For about 30 years, Arnold Schwarzenegger, weighing 107 kg, was considered the largest bodybuilder in the world and was seen as an Olympic god. Later, when the fashion for mass began, the championship went to Lee Haney (117). He was replaced by Dorian Yates (120), then Paul Dillet and Nasser El Sonbati appeared. But what is 136kg compared to Greg Kovacs' 182kg? The Canadian bodybuilder is so huge that compared to him, the most muscular guys remain in the shadows. Looking at the monumental figure, the question involuntarily arises: how can you build up such a mass and what needs to be done for this?
Let's rewind time...
Greg Kovacs was born into a farming family in Canada. Already as a child he was a fairly large child.
Greg's first hobby was football. Then he became interested in hockey and began playing for the Canadian junior national team. We can say that this period in the boy’s life was a turning point: thanks to playing hockey, he first found himself among training equipment and fell madly in love with them. Having discovered a craving for sports equipment, the young man immediately switched to bodybuilding. This was expected, because with a height of 180 centimeters, he weighed about 105 kilograms.
His debut in the professional field of bodybuilding was rather unsuccessful: at the age of 20, his body was not suitable for professional performances, as it did not correspond to bodybuilding aesthetics - the judges did not find the necessary relief in him, and the poses that he demonstrated were too far from professional.
However, the purposeful, strong man decided not to give up and continued to intensively engage in strength training. Only eight years later, in 1996, Greg Kovacs took first place in the Canadian National Championship.
Performance history
The guy was born into a family of farmers in Canada. Since childhood he was a big boy, and all thanks to genetics. After all, his father, with a height of 180 cm, weighed 105 kg.
The Greek first played football, later became interested in hockey, and played as a member of the Canadian youth team. This period can be called a turning point in the life of a young man. Since, while playing hockey, the athlete found himself among the training equipment, where he actually fell in love with training equipment and became interested in bodybuilding.
He began his unsuccessful debut in the professional field of “bodybuilding” at the age of 20. Unfortunately, the first performance was a failure, since the judges did not see the necessary definition in the young athlete, and he did not pose professionally.
The first failure did not lead the “hero” astray. The athlete began to engage in strength training even more intensely. And only 8 years later, 1996 brings him first place in the Canadian national championship.
GoB Channel 359.725 views11 months ago
| Competition | Place |
| Toronto/Montreal Pro 2005 | 17 |
| Power Show Pro 2004 | refusal |
| Arnold Classic 2004 | 13 |
| Night of Champions 2001 | 18 |
| Ironman Pro 1998 | 14 |
| Night of Champions 1997 | 16 |
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A huge success that never happened again
At the time of receiving his award, he, according to professionals, had excellent credentials. The audience was amazed by the magnificent height and weight of Greg Kovacs - 182 kg with a height of 191 cm. However, from that moment on, he never distinguished himself in performances. Nevertheless, failures only spurred the bodybuilder to take care of himself: he was constantly in non-stop mode, adhering to the developed diet and training regimen.
As those around him said, Greg Kovacs was a very friendly and friendly person. The audience was always impressed by his complacency and charm as a mountain man, so he had quite a lot of fans and followers. However, not everyone liked him; some of his colleagues spoke rather unflatteringly about him.
Greg Kovacs[edit | edit code]
Grandfather Darwin never dreamed of anything like this. The way bodybuilding is developing today does not just confirm the theory of evolution with its notorious struggle for existence, in which, as we know, the survival of the fittest. No, this battle of the titans can only fit into the theory of revolution. Even 30 years ago, grateful fans were ready to carry Arnold Schwarzenegger with his competition weight of 107 kg in their arms and sing hymns to him, like the Greeks to the Olympic gods. Why, at that time he was one of the most massive bodybuilders in the world! Then, in the “Era of Titans of Mass,” it was Lee Haney’s turn to skim the caps with a mass of 117 kg, until he was replaced on the Olympia podium by the 120-kg Dorian Yates. Yes, this is how the most important metamorphoses in professional bodybuilding took place - from Grimek and Ross to Park and Pearl, from Arnold and Sergio Oliva to Lee Haney and Dorian Yates, and from Yates to the 136-kilogram Paul Dillet and Nasser el Sonbati. But with the advent of Greg Kovacs, with his gigantic 182.5 kg with a height of 193 cm, in the race for mass, all these eminent “fighters” could only nervously smoke on the sidelines. He was so huge and strong that it is difficult to imagine. Even against the background of today's best athletes, Greg would not get lost.
What was Kovacs hiding?
Intense training and unconventional nutrition, as bodybuilders say, led his body to a non-functional state. You don't often see information about Greg Kovacs' wife, but she was the one who helped him cope with routine matters. He couldn't even travel without her. His wife, Kim, was a real stone wall for this large man. Often she could conduct seminars in his place, since Greg got tired easily, could not stand the heat and was constantly sweating profusely.
Envious colleagues were amazed at how Kim courted Greg: she cut his steak into small pieces and fed him from a fork during amateur competitions. In addition, she had to almost follow him on his heels with a fan, because sweat was simply pouring down from the mountain man.
As it turned out, other bodybuilders also witnessed the fact that he literally could not go to the toilet on his own - his wife followed him everywhere...
Where did fate take the giant next?
The power style turned Kovacs into a real giant. However, he turned out to be absolutely uncompetitive from an aesthetic standpoint; sometimes he was called a bear.
When Greg realized that his genetics, which favored size and power rather than aesthetics and symmetry, were failing him, he left competitive bodybuilding in 2005. After leaving the stage, he completely immersed himself in business and coaching. Now his activity consisted of traveling around the world promoting MuscleTech sports nutrition. He managed to visit many countries of the world, including Russia.
What is the cause of death of Greg Kovacs?
After his career ended, the athlete faced many trials. The divorce from his beloved wife was a great shock for him. This psychological shock unsettled Greg. Then in November 2010, the bodybuilder was accused of extortion: the owner of a sports nutrition store reported that Kovacs demanded a large sum of money from him. This prank led to Greg spending several months behind bars. After his release, the former bodybuilder decided to return to the field of bodybuilding, but as a journalist. In April 2011, he began writing articles for the website rxmuscle.com. Greg turned out to be a talented writer: he has written numerous articles about bodybuilders and bodybuilding in general.
Greg's first health problems began back in 2008: he was doing a standing press with a weight of 200 kg in a fitness center in Toronto and suddenly collapsed unconscious on the floor. After this incident, he was taken to the hospital, where he was on life support for some time.
Greg Kovacs died at 9:50 a.m. on November 22, 2013, due to a heart attack. This happened in Ontario, at his home in Mississauga. Greg has no children.
Although he wasn't exactly lucky in terms of size, people say he was a friendly man with a great sense of humor.
Roundtable on Steroids (Chad Nichols, Dave Palombo and Greg Kovacs)
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Chad Nicols, nutrition expert
Greg Kovach, IFBB Pro
Dave Palumbo, nutrition and anabolic drug expert.
MD: Mass monsters now compete in extreme sizes and shapes while maintaining wasp waists. Obviously, many people fail to achieve this. What's the secret?
Chad Nichols: When you look at most athletes with a long torso, you will notice that they have a flatter, more defined abdomen than athletes with a short waist, who look more boxy and add volume to this region more easily. Depending on which part of the torso looks fuller, we can say what reasons it is caused by. If the top of the abdominal region floats (right under the breasts), then most likely internal abdominal fat is deposited there. In order to solve this problem, you will have to go on a diet a little longer than usual. Eliminating this type of fat deposits, in my opinion, takes the most time. The accumulation of subcutaneous fat in the lower abdomen is a direct result of prolonged use of insulin or growth hormone. The problem is that if such changes have occurred, and they are quite significant, they can become irreversible. The solution is to cycle these medications just like you do with all the others. A wise decision is to give your body time to recover from them.
Dave Palombo: Chad Nichols brings up an interesting point. Many critics believe that a bulging belly is a consequence of long-term use of large doses of pharmacological drugs. However, some of their malicious consumers have a beautiful torso. The secret is that when gaining more and more muscle mass (especially when the athlete’s dry weight exceeds 110 kg), the abdominal muscles simply have nowhere else to go but to expand outward (which is what gives the stomach a bloated appearance). But, as Chad noted, not every huge bodybuilder experiences these problems, since those with a long torso can hold more muscle mass than short athletes with a short torso.
Greg Kovacs: All bodybuilders overeat in one way or another and end up with a bulging belly. However, many people make a serious effort to keep it retracted by controlling the abdominal muscles. By practicing this all year, they are more resilient on stage. If you carefully observe athletes posing when they think they are not being seen (for example, when changing positions), you will notice how they relax their abs.
