When fans remember Austrian Andreas Münzer and his impact on bodybuilding in the '90s, they picture his high-def conditioning – the best ever seen on a pro stage. Or they recall his tragic death in 1996 at age 31, shortly after competing in his 20th pro contest, and the shockwaves it sent reverberating to gyms around the globe. What those things too often obscure is that Münzer had a surplus of hard-earned muscle. His quads were especially abundant—dense from every angle. When flexed on a dais, sushi-diced with a crazy collection of cross-striations and snaking with veins, they were showstoppers.
“It wasn’t until two years into my bodybuilding career that I realized my legs were a weak point,” Münzer said. So he started training legs with a high-intensity barrage, driving sets to failure at around 6–8 reps and then grinding out a few more with the helping hands of a training partner. On leg days, there were no coasting sets. Even leg extensions were heavy, all-out assaults on the pain barrier.
FLEX FACTOID
Münzer is the second-best bodybuilder from the small city of Graz, Austria. The first is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
By the time the 25-yearold Münzer shocked the bodybuilding world by placing third in the 1990 Arnold Classic (his second pro show), his legs were his strength. Though he never won a professional title, he finished second twice. And he had great success in quality-laden Arnold Classic lineups, finishing in the A.C. top six four times, including a fourth in 1995 at his all-time best. Tragically, Andreas Münzer’s life ended far too soon, but, whenever bodybuilding fans ponder his photos, he still inspires awe. He’s remembered for his anatomychart definition, but don’t forget the dense, hard-earned mass that definition revealed. – FLEX
