Who is Claude Groulx?
Former professional bodybuilder Claude Groulx hails from Montreal, Canada.
His best-known accomplishments include winning the 2003 Masters Olympia and finishing third in the 2001 New Zealand Grand Prix.
Short Career of Claude Groulx
When Claude Groulx was 20 years old, Claude started working out with a friend to “kill the boredom.”
Without realizing it, he began a 12-year adventure in which he competed in more than 40 events, 38 of which were professional exhibitions.
Claude made a formal exit from the world of competitive bodybuilding in 1995.
Body Measurements of Claude Groulx
| Full Name: | Claude Groulx |
| WEIGHT: | 235 – 245lbs (106.6 – 111.1kg) |
| ERA: | 1990, 2000 |
| PROFESSION: | Professional bodybuilder |
| NATIONALITY: | Canada |
| HEIGHT: | 5’7″ (170cm) |
Accomplishments
Competitions
2004
- Show of Strength Pro Championship, 11th
- Mr. Olympia, 19th
2003
- Masters Olympia, 1st
- Show of Strength, 15th
- Amsterdam Grand Prix, 9th
- Russian Grand Prix, 8th
- British Grand Prix, 8th
- Mr. Olympia, 14th
- Rome Grand Prix, 4th
- Australian Grand Prix, 5th
- San Francisco Grand Prix, 8th
2002
- Amsterdam Grand Prix, 5th
- British Grand Prix, 5th
- Mr. Olympia, 16th
2001
- New Zeland Grand Prix, 3rd
- British Grand Prix, 13th
- Mr. Olympia, 20th
- Hungarian Grand Prix, 5th
- San Francisco Cup, 5th
2000
- Canada Pro Cup, 4th
- Hungarian Grand Prix, 5th
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic, 9th
- Ironman Pro Invitational, 7th
1999
- Night of Champions, 11th
- Toronto Pro Cup, 4th
1998
- Finland Grand Prix, 7th
- German Grand Prix, 7th
- Mr. Olympia, 16th
- Night of Champions, 8th
- Canada Pro Cup, 5th
- San Francisco Pro, 4th
1997
- Night of Champions, 6th
- Canada Pro Cup, 4th
1996
- San Jose Invitational, 11th
- Ironman Pro Invitational, 11th
1995
- Niagra Falls Pro Cup, 11th
- Canada Pro Cup, 4th
- Night of Champions, 11th
Biography
Beginnings of Bodybuilding
Verdun in Montreal served as Claude Groulx’s upbringing. At the age of 20, he began training in the gym with a friend “for pleasure,” which is when he first came into touch with weights.
After working out three times a week for two years, Claude saw significant gains in his physique, particularly in the lower body.
“After doing this for about two years, I gained some fairly significant growth in my legs, and my upper body was catching up too,” he claimed.
I was asked by the proprietor of the gym if I had ever considered competing. I responded, “Not really, I’m still in school, and I don’t have a lot of time.”
Claude had little free time at this time because he was a student at the University of Quebec.
But soon after graduating from college, Claude entered his first bodybuilding contest because he was anxious to see how his physique would compare to that of other amateur bodybuilders.
He impressively finished second in his very first competition, Mr. Montreal.
Card Pro
Even though Claude won his first competition, he wasn’t happy with the outcome. With a little more work, he was sure he could win the competition. He competed in Mr. Montreal again the following year, and this time he won.
After this triumph, Claude went on a “rampage” and won every amateur competition he entered for the following three years.
He first took first place in the Quebec States, followed by the Eastern Canada Championships, and finally the 1992 Canadian Championships Overall.
Claude thought he wasn’t prepared for the Pro League despite being in the finest form of his life. He decided to entirely skip 1993 to have a better body for the following year.
One year later, he returned with amazing conditioning. At 202 pounds, he “destroyed” the opposition, taking home his Pro Card and the 1994 Canadian Championships.
Claude’s Professional Life
Following his triumph at the Canadian Championships, Claude made his professional debut at the 1995 Night of Champions a few months later. On that particular day, he placed eleventh.
Claude competed in 37 bodybuilding competitions throughout the following nine years. His 2003 Masters Olympia victory at the age of 40 was his most notable accomplishment.
Retirement
In 2004, at the GNC Show of Strength Pro, Claude competed in his final professional contest before giving up competitive bodybuilding.
Barriers to a Career
The sciatic nerve, which runs from the spine to the leg, was tugged by Claude in 2002 as he was getting ready for Mr. Olympia. He had to stay in a hospital for several days as a result.
Sadly, this occurred three weeks before his Mr. Olympia contest. His physical appearance suffered “a tremendous knock” when he was in the hospital.
Claude finished the contest in 16th place due to the injury.
Training
Cardio
When preparing for his competition, which typically began four weeks before the presentation, Claude Groulx only exercised cardio in the latter phases. He engaged in three to four 30- to 40-minute cardio sessions each week at that time.
Claude’s Exercise Program
Claude performed typical four-day splits during the off-season. But he worked out twice a day when he was getting ready for a bodybuilding competition.
His in-season training routine looked like this;
- Chest in the morning, 40 minutes of cardio, and Biceps in the evening
- Upper Back in the morning, Lower Back in the evening
- Shoulders and Triceps
- Legs and Calves
Nutrition
Claude would combine a healthy diet with a small amount of high-intensity cardio, such as sprints if he wanted to reduce weight quickly.
This diet typically included carbs like vegetables, rice, and fruits along with lean meats like fish, poultry, horse meat, and ground turkey.
I don’t consume bread, potatoes, or pasta when it comes to carbohydrates. My main sources of carbohydrates are rice, vegetables, and fruits.
Claude only permitted himself to indulge in cheat meals during the off-season.
Influences and Idols
Claude admired Arnold Schwarzenegger, often known as the Austrian Oak, during his early bodybuilding days.
According to him: “When I first started exercising, Arnold. I was inspired by the Pumping Iron tapes that I watched.
Later, he developed an admiration for other figures in the bodybuilding world including Lee Haney and Dorian Yates. Claude thought their bodies were amazing, especially Dorian’s; he called Dorian’s back “exceptional.”
How Can Claude Groulx Teach Us Something?
We learned from Claude that it’s critical to overcome barriers so that you can pursue your full potential in life.
He had a leg nerve injury just three weeks before the 2002 Mr. Olympia, a contest he intended to win because of his extraordinary physical condition. Unfortunately, he was unable to realize his dream that year due to his injuries.
He continued to compete in bodybuilding despite this, returning the following year and winning the 2003 Masters Olympia at the age of 40.
Never let life’s challenges bring you down; instead, overcome them and come back better than ever, as Claude Groulx did.