MD: Synthol is already everywhere. Even if we call its use an epidemic, it would not be an exaggeration. What do you think about it? Maybe we can expect some other, as yet unknown, side effects in the future?
Chad Nichols: Honestly, I hate it! But what can you do? No matter what you instill in these guys, they still use it.
The problem is that if one of them introduced synthol, achieved a high place and safely slipped through, then those following him will try to do the same. If athletes could step away from the competitive mindset and take an honest, objective look at themselves, they would realize that it does more harm than good. Over the past six or seven years, when synthol has become so widespread in sports, I have only met one guy (I won’t name him) who used it and got good results. Everyone else, it seems to me, was just losing separation, flattening their muscles or getting knots in some areas. As for future side effects, who knows when they will appear, it could take years. But the ones that are already known - clogged arteries and heart attacks - should be enough to keep synthol away. Every sane person should understand that if he injects something akin to “cosmetic cholesterol” into his muscle, then some part of this substance will inevitably leave the muscle. And where will this all go? Some will remain in the outer membranes of the muscles, smoothing them out, some will settle in the lungs and, more than likely, in the heart and brain. "Great" product, isn't it?
Dave Palombo: Synthol is a fancy name for an injectable anabolic steroid (minus the pharmaceutical drug). More precisely, this is the oily part of the injectable steroid. Bodybuilders use it to volumize (increase the volume) of muscle cells. Volumization serves two purposes: It makes muscles look fuller and more prominent from a cosmetic standpoint; It helps stretch the muscle fascia (the covering of the muscle) so that the muscle can expand more quickly. (Note: One theory of muscle growth suggests that it is the fascia that determines how quickly the muscle is able to grow. In other words, the faster we can stretch the fascial envelope of the muscle (which synthol does great), the easier and faster the muscle will expand, i.e. grow). As for the safety of using synthol, you should understand that it consists of medium chain triglycerides (MCT). From a biochemical point of view, MCTs are fats that burn like carbohydrates (that is, they do not require a separate transporter (unlike other fats) to be transported to the mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) through the bloodstream). Therefore, when synthol is administered to a muscle group, it metabolized as efficiently and quickly as orally consumed MCTs.
Greg Kovacs: Synthol has really gotten out of control at all levels of bodybuilding. If any fats, including oil solutions of steroids, are constantly injected intramuscularly in excess quantities into any region, they will inevitably cause the formation of scar tissue and can be stored in the form of capsules. Such a capsule can cause inflammation at any time. Once destroyed, it can infect the entire muscle. It's funny, but in most cases synthol is not able to improve the appearance of the muscle. It almost always makes it more watery and lumpy. Considering this fact, it is strange that it has gained such popularity.
MD: Simple question: the guys are now bigger and tighter than ever, both on stage and in the off-season. Why?
Chad Nichols: Well, that's an easy question. We now have better equipment and greater knowledge about diet and nutritional supplements. We now know more about how our body functions. Thanks to easier access to information, such as the Internet, today's athletes are more informed and educated.
Dave Palombo: Chad Nichols is right, technology plays a huge role in increasing the size and shape of the muscles of modern bodybuilders. However, it would be unwise to ignore those facts that are a serious obstacle to progress. Gifted individuals find it very difficult to push people to set new guidelines and overcome old stereotypes. Dorian Yates showed that you can weigh 137 kg in the off-season (with a relatively low percentage of subcutaneous fat), and then go on stage at the Mr. Olympia weighing 123 kg (being drawn “to the bone”). After he demystified this mysterious weight barrier, a whole team of 137 kg bodybuilders emerged, many with a competition weight of over 118 kg.
Greg Kovacs: So what? In any sport, athletes move further and further. This just shows that bodybuilders have taken their sport to the next level.
MD: What do you think about insulin, growth hormone and IGF-1?
Chad Nichols: I don't really believe in IGF-1, but that's my personal opinion. Most of the athletes I know didn't get anything special from him. Among those who achieved something, this happened only after the first application, but with repeated courses there were no more results. GH and insulin are a completely different matter. I think that these two products, especially when used together, are something incredible. That is why modern athletes are on average 15 kilograms heavier than their predecessors. It's all about how you take insulin and GH. As with everything, there is a right way and a wrong way. If you choose the second, you will get a bulging belly and various health problems.
