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Tom Platz is probably the most aesthetic bodybuilder of all time. Even three decades after his retirement, the bodybuilding world is yet to give us a successor of the 'Quadfather' or the 'Quadzilla', with the physical attributes and charm of the Mr. Universe not easy to replicate.
Although he could never win the Mr. Olympia, Platz was placed in the top 10 many times. He also competed for the other most reputed title in Bodybuilding: Mr. Universe. Here are the three best places he secured at IFBB events during his career:
#3 IFBB Detroit Pro Invitational 1987: 6th Place
The IFBB Detroit Pro is an invitational event, meaning, only the invited athletes can participate. This was the year when Platz retired from professional bodybuilding.
Watch him pose as a guest in Amstetten in 1987:
#2 IFBB Mr. Olympia 1982: 6th Place
Since the 1980 Mr. Olympia, the event was seen rigged even for a few upcoming years. Platz was placed sixth in this event in the Men's bodybuilding category.
#1 IFBB Mr. Olympia 1981: 3rd Place
The 1981 Olympia is also seen as one of the most controversial Mr. Olympias of all time. See this photo of Platz posing beside Franco Columbu, shared by @OldSchoolLabs on Facebook with the description:
"On the right, Old School Labs Ambassador Tom Platz, displayed his best ever contest package to date, with incredible feathering in his larger-than-life quads." - the @OldSchoolLabs post read.
"I was 10": Platz on when he decided to become a bodybuilder
In a vintage video of Tom Platz with Terry Wogan on BBC Archive, Platz shared how things were when he was a child. As the host complimented Platz for having 'the biggest legs in the world', he said:
"I'm known for the leg trip but I always had skinny legs."
He then went on to tell about the time when he started bodybuilding and added:
"I was 10 years old and I saw a picture. There's a guy named Dave Draper. Blonde hair, he's on a beach in these magazines."
Dave Draper was the Mr. Universe in 1966. Ten-year-old Platz was fascinated with the glamour.
"And I go man what a great job! I wanna do that for a living!" Platz stated.
Watch this fun video of Tom Platz from 1985:
