The Golden Eagle - Tom Platz - Some Pics and Discussion

[LanceD]

platz says he's 5'8" 225lbs thighs 31 ins.

I believe he was shorter than that, I remember leaving Gold's in LA and some dudes were doing roman chair situps, I did a double take and one of them was platz! But he was short!

If you remember him as a slim bodybuilder, a bit bottom heavy, not much. It wasn't until the Universe in Mexico that he seemed to develop "arms", and that huge jaw/cheeks showed up.

[Primemuscle]

Looks like the mom from "One Day At A Time"! 

You are right! Crazy!

[pellius]

platz says he's 5'8" 225lbs thighs 31 ins.

I believe he was shorter than that, I remember leaving Gold's in LA and some dudes were doing roman chair situps, I did a double take and one of them was platz! But he was short!

If you remember him as a slim bodybuilder, a bit bottom heavy, not much. It wasn't until the Universe in Mexico that he seemed to develop "arms", and that huge jaw/cheeks showed up.

In the right pic he kind of looks like Chris Aceto during his bbing days.

[Bevo]

platz says he's 5'8" 225lbs thighs 31 ins.

I believe he was shorter than that, I remember leaving Gold's in LA and some dudes were doing roman chair situps, I did a double take and one of them was platz! But he was short!

If you remember him as a slim bodybuilder, a bit bottom heavy, not much. It wasn't until the Universe in Mexico that he seemed to develop "arms", and that huge jaw/cheeks showed up.

He’s around 5’6

[illuminati]

According to NASA Physicians He is Exactly
5ft 7.4986123456786432565432 1 Tall in Bare Feet.

😂🤣😂

WTF Difference does it make what height he is. 🙄
Let alone arguing over it. 🙄

[Hulkotron]

Fun fact: Super Macho Man in the Punch-Out!! franchise of Nintendo games was based on Tom.

[Rambone]

Fun fact: Super Macho Man in the Punch-Out!! franchise of Nintendo games was based on Tom.

[ProudVirgin69]

Tom really is an all time bodybuilding great.  He had the best legs of all time, squatted legendary numbers, trained like a madman, was never associated with g4p, and has remained involved with bodybuilding even years after being competitive in the sport

[illuminati]

Tom really is an all time bodybuilding great.  He had the best legs of all time, squatted legendary numbers, trained like a madman, was never associated with g4p, and has remained involved with bodybuilding even years after being competitive in the sport

X2
Well said.

[Humble Narcissist]

Tom really is an all time bodybuilding great.  He had the best legs of all time, squatted legendary numbers, trained like a madman, was never associated with g4p, and has remained involved with bodybuilding even years after being competitive in the sport

He has always been a great spokesman for bodybuilding.  I know people who didn't even really follow bodybuilding who liked Platz.

[ArnoldPlatz]

tom and casey

[pamith]

He’s around 5’6

Yes I agree, he was probably 5'8'' in his prime but after years of steroid abuse and heavy lifting and age he lost some height. I believe all pro bodybuilders lose on average about 2'' by the time they retire

[Danimal77]

If the numbers below are correct, Tom would barely have been able to get my jean's waist size 31" - 32" over one of his thighs.   

Tom Platz

Weight: 225 - 235lbs (102.1 - 106.6kg) - Height:   5'8" (172.5cm) - Thighs:  31" - DOB   1955

Found on : https://www.greatestphysiques.com/male-physiques/tom-platz/

Like us on Facebook: @greatestphysiques

He was not 5'8". He has gone on record saying he was under 5'7".

[Danimal77]

Tom is 5’6 at best.

Yup. I read either 5'6.5" or 5'6 3/4" in his prime.

[Fortress]

And here are the Ironage shots of Platz from, I believe, 1987.  I can't recall the year with complete certainty.  I wasn't following the bodybuilding scene in 1987, because I was five.    But my first guess was 1987, and psychologists say [or used to say, unless this has changed] that our first guesses/hunches are generally correct.

So I'm guessing these are indeed from 1987, where Tom would have been 32.  I think Tom slimmed down in 1988, and did not compete that year [but narrated those "Battle for the Gold" Ironage bodybuilding documentaries].  So...1987 sounds about right.  Maybe 1986.

