Tom Platz
Encyclopedia
Thomas Steven Platz is a retired professional bodybuilder. His nicknames are "The Golden Eagle
" and "Quadzilla
".
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| |- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle|
|bgcolor=white| 11th
|bgcolor=white| IFBB Mr. Olympia 1986
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| |- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle|
|bgcolor=white| 12th
|bgcolor=white| IFBB Night of Champions 1980
.
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 hamstring
s of all time.
Tom Platz retired from professional bodybuilding competition in 1987 and did a 'Comeback' in 1995 when he was awarded Honorary Mr. America. He still promotes the sport wholeheartedly. Tom says, "I just want to give back to the sport I love which has been really great to me."
He played the part of "Body Builder" in the 1990 film Book of Love
. His character portrayed the Charles Atlas
-like character from those "tired of bullies kicking sand in your face and stealing your girlfriend" type of advertisements that were in a lot of comic books during the 50's and 60's.
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
.
Platz now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona
, on the TPC golf course, and supplements his income working as a salesman at Airpark Chrysler Jeep.
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
" and "Quadzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
".
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| |- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle|
|bgcolor=white| 11th
|bgcolor=white| IFBB Mr. Olympia 1986
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| |- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle|
|bgcolor=white| 12th
|bgcolor=white| IFBB Night of Champions 1980
Night of Champions
Night of Champions is a bodybuilding contest held every year in New York City, USA. It began in 1978 and is considered one of the top professional bodybuilding events, with the top five finalists qualifying for the Mr. Olympia contest....
Biography
Tom Platz began his competitive bodybuilding career in the 1973 Mr. Adonis competition. He 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. OlympiaMr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
.
For the following nine years Platz competed as a pro aiming for the most prestigious bodybuilding title there is, Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
. 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
FLEX (magazine)
Flex is an American bodybuilding magazine, published by American Media, Inc.-History:Founded in 1983 by Joe Weider, local versions are now published throughout the world, in countries such as the UK and Australia.The premier issue was dated April 1983, and featured Chris Dickerson on the cover...
readers agree: In a "best bodyparts of the 20th century" poll, Platz was deemed to have the best quads and hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
s of all time.
Tom Platz retired from professional bodybuilding competition in 1987 and did a 'Comeback' in 1995 when he was awarded Honorary Mr. America. He still promotes the sport wholeheartedly. Tom says, "I just want to give back to the sport I love which has been really great to me."
He played the part of "Body Builder" in the 1990 film Book of Love
Book of Love (1990 film)
Book of Love is a 1990 romantic comedy film directed by New Line Cinema producer Robert Shaye. It is based on the autobiographical novel Jack in the Box by William Kotzwinkle .The film was originally PG-13, but subsequent DVD releases have been the R-rated Director's Cut Book of Love is a 1990...
. His character portrayed the Charles Atlas
Charles Atlas
Charles Atlas, born Angelo Siciliano , was the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program that was best known for a landmark advertising campaign featuring Atlas's name and likeness; it has been described as one of the longest-lasting and most memorable ad campaigns of all...
-like character from those "tired of bullies kicking sand in your face and stealing your girlfriend" type of advertisements that were in a lot of comic books during the 50's and 60's.
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
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
.
Platz now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, on the TPC golf course, and supplements his income working as a salesman at Airpark Chrysler Jeep.
Pro contest history
- 1978 World Amateur Championships - IFBB Mr. Universe
- 1978 Mr. America - AAU, Short, 2nd
- 1977 Mr. Southeastern USA - AAU
- 1977 Mr. America - AAU, Short, 2nd
- 1976 Mr. America - AAU, Short, 3rd
- 1975 Mr. Michigan - AAU
- 1974 Junior & Senior State Powerlifting Championships - AAU, 220 Class Champ
- 1974 Teen Mr. America - AAU, 2nd
- 1973 Mr. Adonis - AAU
- 1973 Mr. Ironman – AAU
- 1979 Mr. Olympia 8th (under 200 pounds)
- 1980 Grand Prix: Lafayette, Louisiana 9th
- 1980 Grand Prix: Pittsburgh 10th
- 1980 Night Of Champions 14th
- 1980 Mr. Olympia 9th
- 1980 Pro Mr. Universe 2nd
- 1981 Mr. Olympia 3rd
- 1982 Mr. Olympia 6th
- 1984 Mr. Olympia 10th
- 1985 Mr. Olympia 7th
- 1986 Mr. Olympia 11th
- 1987 Grand Prix: Detroit 6th
- 1995 Honorary Mr. America - AAU
Books
Pro-style Bodybuilding by Tom Platz (Author), Bill Reynolds (Author)- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Sterling (20 May 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN 0806979100
- ISBN 978-0806979106
Filmography
- Who Killed Johnny Love? (1998) .... Emcee
- 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag8 Heads in a Duffel Bag8 Heads in a Duffel Bag is a 1997 black comedy film starring Joe Pesci and David Spade. It was the directorial debut of screenwriter Tom Schulman...
(1997) .... Head of Hugo - Book of LoveBook of Love (1990 film)Book of Love is a 1990 romantic comedy film directed by New Line Cinema producer Robert Shaye. It is based on the autobiographical novel Jack in the Box by William Kotzwinkle .The film was originally PG-13, but subsequent DVD releases have been the R-rated Director's Cut Book of Love is a 1990...
(1990) .... Body Builder - Twins (1988) .... Granger Son #1
- The Comeback (1980) .... Himself
- Arnold Schwarzenegger - Total Rebuild to Mr. Olympia 1980 (Himself)
- Flex...Body Love (1991)....Tom Steel, body builder
See also
- List of male professional bodybuilders
- List of female professional bodybuilders