Cyberflexing.com Star Profile: Gary Strydom

Quick Bio:

Born: 1960
Age: 58
Height: 6’2″ – 188 cm
Contest Weight: 229 lbs – 104 kg
Off-Season Weight: 305 lbs – 139 kg

Biography

Gary Strydom is a South African/American citizen that lives in Thailand. Gary Strydom is a IFBB Professional bodybuilder whose career spans three decades. Between 1983 and 1992, Gary reigned supreme, claiming titles such as the US Championships, the Nationals and the Night of Champions. After over 12 years in retirement, in 2006 and at 46 years old he made a much publicised comeback in undoubtedly his best form ever, placing 7th at the Colorado Pro. With most of his competition some twenty years younger, Gary set the bodybuilding world abuzz with his dynamic new look and proved that bodybuilding is an Ageless sport.

The World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF)

In 1990, Vince McMahon launched Bodybuilding Lifestyles magazine followed by the WBF (World Bodybuilding Federation), a new bodybuilding federation with a focus on talent and entertainment. Tom Platz, one of Gary’s boyhood idols, was appointed the WBF’s director of talent development and approached Gary to sign up. In Gary’s mind it was the best business deal that would come his way in bodybuilding and he still beams when he speaks about this period of his life as he cherishes being the only WBF Champion in the history of bodybuilding.

When asked recently about this controversial decision Gary remarked: “I have no regrets, it was a business move. What would you do if a work opportunity was proposed that would pay you 12 times as much money with one-tenth the workload? It was a three year deal with guarantees!” Bodybuilding had never seen that kind of money before. The wrestling czar Vince McMahon had made an offer to Gary that no bodybuilder would have refused, and Gary was the only bodybuilder offered the deal he received.