Dave Palombo: IGF-1, taken correctly, is the most potent stimulator of muscle cell hyperplasia today. In comparison, growth hormone has a very modest effect. The problem is that most people either use fake IGF-1 or take it incorrectly. Growth hormone, however, is itself a very powerful fat burner and initiator of cell hyperplasia. The first process is a direct consequence of its activity, and to initiate the second, it causes the liver to produce more IGF-1. Because the fat-mobilizing effect of GH is opposite to that of insulin, additional insulin is required during growth hormone therapy. If there is a lack of it in the body, proteins and carbohydrates will not be able to be adequately absorbed, and muscle growth will slow down.
Greg Kovacs: I'll only give a partial answer. Of these three drugs, insulin is the most dangerous if you don't know how to use it correctly.
MD: If a person is not genetically predisposed to building large muscles, do you recommend high-calorie, high-fat diets to gain muscle mass?
Chad Nichols: Yes and no. It is important what kind of metabolism an athlete has. This is such a broad topic that just going into it would require several pages. I have always recommended eating as much as you can without excess fat. We are all different, and everyone must determine the line between good size and excess weight.
Dave Palombo: In the past, I believed that to gain muscle you had to eat huge amounts of protein and carbohydrates. My approach now is a high protein diet with moderate fat and carbohydrates. One of the most common reasons bodybuilders fail to gain weight is because they are afraid to eat fat. Fat won't make you fatter, but excess carbohydrates will.
Greg Kovacs: Of course, it depends on the individual metabolism. If a person is extremely thin, then you need to eat more. But if he is genetically predisposed to be overweight, then he should pay attention to a more balanced diet.
MD: Don't you think that the massive promotion of Dorian Yates's physique has done more bad than good - every pro has increased his dosage of steroids to get to the appropriate size and look more "chemically"?
Chad Nichols: I think it's not about promoting Dorian's physique, it's about him becoming Mr. Olympia. It's just that at his best he looked like a monster and was fantastically rendered. I think it got a lot of bodybuilders going in that direction because his physique, like the Mr. Olympia physique, was seen as the standard.
Therefore, many people tried to achieve the same result. This is one of the greatest problems in sports - athletes are trying with all their might to become something that they, in principle, cannot become. I teach my students to be themselves, and not someone else.
Dave Palombo: Dorian, as I said, brought bodybuilding into the 21st century. He demonstrated that the only obstacle to muscle growth is our own mental barriers. Once he proved that extraordinary muscle development was possible, it freed many bodybuilders from such mental barriers and helped them reach their developmental limits. Dorian's influence can only be called negative if one believes that progress is an undesirable thing. But progress is the only thing that takes bodybuilders to higher levels. So, Dorian’s influence can be assessed as definitely positive.
Greg Kovacs: I can only take that as an insult, considering everything Dorian has put into the sport. I don't think he did anything special back then, he just worked harder than others. Believe me, I've seen him train. This is impressive!
MD: Jay Cutler and Marcus Ruhl allegedly bypassed the diuretic tests at the 2001 Olympia. Some guys pass them by using either other types of diuretins that are not tested for, or plasma volumizers.
