This legendary bodybuilder, who won the “Mr. Olympia” title twice, was born on October 12, 1938, in Blackfoot, Idaho, USA.
Larry Scott is essentially a representative of the old school of bodybuilding, but his achievements are worthy of admiration and emulation because, back then, high results were achieved exclusively through training, without the use of special dietary supplements. The fact is, as a teenager, he didn’t possess any exceptional athletic abilities, but through sheer determination and perseverance, he was able to achieve unique results. Larry believed in the power of this sport, and thanks to this belief, he was able to build a muscular physique without any additional aids like steroids, especially since such options were not as abundant in those days as they are now.
Most experts were skeptical about the athlete’s future results due to his narrow shoulders and wide pelvis. Despite this, he managed to prove them wrong through his character and daily training. Even at the age of 70, he managed to look better than some modern athletes in their 20s.
Anthropometric Data
Larry Scott had impressive anthropometric measurements:
- Height: 170 cm
- Bicep Size: 50 cm
- Thigh Size: 64 cm
- Chest Circumference: 128 cm
- Waist Size: 76 cm
- Off-Season Weight: 102 kg
- Competition Weight: 94 kg
Larry Scott was known for his large deltoid muscles and massive arms. The “Scott Bench,” a well-known piece of equipment designed for arm training, was invented by him. The arm workout program proposed by Scott remains one of the most popular among bodybuilders today and is still considered one of the best methods available. His training system included super sets, which have been highly effective in bodybuilding and were noticed by many renowned athletes during the early days of the sport.
The first exercise involves working with dumbbells weighing 27 kg each. The first set consists of 6 repetitions, followed by four partial reps. Immediately after lifting the dumbbells, move on to barbell curls with a straight bar. Perform 6 repetitions, followed by four partial reps. The barbell weighs 59 kg. Cheating is not allowed in this exercise due to the significant weight of the barbell. Next is the reverse grip EZ-bar curl. The bar weighs 38 kg, and cheating is allowed. The scheme is the same: first, 6 repetitions, followed by 4 partial reps.
The second exercise is the French press with an EZ-bar weighing up to 83 kg. Perform 8 repetitions in the first set and three partial reps in the second. The final exercise is dumbbell tricep extensions with 27 kg weights, done while leaning over. Complete 8 to 10 repetitions.
Three to five sets of these exercises are performed, with short breaks in between. By performing these movements with such weights, Larry Scott trained all the muscles of the shoulder girdle, as he knew exactly how to work on the trapezius muscles even at home.
He always emphasized that to achieve maximum results, athletes need quality nutrition. Success in this sport is 80% dependent on diet, which played a crucial role for this legendary athlete, alongside his training routine. Every day, Scott consumed nearly 4 liters of milk and 2 cups of protein powder with a blend of amino acids. Like all bodybuilders, he ate quite a lot, so a significant amount of money was spent on food.
Biography
Larry Scott came from an ordinary family, but his parents had excellent genetics, being tall and well-built. His father was a very strong man—so strong that even after Larry became the “Mr. Olympia” champion, he couldn’t beat his father in arm wrestling. However, Larry wasn’t naturally blessed with the same strong physique as his parents.
During his youth, Larry was physically weaker and less developed compared to his peers. American football and basketball were popular sports among American youth, but these held little interest for Larry, as it was difficult for him to achieve any significant results. As a result, he decided to focus on gymnastics and acrobatics, where he managed to achieve some decent results, particularly on the trampoline.
It was during his high school years that Larry was introduced to bodybuilding, thanks to George Eiferman, who visited his school to give a lecture on healthy living. However, Eiferman’s accomplishments didn’t impress Larry, as he believed that such athletic achievements were out of reach for someone with his physical characteristics.
Then, at the age of 16, Larry came across a magazine featuring photos of George Payne. It was Payne who inspired Larry Scott to take up bodybuilding. A caption in the magazine suggested that similar results could be achieved in just one month, which motivated Larry to begin daily, grueling workouts. Despite the initial struggles with training, where his muscles showed little growth, Larry remained undeterred and continued working hard with the weights. Eventually, he was able to increase his arm size to 30 cm in circumference.
Determined to see it through to the end, Larry set his sights on bigger goals. When a friend asked why he was so dedicated, Larry confidently responded that he wanted to win the “Mr. America” title. Unfortunately, his only friend didn’t understand Larry’s ambition and told him that he didn’t have the genetics to achieve such results. This only fueled Larry’s determination to continue training and pursue his dream. He rarely left the gym, never missing a workout. At that time, Larry trained using Bob Tyde’s circuit training method.
After some time, Larry realized that amateur training alone wasn’t enough for him, so he decided to enroll in the Air Aeronautics College, located in California. This city was known for having many large and spacious gyms. By this time, he was studying at a university, majoring in “sports officiating.” However, his parents were against this path, so he dropped out of university and left home.
