Who is Leroy Colbert?
Leroy Colbert was a legendary bodybuilder who took great delight in the fact that he was a “natural.” He was recognized as the first person to achieve “drug-free” 21-inch arms.
Leroy Colbert was able to overcome the barrier of race at the age of 20 by becoming the first-ever black athlete to appear on the front cover of Muscle Power magazine, despite growing up during a time of strong racial prejudice.
Leroy was able to achieve success and win the Mr. America title in 1953 thanks to his close friendship with fitness legend Joe Weider that he had during his 20s.
But a terrible motorbike accident put a stop to his dreams of competing on the bodybuilding stage, thereby ending his fitness career.
Despite this, Leroy had a lifelong commitment to bodybuilding till his untimely death in 2015.
Leroy has created a lasting legacy as a result of his outstanding accomplishments and was elected into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2003. He will go down in history as one of the most well-liked sportsmen the sport of bodybuilding has ever known.
Here is his account:
Body Measurements of Leroy Colbert
| Full Name: | Leroy Colbert |
| HEIGHT: | N/A |
| WEIGHT: | 205 – 215lbs (88.5 – 93.0kg) |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| PROFESSION: | Bodybuilder |
| ERA: | 1950 |
Accomplishments
Career Accomplishments
- Bodybuilder
Competitive Background
- Junior Mr. America in 1954 finished last.
- 1953: First place for Mr. Eastern America
- AAU Mr. New York State finished fifth in 1952.
- AAU Mr. America, 1952: 17th place
- Mr. New York City won first prize in 1952.
- Mr. Eastern America finished sixth in 1951.
Biography
Early Years Of Leroy
Leroy Colbert, who was born in 1933 in New York, started working out at age 10 after reading a bodybuilding magazine that kindled his interest in the sport.
Leroy set out to develop a terrific physique after being very inspired by the amazing physiques of the bodybuilders who were shown in the publications.
Leroy didn’t have access to a gym or even a weight set when he initially started lifting weights.
Despite this, Leroy fashioned a homemade barbell for himself out of buckets of sand and a broomstick to develop his arms. I was motivated to develop large arms, as Leroy puts it: “I became obsessed with it.”
Leroy eventually started saving money with his pals who shared his passion for exercise.
Once they had enough cash, they opened their straightforward gym across the street from Leroy’s house. Leroy started working out regularly after that to get a great physique like his bodybuilding role models.
Living The bodybuilding Life
Leroy used to regularly lift weights with his training mates when he was younger. They worked out until their muscles were utterly exhausted doing dips, barbell curls, and standing overhead lifts despite having no access to gym equipment.
Leroy’s accomplishments from his dedication and hard effort led him to fall head over heels in love with bodybuilding.
Even though he concentrated on developing his arms, by the time he was a teenager, he had established a strong basis for his fantastic body.
Later on, Leroy understood that to succeed in bodybuilding, he needed to concentrate on his other muscle groups. At this time, he entirely changed his exercise routine, upping the intensity to build a proportionate physique.
Reaching The Stage Of Bodybuilding
Leroy quickly set his sights on becoming a competitive bodybuilder because of how far he had come. Leroy was able to do just that at the age of 18 by competing in the 1951 Mr. America pageant, where he placed sixth.
Leroy was keen to place in the top 5 in his next competition, even though he didn’t perform as well as he’d intended to.
Leroy competed in the 1952 Mr. New York City contest the following year, winning his first bodybuilding contest at the tender age of 19.
At this point, Leroy caught the eye of bodybuilding pioneer Joe Weider, who was amazed by his amazing accomplishment. Leroy was employed by Joe to work as a warehouse assistant at the end of 1952.
Joe and Leroy connected right away, becoming a strong bond right away. Just a few months later, Joe told Leroy that he wanted to get him on the cover of one of the most prestigious fitness magazines in the world because of his incredible physique.
Leroy believed that the magazine wouldn’t sell if he appeared on the front cover because of the racial prejudice prevalent at the time. As Leroy puts it
“Leroy, I’m going to put you on the next cover of Muscle Power,” Joe stated rather matter-of-factly as he entered the warehouse in the summer of 1953 while I was going about my tasks there.
When I thought about how things were back then, with black sportsmen simply being absent from newsstands, I felt it was absurd.
I explained to him that putting me on the cover was just not viable since it would hurt the issue’s sales. However, Joe persisted, saying in the end, “You deserve to be on the cover; it’s only right.”
Developing A Strong Bodybuilding Reputation
Leroy won the Mr. Eastern America competition at the end of 1953. Joe Weider kept his promise and put Leroy on the cover of the fitness publication Muscle Power as a result of his outstanding accomplishment.
