Golden era bodybuilder Tom Platz is on the mend following a tough bout with Gastroenteritis. In a recent Instagram reel, Platz revealed that the condition caused Bell’s Palsy, temporary paralysis of the muscles in the face.
Detroit’s Tom Platz built a statue-esque physique with ruthless training and sheer willpower. He is celebrated today for his barbaric leg day workouts, where he made a career out of going well beyond failure. He elevated his name in the sport following several competitions in the AAU. Despite his reputation as a bodybuilder, Platz was also revered for his power when it came to lifting weights.
Platz cut his teeth training at the iconic Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California. Gracing the Olympia stage eight separate times, Tom proved himself against the heaviest hitters of his era, such as eight-time Olympia winner Lee Haney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Rich Gaspari, who was made famous for introducing striated glutes at the Pro levels.
As a pioneer of advanced leg training, Platz wasn’t afraid to put his strength on the line. He took part in multiple squat-off competitions and found success against Fred Hatfield. In their rematch, Platz emerged victorious with 23 reps of 525 pounds. The record stood until the reigning World’s Strongest Man/Arnold Strongman Champion Mitchell Hooper recorded 24 reps earlier this year.
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Longevity has remained a top priority for Platz, who continues to defy age with remarkable leg development. In his latest update to fans, Tom revealed he was suffering from Gastroenteritis. Given the public’s concern, he reassured everyone that he’s okay but admits recovery has been challenging.
Tom Platz, 68, Recovering from Illness, Details Nerve Condition, “It Will Go Away”
Find Tom Platz’s statement below:
“Okay, many of you are asking what’s wrong with Tom’s face. Why is he talking like Stallone? I got sick. I overtrained okay. Even I can overtrain. I got a stomach virus, Gastroenteritis, and the nerves in my face — and it’s getting much much better and it will go away.
But the nerves in my face were challenged to where my mouth doesn’t open properly, as you can probably see. Okay, I just wanted to tell you that that’s what it is. Bell’s Palsy, they call it the nerves in your face. I also want to tell you I made some notes. Of course, he gave me the food to eat and changed my diet around and that helped a lot. I’m on the road to recovery and recovery is challenging,” said Tom Platz.
Platz is admired by the bodybuilding community for his honesty about everything related to the sport, including the use of performance-enhancing drugs. While competing actively, Platz took a minimal amount of Deca-Durabolin and Winstrol. Looking back, Platz admits that anabolics were essential for athletes seeking to display a ‘saran wrap’ look to their skin.
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Platz was known for pushing his limits during training sessions and admits he needed to slow down but ignored his body’s warnings. In light of his latest setback, Tom Platz hopes to fully recover in the next few weeks.
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