Written by Peter McGough
05 May 2016

16tom-platz-retired

TBT 1987 - Checking Out Tom Platz

Just Before He Retired

 

 

MAY 1987: In the lead pic, a bespectacled me (on right) is checking out Tom Platz at Redhill Leisure Centre, Nottingham, UK. In centre is the late and irreplaceable competitor, gym owner and IFBB judge, Bill Boyd. This was during Tom’s annual tour of UK, where Bill would drive him from venue to venue. My wife and I staged the Nottingham seminar at Redhill Leisure Centre, which was held that evening.

The next day he told me he was thinking of retiring and a few months later having failed to qualify for the 1987 Olympia at the Detroit Pro he did. Last year we remembered that 1987 conversation as follows:

Peter McGough: So in 1987 you said you were thinking of retiring and you did. You once told me you would die trying to win the Olympia. What transpired for you give up that dream?

Tom Platz: I remember I told you in May 1987 I was about to retire. I was realizing it then Peter, with you there as a friend -- I’m getting chills talking about this. Back in 1982 or so I had a cabinet made just for the Sandow trophy; it represented everything to me. And I came to realize I would never fill that cabinet and never did. That being said it was so much part of my dream that I only got rid of it a couple of years ago.

 

But the decision to retire I guess was fuelled by walking around, all the time having a gym bag full of posing trunks and different copies of Ride Like the Wind and Twist and Shout and for 20 years doing the same thing. Of flying somewhere every weekend for a decade to guest pose. And as financially rewarding as it was and as gratifying as it was to be treated like a rock star, it was time to try something else. It was never about the money. Granted, I enjoyed the money; to make 20 grand a month [worth $40,000 today] posing and selling t-shirts and pictures, that was pretty good.

Not to compare myself but why did Jerry Seinfeld stop doing his show? They offered him more money, millions and millions of dollars more, and he said, “No, I’ve got to do something different.” And, most of us thought, “Why did he do that? He was successful at doing that.” But, he did it for so long and he was so good at it, he wanted to give himself another challenge.

 

I believe firmly that when you’re uncomfortable that is when you grow. And, I was becoming more and more comfortable with the stage, to the point where I could walk on in less than good shape and still provoke the audience. And, I’m not trying to pump myself up here, but I’m just trying to be truthful to the experience. It was a craft; an organic acting experience, and it was very important and meaningful to my life and my existence. And, it was very sad to say, “I’m not going to do it anymore.” But, much like being the anointed zombie in 1977, coming out to California, I was now the anointed zombie going, “It’s time to close the door, or pull the cord.” Not forget, but just apply it to another arena in life. Nothing lives forever.”

 

And so a force of nature left the stage nearly 30 years ago, never to return. But his onstage charisma and offstage demeanor left an indelible, unique and unforgettable impression on all who saw him. There was only ever one

Tom Platz and we will never see his like again. Today he lives in Southern California with his wife of 15 years Cha and the couple are idyllically happy

 

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