Leroy gained real notoriety at this time, giving him the foundation he needed to launch a lucrative bodybuilding career.
Leroy believed that everything could only go higher from here once he had swept to the title of Mr. America. Joe Weider, Leroy’s mentor at the time, thought Leroy had the further potential for success in the bodybuilding world.
He told him, “You look terrific, I’m sending you to the Mr. Universe contest in London next year, so train hard and I know you will win.”
The Conclusion Of Bodybuilding Career
Unfortunately, a serious motorbike accident put a halt to Leroy’s fitness career in 1954, stopping him in his tracks.
Leroy was injured horribly in a terrible motorbike accident while riding with his pals, nearly losing the use of his foot from the ankle down.
Leroy initially failed to see how serious the motorcycle accident was because he was in total shock.
But a few weeks later, Leroy understood that his professional bodybuilding career had to come to an end due to the severity of his injuries. As Leroy puts it
“I was transported to the Hospital of Joint Disease in New York City after spending a month in the hospital in New Hampshire. This is where my competitive career suffered its last blow.
The crucial joints in the ankle had been shattered, according to the hospital’s chief surgeon, so they had to freeze it with pins. That was such a mental downturn.
I fractured my ankle, but I can still train and qualify for the Mr. Universe competition. However, my competitive bodybuilding career is finished with a frozen ankle at the age of 21, which is the height of youth conceit.
I never stopped bodybuilding because it runs in my family, but I would have to put my dream of receiving numerous trophies on hold.
When He Was Older
Leroy continued to be involved in the bodybuilding industry despite suffering a career-ending injury. He concentrated on strengthening his upper body because he was unable to work on his legs anymore.
Leroy claims he naturally acquired his extraordinary 21′′ arms, which were measured after only a brief time. Steroid use in the bodybuilding profession had only recently begun, but Leroy wanted to be cautious.
Leroy had a vast understanding of bodybuilding supplements while employed in Joe Weider’s warehouse before his accident.
As a result, he started working in the dietary supplement market and founded a business that he operated up until he passed away.
Leroy created his own YouTube channel before he tragically passed away, giving him a platform to share his 60-year-long bodybuilding knowledge.
Training
Leroy Colbert’s Exercise Program
Leroy used several muscle groups on the same training day when he was at his best. He lifted hefty weights during his exercises while performing high-volume sets. The exercise program, which Leroy liked to refer to as a “full body blitz,” is as follows:
- 10 sets of 8 repetitions on the bench press
- Ten sets of eight reps of bent arm lateral raises
- 10 sets of 8 repetitions on the lat pulldown
- 10 sets of eight behind-the-neck pull-ups
- Sitting Press with Back: 10 sets of 8 repetitions
- 10 sets of 8 repetitions for standing lateral raises
- Curl, alternate: 10 sets of 8 repetitions
- 10 sets of 8 reps for the sitting barbell curl
- 10 sets of 8 reps for the bent-arm pullover
- 6 sets of 12 repetitions for the squat
Nutrition
Leroy’s Meal Schedule
Leroy didn’t have access to many of the supplements that bodybuilders use now when he was at his peak. Despite this, by consuming nutrients from natural sources, he was still able to add a significant amount of muscle.
Here are some of the items he regularly consumed to build his physique:
- 2 lbs of Steak with Potatoes and Onions
- Six Eggs
- 1 lb of Cottage Cheese
- 2.5 lbs of Chicken
- 1 Can of Tuna
- 2 Cartons of Milk
- 1/2 a Pineapple
- 1 Gallon of Water
Influences And Idols
Leroy Colbert was taken under Joe Weider’s wing as he began to establish himself in the fitness industry so that he could advance his bodybuilding career. Even after Leroy’s accident in 1954, Joe and Leroy remained close friends.
Leroy was inspired to accomplish more after earning the Mr. America crown in 1953 as a result of Joe’s influence. Right up to Joe’s death in 2013, Leroy and Joe remained in touch.
What Leroy Colbert Can Teach Us?
Leroy Colbert has shown us that to achieve your fitness goals, you must be persistent, committed, and patient. Champions are made, not born, in Leroy’s words.
Leroy initially struggled to gain muscle because he only had access to basic gym equipment during his upbringing. When he was in his mid-teens, though, everything started to change.
He worked hard and by the time he was 18 was able to make it to the bodybuilding stage.
Unfortunately, Leroy’s fitness career was cut off too soon, thus he was never able to realize his full potential.
If he had persisted, he might have been able to compete with some of the greatest bodybuilders of the “classic age,” like Sergio Oliva or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Leroy committed the remainder of his life to the one thing he loved—bodybuilding—even though his competitive career ended abruptly.