Chad Nichols: First of all, no “allegedly.” They just missed these tests. The results were not accepted not because they were negative, but because the laboratory that performed the work (a fully-fledged, accredited laboratory) did not spend the money to become an IOC-approved monitoring agency. And it doesn’t matter, since our sport is no longer recognized by the Olympic Committee. The test results were not accepted for reasons unrelated to the IFBB. What's interesting is that the same lab has tested (with positive results) Nasser El Conbaty, Lesa Lewis, and Gayle Moher, not to mention others, over the past few years. They all lost their places and prize money. The main point here is that Jay Cutler and Marcus Ruhl "allegedly" bypassed tests for diuretics, which are included in the IFBB list of prohibited drugs. Nineteen other athletes did not take these diuretics and followed the rules. This is a very important point when we are talking about drugs such as Aldactone and Lasix (banned), since they both provide an astronomical difference to an athlete's figure compared to those who did not take them. People can only find some new way to remove water from the body or use something not from the prohibited list. But there is no legal drug that even comes close to the effect that these two diuretics provide. It's like in a car race - one uses regular gasoline, the other uses high-octane fuel. Is it any wonder that the last one wins? As for bypassing the test, I believe that the IFBB created the list of banned drugs for one reason - they have proven to be the most dangerous, even deadly, in the past. I don't think having an alternative diuretic that's not on the list or using a different way to get rid of water in the body qualifies as "bypassing the test." Taking a prohibited substance and passing the test is a “bypass.” If you want to talk about plasmavolumizers, then you just turned to the person who did the most advertising for them. But, seriously, plasma volumizers simply don’t work! On paper, in theory, everything looks great. Six years ago, when I was looking for alternative ways to remove fluid from the body, I turned my attention to plasma expanders and osmotic diuretics. After several experiments, my medical friend and I came to the conclusion that they do not work. The theory is that when you take plasma expanders, you force subcutaneous fluid into the blood, resulting in a very lean appearance. If you could then also get rid of the displaced water, that would be great. But how to do that? Yes, that's right, you need diuretics. But the goal of the research was to find a way to get rid of water without using them. In short, if you are using plasma expanders, then you also need to use diuretics. If you only use the first one, the gorgeous look will last for about 30 minutes, and then all the water will return under the skin, and you will be sick to look at. In addition, the only way to take plasmavolumizers is through a dropper, which is not very practical.
Dave Palombo: Chad Nichols answered the question more than comprehensively.
Greg Kovacs: I don't know what other athletes are doing, I can only talk about myself. So I am unable to comment on this issue.
MD: In the good old days, an athlete's steroid regimen consisted of a low dose of Dianabol and 200 mg of Deca for eight weeks. Now we see beginners taking two grams per week!
Chad Nichols: Everything is evolving. Why wait so long for results? We crave them, and right now! Why spend weeks taking a little Dianobol or 200-400 mg of Deca, when the same results can be achieved much faster by taking 2000 mg of something else. The problem is that there is a lot of incorrect information around (everyone considers himself an expert). There is a “doctor” in every room, and each of them wants to be considered an all-knowing guru. I don’t know how many times I’ve met guys who compensate for their ignorance with more and more pharmacology. If a drug isn't working, why not increase the dose? Here's the answer to everything.
Dave Palombo: People see the figures of Dorian Yates, Nasser and Marcus Ruhl, try to figure out what they are accepting, and they begin to accept the same thing, but twice as much. It is this trend of “bigger is better” that brings danger to our sport. And when these guys have health problems, they blame people like Dorian for their stupidity. Meanwhile, Dorian never experienced any health problems while preparing for all his Olympias. So think for yourself.
Greg Kovacs: This is why we have so few bodybuilders who stay on stage for a long time once they become pros. That's why the first names at Mr. Olympia have been the same for years. They didn't burn out early in their careers. If they started doping too early and in too large quantities, they would never reach their full potential.
MD: Which two steroids (oral or injectable) do you prefer, and why? Which drugs do you think are unreasonably overrated?
Chad Nichols: In the off-season, I stick to the old standard - testosterone cypionate. This is a slow-acting testosterone, which is the basis for building muscle strength and quality. Before the competition, this is 25 mg of Primobolin tablets and Winstrol tablets. I like these two because with proper cycling and proper diet they give great looking muscles. As for revaluation, I don’t know if there are any. All steroids work, but I would highlight one - American Anadrol-50. When you compare the effect of this drug with its high price, you will realize that there are many less expensive products that will work just as well. I will say that the A-50 is a great product, but at $700 you might wonder if it's worth it. I heard that the manufacturer intends to discontinue its production, if not already.
Dave Palombo: In the off-season, I would say my favorite drugs are testosterone cypionate and testosterone enanthate. They are long lasting and quite safe. Before competitions, I prefer Finajet (Trenbolone acetate) and Winstrol. I also believe that it is necessary to maintain the base in the form of some fast-acting testosterone, such as testosterone propionate.
Greg Kovacs: My most popular steroids are testosterone (enanthate, cypionate) and off-season Dianabol tablets. Before the competition - Winstrol and Primobolan.
MD: Let's imagine. If you could revive any of the "extinct" steroids, what would you choose? Turinabol comes to mind.
