1980s bodybuilding legend, notorious IFBB turncoat, WBF superstar, successful clothing mogul, and now - at 46 years of age - the come back kid; Gary Strydom is the biggest thing to hit the IFBB in a very long time.
Can you imagine? This guy's coming back to open competition (not Masters) after a 10-year hiatus. Like almost everything else Gary does, this is unprecedented. You just can't help but admire this guy; he trains late into the night because he spends his day running a very successful international clothing company, and now he's getting ready to compete! How many other pro bodybuilders do that - work a full time job, bodybuild and compete? And at 46? He stands alone. Considering that, and then looking at his 275 shredded pounds packed on his 6' frame with a 30-inch waist, Gary's more than just an incredible looking bodybuilder, he's an inspiration. He's the best thing to come along the IFBB in a long time. With so much attention being paid to people in our industry involved in negative things, the admirable example Gary sets is a shot in the arm this sport sorely needs.
Competitively speaking, the big question is, after 10 years of evolving IFBB standards, will Gary's competition on stage in Colorado be against the other pros or against himself? The IFBB is home to the best bodybuilders in the world and they define the movement today much as Gary did over a decade ago. From the front he was always impressive and his condition was always extreme, but his Achilles heel was always his back. You can't win a bodybuilding show today without a great back and striated glutes.
You have to be great from head to toe - not only the back and glutes, but from the front you need massive quads and tremendous outer sweeps in the thighs, wide lats and everything else. I believe Gary will be judged fairly. I certainly don't think there will be any intentional reaming or some act of reprisal for his defection. I just think that for Gary, the competition is with himself. And he'll tell you straight up - he's going in prepared to win and just as prepared to lose. The thing he's got going for him that few if any other pro bodybuilders do, is that Gary Strydom has nothing to lose. He's doing it for himself, so where he places doesn't matter. Gary was, is and always will be a great bodybuilder and that's why he's on the cover.
Best of luck this weekend Gary!