While you can see that his quads were definitely bigger in these photos, it's not as if his 2008 quads at age 53 were small by ANY standard.  Maybe they would be a bit slim for professional bodybuilding, but I would say honestly not by much.  Tom was a genetic phenom for leg mass, and as far as I know - was absolutely balls to the wall in terms of training his quads.

Also, I enjoy the Ironage dispute I had with pellius here.    It's cool looking back at Ironage posts where Ironage Getbiggers clashed heads at times.  

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=282838.msg4002700#msg4002700

Those pics are from 1994.

Tom and I conceived the idea (Quadfather) and I arranged the photo shoot.

The photos originally appeared in MuscleMag.

[Matt]

Those pics are from 1994.

Tom and I conceived the idea (Quadfather) and I arranged the photo shoot.

The photos originally appeared in MuscleMag.

The Ironage shots that I thought were from 1987, were from 1994?

[Fortress]

The Ironage shots that I thought were from 1987, were from 1994?

As I say, the ones with Tom standing in an alleyway/street wearing the “godfather-esque” garb are 1994.

If I recall, they were taken right in Venice.

[Matt]

As I say, the ones with Tom standing in an alleyway/street wearing the “godfather-esque” garb are 1994.

If I recall, they were taken right in Venice.

There were two sets.  These ones were published in MUSCLEMAG INTERNATIONAL in 2008:

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=657649.msg9359237#msg9359237

These ones...date unknown.  I assumed they were from around 1987, but wasn't sure [I just assumed they were from Tom's prime]:

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=657649.msg9359238#msg9359238

If you look closely, you will see that these are from two different photo shoots.  All I know is that the first set was published in MUSCLEMAG in 2008, and I assumed that is when they were taken.  The second set...I'm not sure, and only took a guess that they were from 1987.

[Fortress]

The second set is mine.

And I wrote the text for the piece, too.

It is 1994. Maybe ‘95. But I’m almost certain ‘94.

Correction: Zulie wrote the article. But I did the captions. That one for the lead-off pic, for instance, is mine.

[pellius]

And here are the Ironage shots of Platz from, I believe, 1987.  I can't recall the year with complete certainty.  I wasn't following the bodybuilding scene in 1987, because I was five.    But my first guess was 1987, and psychologists say [or used to say, unless this has changed] that our first guesses/hunches are generally correct.

So I'm guessing these are indeed from 1987, where Tom would have been 32.  I think Tom slimmed down in 1988, and did not compete that year [but narrated those "Battle for the Gold" Ironage bodybuilding documentaries].  So...1987 sounds about right.  Maybe 1986.

While you can see that his quads were definitely bigger in these photos, it's not as if his 2008 quads at age 53 were small by ANY standard.  Maybe they would be a bit slim for professional bodybuilding, but I would say honestly not by much.  Tom was a genetic phenom for leg mass, and as far as I know - was absolutely balls to the wall in terms of training his quads.

Also, I enjoy the Ironage dispute I had with pellius here.    It's cool looking back at Ironage posts where Ironage Getbiggers clashed heads at times.  

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=282838.msg4002700#msg4002700

Do you remember what we were debating about? My handle was MTwain on Ironage. Use to be a good site.

[Matt]

Do you remember what we were debating about? My handle was MTwain on Ironage. Use to be a good site.

Yeah, lol.

Same thing that Fortress and I are discussing above - trying to figure out the dates of those Tom Platz photo shoots!  Looks like years later, with the confirmation from Fortress, I finally know the answer!  Lol!! 

RIP Robert Kennedy & Shawn Perine.

[ArnoldPlatz]

1981 MO......I THINK TOM SHOULD HAVE WON

[illuminati]

1981 MO......I THINK TOM SHOULD HAVE WON

I’d of picked Tom for 1st though it’s close with Danny
Both outstanding at that Olympia.

I like Franco only he wasn’t the best physique on that night.

[Humble Narcissist]

I’d of picked Tom for 1st though it’s close with Danny
Both outstanding at that Olympia.

I like Franco only he wasn’t the best physique on that night.

I guess 1981 was a contest of upper bodies.   Franco never recovered fully from the World's Strongest Man competition accident.

[Griffith]

Wonder if he got any joint problems?