Tom Platz, an iconic bodybuilder known for his legendary lower body workouts, has inspired many athletes to attempt his 23-rep squat set with 525 pounds on the barbell. Bradon Gulch, a 22-year-old powerlifter, recently took on the Tom Platz Challenge and came extremely close to matching Platz’s result, completing a 21-rep 525-pound squat set. Gulch utilized a pair of knee sleeves and a lifting belt to complete the set, making it raw by the majority of standards. Despite struggling towards the end, Gulch managed to eke out three more reps before failing on his 22nd repetition.
Gulch isn’t the first elite powerlifter to tackle Tom Platz’s squat challenge. Joe Sullivan attempted the same challenge a year ago but was only able to complete 20 repetitions, putting him behind Gulch. It is important to note that Tom Platz’s bodyweight during his 23-rep 525-pound squat set was 198 pounds, while Gulch’s bodyweight was unknown at the time of the attempt. Two weeks prior to his attempt, Gulch participated in a powerlifting competition, where he weighed 271.2 pounds.
Gulch is focused on improving his one rep max on the squat and not improving his AMRAP (as many reps as possible) sets. His heaviest official squat of his career came out to 705.4 pounds, which is significantly heavier than Platz’s reported PR of around 600 pounds. It all depends on one’s primary goals.
Overall, Gulch has taken part in 11 sanctioned powerlifting competitions, winning seven of them. Even though he has only been competing for two years, it is apparent that he will continue to improve for years to come. His competition PR squat is 320 kilograms (705.4 pounds), his bench press is 212.5 kilograms (468.4 pounds), his deadlift is 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds), and his total is 825 kilograms (1,818.8 pounds).
Gulch seems to be the closest man to Tom Platz’s record currently, as two reps don’t seem too far away. If he decides to work on his AMRAP instead of a One-Rep Max at some point, it is very likely that he would be able to surpass the 23 reps performed by Tom Platz.
Bodybuilding has produced many legends, but few have been as iconic as Tom Platz. Platz’s incredible lower body workouts have proven to be quite effective, considering the size of his legs. He became known as the “Quadfather” for good reason. His legs weren’t just a sight to behold, they were also incredibly strong, with some of his impressive feats still unmatched today. His quad muscles were the stuff of legend, and he rightly earned his place among the greats of bodybuilding and strength training.
Platz’s most remarkable feat was his 23-rep squat set with 525 pounds on the barbell, which he completed in 1992. Since then, many world-class athletes have attempted to match it. The best squatters usually come from powerlifting, which is why it’s no surprise to see a lot of them taking on the Tom Platz Challenge.
Tom Platz recently showed off his shredded quads in a latest update at 67, proving that age is just a number when it comes to maintaining a strong physique. His dedication to his craft is evident in his continued fitness journey.
In conclusion, Bradon Gulch’s attempt at the Tom Platz Challenge is a testament to the legacy of Tom Platz and the impact he has had on the world of bodybuilding and strength training. While Gulch may not have matched Platz’s 23-rep squat set, he came incredibly close and has proven himself to be a rising star in the world of powerlifting. It will be exciting to see what he accomplishes in the future.