Chad Nichols: I would say blasterone because I like the distinct sediment at the bottom of the bottle (just kidding). Seriously, I would say testosterone suspension! In my opinion, this is the best drug ever produced. It is suitable for any situation. In the off-season it can be used to build strength and mass, before competition it allows you to stay strong, maintain muscle mass and, when combined with proper cycling, gives your muscles a very dense appearance. It can be taken right before a competition because it leaves the system quickly and causes very little water retention. Fake suspensions on today's market cannot be compared with it. Most of them are very polluted. You can safely tell an athlete taking modern testosterone suspensions from the black market that he has a lot of crap in his body.
Dave Palombo: Finajet (trenbolone acetate) was probably the best anabolic steroid of all time. Trenbolone acetate is more androgenic than testosterone, but it still does not aromatize (convert to estrogen). It allowed bodybuilders to gain strength and mass in the off-season, and before competitions it provided the muscles with a great look, added aggression to the athlete in the gym and, most importantly, helped him recover faster from intense training and cardio work. Although it can still be obtained on the black market, it is no longer a “legal” product.
Greg Kovacs: Bodybuilders of yesteryear prefer real Parabolan and Blasteron.
MD: Why do you need to change the set of steroids when switching to a diet? What do you suggest in terms of diet or any techniques when it’s time to “dry”?
Chad Nichols: The reasons for changing drugs are as follows: In the off-season you take slow-acting drugs like cypionate, enanthate, deca, etc., and before competitions you switch to fast-acting ones - Winstrol, testosterone propionate, anavar, etc. The latter retain less water, are quickly absorbed and excreted by the body, giving the muscles a dense appearance. As for the techniques, this is exactly what clients pay me money for, I cannot reveal my secrets for free. Sorry!
Chad Palombo: I usually advise my clients to stick to some kind of testosterone foundation, both in the off-season and before competition. 4-6 weeks before the performance they switch to fast-acting drugs such as testosterone propionate or testosterone suspension. As for anabolic components, I usually recommend Ecupoise, Deca or Finajet in the off-season and Winstrol, Primobolin and Anavar before competitions.
Greg Kovacs: Before competition, bodybuilders change their combination of drugs because some of them retain water more than others. When a performance is coming up, this becomes very important.
Similar
Anthropometric data of a bodybuilder
Greg Kovacs height is 191 centimeters.
The bodybuilder's competitive weight is 153 kilograms.
Weight between seasons reached 182 kilograms.
Volumes:
- biceps – 67 cm;
- hip – 89 cm;
- chest – 187 cm.
Of course, such data could not go unnoticed; many were jealous of his build - not all bodybuilders lift super-heavy dumbbells. Greg's workout videos show that he easily handled a 305kg dumbbell incline press!
Sometimes he worked with more powerful implements during training.
Athlete with great achievements
In a short time, the weightlifter achieved amazing results. Soon the dumbbells seemed light to him. Extra-heavy equipment was designed especially for him. Training with exorbitant weights put those around me into a stupor. Once, during a photo shoot, a stunned journalist asked to show the bench press again to see how dumbbells of 90 kg each fly through the air. But that was not the limit. Kovacs juggled 115 kg dumbbells like oranges 6 times in a row.
Titan mass
- The hero pressed 900 kg with his legs (2 times per set);
- in the incline press I worked with a weight of 305 kg and performed 3 sets in a row.
If we take into account that his father, with a height of 180 cm, weighed 106 kg and had remarkable strength, 50% of the success can be attributed to genetics .
- At the peak of his form with a gigantic height of 191 cm;
- after drying, Greg weighed 153 kg. In the deep off-season, the weight reached 182 kg.
- The biceps diameter was 63.2 cm;
- chest - 187.
Kovacs's square figure was the envy of his colleagues in the audience and the subject of discussion in the press. It is likely that if he continued to work at the same pace, his weight would reach 200 kg.
Some more interesting facts from the life of Kovacs
According to the bodybuilder's biography, he usually ranked 12th or 13th throughout his athletic career. When he realized that he would not see any laurels, he began to study exclusively for himself, and later began to train young guys.
As Kovacs himself believed, he took after his grandfather: there were legends among people about his superhuman strength. Unique genetic baggage required very little to bring to light the biggest and most powerful professional in history. When the inexperienced Greg was still a 17-year-old boy, he, still far from a “kid” of bodybuilding, already weighed 110 kilograms! Moreover, all his weight was pure muscle! His size earned him the nickname "Canadian Godzilla."
When it became clear that the usual assortment of weights no longer satisfied the giant, super-heavy projectiles began to be made especially for him.
