschoolfan]

Back in the day people who beat Strydom, Phil Williams, Lee Haney, Rich Gaspari, Berry DeMey, Lee Labrada, Robby Robinson, Mohammed Benaziza, Nimrod King , Mike Christian, Flex Wheeler, Ronnie Coleman, Don Long , Milos Sarcev , Mike Matarazzo , Derrick Whitsett , J D Dawodu , Pavol Jablonicky ,Eddie Robinson , Achim Albrecht , Gunter Schlierkamp , Shawn Ray, Vince Comerford , Mike Asley , Phil Heath , Darrem Charles , David Henry , Marcus Haley , Bill Willmore , Rodney St Cloud. Other than those people he was untouchable 

you forgot mike dugdale 

[Royalty]

The only year that Strydom’s back looked good (not great) was 1991

[honest]

That must be torture to have almost perfect genetics for bodybuilding except one big part like back.

He carried a gun in his gym bag all the time when in Venice, he upset one of the local crackheads over a car wash or something, Gary was typical safa not to fond of the brothers back in the day. Great physique except back and year round conditioning, successful disciplined guy. put his money into his label Crazee wear. Never knew him personally he kept to himself a fair bit.

[AbrahamG]

All well and good but he is a renowned cock-smith.

[honest]

He had a wife back in Venice days. Not that, that means anything especially as he's lived in Thailand last twenty years.

[Humble Narcissist]

Back in the day, the only one that could beat Strydom was Lee Haney

No way! Strydom couldn't beat Gaspari, Labrada, Demey, Yates, Ray, Wheeler, etc, etc.

[Brenda Steunbeer]

He went from good to mass monster. Must have been his change in PEDs

[NarcissisticDeity]

He had a wife back in Venice days. Not that, that means anything especially as he's lived in Thailand last twenty years.

[NarcissisticDeity]

 

[jude2]

He went from good to mass monster. Must have been his change in PEDs

That is a badass picture right there

[Humble Narcissist]

He went from good to mass monster. Must have been his change in PEDs

Cybergenics.

[MCWAY]

No way! Strydom couldn't beat Gaspari, Labrada, Demey, Yates, Ray, Wheeler, etc, etc.

Those guys didn't face the WBF version of Strydom (at least the 1991 version). Of course, the WBF started testing in 1992. Strydom got smaller but kept enough size to win again. Then he injured his shoulder and was out for months. By the time he came back, he stopped competing until he was forced to do so in 1996 to keep his Weider contract. I think the only show he did that year was the Night of Champions.

If Strydom had the option of not being tested (nor having a shoulder injury), he likely would have been even bigger.

He did beat Shawn Ray once: The 1988 Mr. Olympia. Ray placed 13th (rookie year for him); Strydom placed 5th.

[Humble Narcissist]

Those guys didn't face the WBF version of Strydom (at least the 1991 version). Of course, the WBF started testing in 1992. Strydom got smaller but kept enough size to win again. Then he injured his shoulder and was out for months. By the time he came back, he stopped competing until he was forced to do so in 1996 to keep his Weider contract. I think the only show he did that year was the Night of Champions.

If Strydom had the option of not being tested (nor having a shoulder injury), he likely would have been even bigger.

He did beat Shawn Ray once: The 1988 Mr. Olympia. Ray placed 13th (rookie year for him); Strydom placed 5th.

Strydom was only in the WBF for two years. Plenty of time to go up against all the others. He would have been invisible next to Yates.

[NarcissisticDeity]

Those guys didn't face the WBF version of Strydom (at least the 1991 version). Of course, the WBF started testing in 1992. Strydom got smaller but kept enough size to win again. Then he injured his shoulder and was out for months. By the time he came back, he stopped competing until he was forced to do so in 1996 to keep his Weider contract. I think the only show he did that year was the Night of Champions.

If Strydom had the option of not being tested (nor having a shoulder injury), he likely would have been even bigger.

He did beat Shawn Ray once: The 1988 Mr. Olympia. Ray placed 13th (rookie year for him); Strydom placed 5th.

1990 he lost to Shawn , Mike Ashley and Vince Comerford.

[MCWAY]

Strydom was only in the WBF for two years. Plenty of time to go up against all the others. He would have been invisible next to Yates.

I doubt that, especially in 1994. That's assuming he could have regained and exceeded his WBF size after recovering from his shoulder injury.

A slightly-upgraded version of 1991 Strydom vs. Yates with a bloated waist, a torn bicep, and holding more water than the Hoover Dam? Strydom wouldn't have been invisible, standing next to that (especially if he weighed as much as Yates or more).

But, there was (perhaps) the factor of whether his getting paid on the 3rd year of WBF contract was contingent on his being off the anabolics. That was the case with Eddie Robinson; but he was still hocking ICOPRO supplements for two years.