Tom Platz - Bodybuilder Profile

Height: 5'7" Tom Platz competed as an amateur until he won the 1978 World Amateur Championships middleweight division. In 1978 he moved to California; he arrived there with $50, a plane ticket, and a dream to win Mr. Olympia. He famously said that his photo shoot with Wayne Gallasch was a turning point in his career. He was just about at rock bottom when Wayne's posing fee set him on his road to bodybuilding stardom. For the following nine years Platz competed as a pro aiming for the most prestigious bodybuilding title there is, Mr. Olympia. Though Platz never took first at the Olympia he had a string of top ten finishes, with a third position in 1981 being the best. Platz became famous for his remarkable leg development. He developed a high intensity, high volume method of leg training, which led to his unparalleled size and definition for his time. Regardless of what was found lacking elsewhere, it is still widely claimed in bodybuilding circles that Platz holds the mark for the best legs in bodybuilding of his time and some of the best legs in bodybuilding ever. Flex readers agree: In a "best bodyparts of the 20th century" poll, Platz was deemed to have the best quads and hamstrings of all time. Tom Platz retired from professional bodybuilding competition in 1987. Tom Platz was and is one of the most sought after guest speakers in the world of bodybuilding, nutrition and general fitness. He is currently a Professor and Director of Bodybuilding Sciences at ISSA. Tom has a Masters in Fitness Science, Bachelors in Science Physiology and Nutrition from Wayne State University and Michigan State University, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California.

1974 AAU Teen Mr America - Most Muscular, 3rd AAU Teen Mr America - 2nd 1975 AAU Mr Michigan - Overall Winner AAU Mr Southeastern USA - 3rd 1976 AAU Mr America - Short, 3rd 1977 AAU Mr America - Short, 2nd AAU Mr Southeastern USA - 1st 1978 AAU Mr America - Short, 2nd IFBB USA World Qualifier - MiddleWeight, 1st IFBB World Amateur Championships - MiddleWeight, 1st IFBB World Amateur Championships - 1st Overall 1979 Mr Olympia - IFBB, LightWeight, 8th 1980 IFBB Grand Prix Pennsylvania - 10th IFBB Night of Champions - 12th Mr Olympia - 9th IFBB Pro Universe - 2nd IFBB World Pro Championships - 2nd 1981 Mr Olympia - 3rd 1982 Mr Olympia - 6th 1984 Mr Olympia - 9th 1985 Mr Olympia - 7th 1986 Mr Olympia - 11th 1987 Detroit Pro Invitational - 6th