Near the college was the B. Goodrich Wellness Center, where Larry continued his training, this time under the guidance of Lou Dean, a well-known figure in those days. Lou played a significant role in helping Larry navigate the challenging path toward his dream. Lou Dean wasn’t the only fortunate encounter for Larry. He was also noticed by the famous photographer Bob Delmonteque. It was Bob who took the iconic photograph of Larry sitting on a rooftop wearing only leopard-print trunks. This photograph was published in the magazine “Tomorrow’s Man,” making Larry popular among photographers.
Thus, Larry began to earn some income, but it was still insufficient, as housing was very expensive. He decided to return to his hometown of Idaho to save up some money. Afterward, he returned to California to continue his training, this time under the mentorship of the famous bodybuilder Vince Gironda.
Larry developed his biceps on the “preacher bench,” a piece of equipment invented by Vince. Over time, the two became friends, and Larry learned everything he could from Vince, diligently recording every word and gaining experience in posing, as Gironda was an unmatched master in that art.
Larry Scott’s Achievements and Trophies
In the 1960s, Larry Scott participated in the “Mr. Los Angeles” competition, where he achieved 3rd place, a success he owed to his mentor, Vince Gironda. Shortly afterward, he entered the “Mr. California” tournament without expecting to win, hoping only to place at least 5th. To his surprise, he emerged as the first-place winner. After this victory, he realized that the title of “Mr. America” was within his reach.
In 1962, Larry turned this dream into reality by winning the prestigious “Mr. America” title. In 1963 and 1964, he triumphed at the “Mr. Universe” tournament, claiming nearly all the prestigious titles of that era.
In 1965, Larry Scott won yet another prestigious title, “Mr. Olympia.” This tournament was created by Betty and Joe Weider, with Larry Scott himself being the inspiration behind it. Upon winning, he received a red crown encrusted with pearls. The following year, he once again took first place, earning a $1,000 check for his victory—a substantial sum at the time. After these victories, Larry announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding at the young age of 28.
In 1979, he decided to return to competition, participating in the “Vancouver Grand Prix” and “Canada Diamond Pro,” but he was unable to achieve the high results he had in the past.
Life After Sports
Larry Scott left the sport to focus on building a family—a rare decision for an athlete, especially one with such a promising career. In 1966, his family relocated to Salt Lake City, where he and his wife raised five children.
After retiring from competitive bodybuilding, Larry founded a company that produced fitness equipment and accessories. He also authored around 30 books on bodybuilding, with the most famous being “Loaded Guns,” where he detailed his training processes.
In 1999, Larry Scott’s name was inducted into the “IFBB Hall of Fame.”
In 2010, Larry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In March 2014, at the age of 75, Larry Scott passed away, leaving behind a legacy as a true legend of bodybuilding.
Larry Scott’s 3-Day Beginner Workout Program
Monday (Day One)
- Barbell Squats: 2 sets of 10-12 reps (easier option: 7-8 reps in one set).
- Hyperextensions (without additional weights): 2 sets of 12 reps (easier option: 10 reps in one set).
- Bent-Over Barbell Rows: 1 set of 10 reps.
- Bench Press using the Smith Machine: 2 sets of 10 reps.
- Dumbbell Upright Rows: 2 sets of 8 reps (easier option: 5-7 reps in one set).
Wednesday (Day Two)
- Leg Extensions on Machine (seated): 2 sets of 15-16 reps (easier option: 12-14 reps in one set).
- Leg Curls on Machine (lying): 2 sets of 15-16 reps (easier option: 12-14 reps in one set).
- Standing Calf Raises: 2 sets of 15-16 reps.
- Wide-Grip Dips on Parallel Bars: 2 sets of 12-15 reps.
- Hammer Strength Row Machine: 2 sets of 10-12 reps (easier option: same reps in one set).
- Standing Barbell Overhead Press: 1 set of 14-15 reps.
- Side Bends with Dumbbells or Kettlebells: 2 sets of 24 reps.
Friday (Day Three)
- Leg Press on Machine: 2 sets of 20-25 reps (easier option: 15-20 reps in one set).
- Deadlifts: 2 sets of 8 reps.
- Seated Calf Raises: 2 sets of 15 reps.
- Dumbbell Press on Scott Bench: 2 sets of 12-16 reps.
- Dumbbell Pullovers: 2 sets of 10-12 reps.
- Seated Press using the Smith Machine: 2 sets of 10 reps.
- Crunches or other ab exercises: 2 sets of 20 reps.
Note: This program is recommended for beginners and is suitable only for the initial phase of training. As your body becomes stronger, it’s advisable to switch to a more advanced workout routine.