His leg press reached 900 kilograms (20 repetitions per set), his bench press reached 306 kilograms - 3 times in a row!
Kovacs could easily juggle 115-kilogram dumbbells (6 repetitions per set).
His face was featured in fitness industry advertising campaigns. He rarely competed, but was not deprived of public and media attention.
His heart attack occurred due to excessive force loads, according to the examination.
"The guy's on board"
It seemed that with his powerful shoulders he could shield not only his opponents in the hall, but also move the pros on the pedestal. However, it didn’t work out initially with titles and awards. Professional debut in 1996 was a failure. He lost to a guy weighing 85 kg. The judges were more interested in the proportionality of the figure and the ability to pose than the gigantic size of the muscles. This forced the Canadian to change his training strategy and, without losing weight, work on aesthetics and plasticity.
Although Kovacs was a household name, he rarely played in tournaments. The bodybuilder was not impressed by the modest prize money. He preferred to appear in commercials for nutritional supplements and receive decent fees. Many believed that it would not hurt for the athlete to make a couple of curtsies towards the fans. But everything was forgiven for the smiling, kind guy, and the army of fans grew larger.
In the 90s, Greg was invited to all sales exhibitions, where he was the face of famous brands. Great advertising for a guy who has competed in several competitions! Product promotion made it possible to travel around the world at the expense of employers and not think about earning money. But young people stepped on his heels, and the athlete left the sport.
| Year | Competitions | Place |
| 1997 | Night of Champions | 16 |
| 1998 | Ironman Pro | 14 |
| 2001 | Night of Champions | 18 |
| 2004 | Arnold Classic | 13 |
| 2004 | Power Show Pro | Refusal |
| 2005 | Toronto/Montreal Pro | 17 |
Greg's Life Principles
He had three main principles:
- Firstly, he believed that it was necessary to avoid a comfortable state during training. If the body gets used to the load, it is urgent to quit or change boring exercises, look for new options that will lead to a state of nausea. The result of severe torture is inevitable muscle growth. Weak muscles are strengthened through uncomfortable exercises.
- Secondly, Greg believed that regular exercise is the key to success. Only sustained and regular training will lead to an increase in muscle mass. Breaks, Greg believes, only disrupt hormonal and physiological processes. Without breaks, the body builds muscle much faster in the required volume.
- Thirdly, self-discipline. Greg said that without it the desired result could not be achieved. You need to constantly work with your head and direct all your thoughts to training in the gym.
How did Kovacs eat?
If you look at the photo of Greg Kovacs, you will notice pronounced muscle mass. He increased it by consuming large amounts of protein. He had 7 meals a day; the giant ate 2 kilograms of meat and a dozen eggs. In addition, protein drinks were always on his menu. Of course, there were also vegetables in his diet - he considered carbohydrates important for obtaining energy in order to fully devote himself to classes in the gym.
As Greg said, his favorite dish is a vegetable salad with potatoes or rice and a large meat steak. His favorite dessert was natural yogurt.
Since Greg devoted himself selflessly to strength training, he intensively gained weight and took steroids. There is information that he took other medications that helped him maintain his body in the right condition. As you know, the use of certain supplements negatively affects the health of bodybuilders, but without them it is impossible to bring the body to ideal.
Experts recommend that bodybuilders avoid this kind of stimulants, as they negatively affect the functioning of the heart and liver - due to the increase in muscle mass, these organs acquire alarming sizes. Greg was an extreme person in everything, from his thoughts to his training in the gym.
Biceps
Kovacs: “I used to train my arms with heavier weights, but my biceps were half the size they are now. Hence the conclusion: for biceps it is not the weight that is important, but their maximum isolation!
In “manual” training, I have never moved away from free weights, but machines also have their advantages. Some modern machines produce amazing peak reduction. So from time to time I replace free weights with machine work.
Usually, going to the gym for arm training. I imagine what I will do. But sometimes - purely instinctively - I change something. If I don’t feel in the best shape, I reduce the intensity, reduce the working weights and do more working sets of the exercises.
I finish almost every set with at least one forced repetition to bring the muscle fibers to a complete “lockdown” (of course, this requires the help of a partner.) When I want to “shock” the biceps, I use ultra-intensity training techniques: graduated sets, rest-pause and etc.
