What was Tom Platz’s heaviest squat?

Mr. Universe 1980 Tom Platz is known for his squat game and his quad muscles. It is said that in his prime, his thigh measured over 30 inches. Thus he was given the nicknames 'The Quadfather' and 'Quadzilla'.

Watch him tell about his record squat with 635 lbs for 10 reps in this video:

Here Platz confirmed that despite many reports going on about his record squat, it actually was 635 lbs:

"The most I ever did was 635 - that's coming from me - 635 lbs for 10 reps."

Adding that people do even more than that, they just don't get the limelight, Platz continued to tell how things were when he was young:

"I always liked squatting. Not that I always had good legs. I had skinny legs - Its just that I adapted well to the exercise."

"Train with those who you want to become like."

Platz did exactly this. He fondly remembers that as a teenager he used to be amidst weightlifters at the gym:

"When I was 16 years old the weightlifters wouldn't let me stop until I could crawl out of the gym. That was the way I was taught to train."

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"Bodybuilding is an art, approach it as an artist": Tom Platz advises

The 'Pro-Style Bodybuilding' author has been a motivational speaker and mentor for bodybuilding novices and enthusiasts. People want to replicate his success and legacy and ask him how they could do so. He pours his experience into the seminars he speaks at.

According to Platz, one doesn't suddenly do high reps with heavy weights on one day; it takes years to be able to learn and do the weighted reps. Watch this video of Tom Platz speaking at a bodybuilding school:

When people ask 'how to' do something, they expect the answer to be in the form of a step-by-step instruction manual. Besides a photo of himself doing a heavyweight squat, Platz wrote on his Instagram:

"People want a magic formula to being a champion bodybuilder. Something they can follow on a spread sheet to lead them to being a true champion bodybuilder."

But hey - if it were that simple, only the ability to follow instructions would be required to become a bodybuilding champion. Before you ask "How many reps?", read ahead as Platz's post continued:

"No amount of designated sets & reps, cardio, diet or drugs will make you into the champion you want to be. Bodybuilding is an art form, you must approach it as an artist!"

Platz ended by writing that art and desire should come from within rather than external factors.