I had tendonitis - inflammation of the biceps tendon. But when I began to train more technically and a little easier, the pain went away.
To target the brachialis muscle, I end every third workout with hammer raises (instead of the usual finishing exercises). And this is already enough: the shoulder muscle receives indirect load during barbell rows, block rows and other back exercises in a weekly training cycle.
For beginners, I advise you to pump up your biceps with two exercises: dumbbell curls and barbell curls, three sets of each. And it's all! Biceps are very easy to overtrain - especially if you have not yet learned to fully control and feel the muscles.
My typical biceps program
:
- Alternating lifting of dumbbells for biceps - 2 warm-up sets, warming up sets of 15-20 repetitions. 2 working sets of 6-8 repetitions.
- Standing EZ-bar bicep curl. 1 set - “warm up” - 15-20 repetitions. 2 working sets of 6-8 repetitions.
- One-arm curls on a block - 2 sets of 10-12 repetitions or one-arm dumbbell lift on a Scott bench - 2 sets of 8-10 repetitions. Before the EZ bar curls, as you'll notice, I do dumbbell curls to get the biceps to work hard - this is the PRE-FATIGUE PRINCIPLE I use when training my biceps. Sometimes, to “shock” the biceps, I use the “REST-PAUSE” PRINCIPLE. I do a set until failure, then take a short break and “finish off” a few more repetitions.
I work out my biceps and pecs in one workout, because while working on my chest, my biceps warm up well. The biceps are small muscles, and after warming up like this, they can be fatigued with fewer sets.”
Giant weights and strength training Kovacs did deadlifts with a weight of 306 kg. Moreover, he had 8 repetitions in the set, and he did not lower the barbell to the floor until the end of the set (!).
Greg bench pressed the same weight from his chest on an incline bench (three times in a row!)
He started his delt training with overhead presses of a 206 kg barbell (6 reps per set), but when his shoulder joints began to bother him, he switched to standing chest presses.
For your information, Kovacs trained his biceps with 50 kg dumbbells (!) on Scott’s bench.
But there was a problem with dumbbells for the pectoral muscles. Greg needed dumbbells of 115 kg each for lifts!!!) lying down (6 repetitions per set), but he rarely trained with them in only one gym, so Greg was usually “satisfied with” a “light” weight for himself - dumbbells. only” 90 kg each (up to 12 repetitions).
He began his triceps training with bench presses weighing 228 kg with a narrow grip. The set contains 10 repetitions.
Bent over rows? 8 reps per set with a 250 kg barbell.
His traps, as Greg explained, responded well to shrugs, but he did them his own way. Others raise their shoulders and immediately lower them, but Greg raised his shoulders and held them like that for a couple of seconds. Actually, he'd like to do dumbbell shrugs like Dorian Yates, but he can't find the right weight of dumbbells. Therefore, he settled on a barbell of 300 kg (6-8 repetitions per set).
To strengthen his quadriceps, Greg tried to squat with a 390 kg barbell (8 repetitions per set), but due to his height, the squats did not work for him. Then he took up leg presses - 20 25-kilogram plates on each side (total weight more than a ton!) and 15 repetitions per set!
Greg was born to fight weight!
By the way, Kovacs considers the well-known debate regarding legs about what is better for them - a large or small number of repetitions - to be pointless. The maximum return is achieved by combining both methods. Therefore, he varied the number of repetitions in the set: sometimes 6-8, sometimes 12-15. And one more thing: as a warm-up for his quadriceps, Greg did leg extensions in a sitting machine.
Such a fundamental muscle group as the back. Kovacs first trained on a Hummer, considering this simulator to be the best. And only then did he move on to the barbell and dumbbells.
Targeted abdominal training as part of a weekly split, Greg believed, was not necessary. The abs are already overloaded with work on the back and legs. But sometimes Kovacs rocked him in the morning, as soon as he jumped out of bed. He did crunches and reverse crunches always on an empty stomach and without additional weight.
Kovacs trained only in strength mode. Like Yates, his exercise usually consisted of 1-2 working sets of 6-8 repetitions. It is important to note that before these working sets with extreme weights, Greg had 2-4 (depending on the exercise) warm-up, preparatory sets with lower weights, and with each set the training weight in them increased. His partner is also not offended by the strength, and they regularly engaged in combat, reducing the number of repetitions to 4-6, they say, who will squeeze out more?
