Steve Reeves is still one of the most popular bodybuilders in the world. He had a classic physique and a great movie career. Many people consider him the king of aesthetics and aspire to acquire a similar physical development.
According to the information in the public domain, the measurements of Reeves were:
http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/
Chest 52″
Thighs 26″
Arms 18.5″
Neck 18.5″
Calves 18.5″
Waist 29″
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 215
Are those measurements real?
Bodybuilders and their promoters like to speculate. Unless you personally know the bodybuilder in question, never trust the information in magazines fully. The measurements, as well as the strength numbers, are often fabricated by the ghost writers.
The two most suspicious measurements of Steve Reeves are his arms and chest. He had a great pectoral development, and yet a 52-inch chest seems a bit far fetched.
Mostly likely the measurements were taken after a pump workout.
Was Steve Reeves a natural bodybuilder?
Reeves may have experimented with early forms of testosterone-based anabolic steroids. More on the topic can be found in this article.
Why would Steve Reeves boost his measurements?
Mainly for marketing purposes. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s arms were promoted as 22-inch monsters even though they were only 19 and a half with a pump. Bigger numbers attract the crowd and please the ego. That’s why the bodybuilding promoters used to play with numbers to deceive the unaware crowd.
Can I have the same measurement naturally?
It’s possible to reach some of those measurements naturally if you have good genetics, but it’s highly unlikely that you will have them all.
What is the “public domain” you source very often? No necessarily questioning the infos truth simply wondering why you don’t post sources? Or at least examples of the types of sources that make up the “public domain”
Thanks
Dude I’m glad you acknowledge that its speculation for the most part but its still pretty irresponsible & misleading to even post these when we both know they’re inflated as bulls balls. Hes tall, far light than arny & quite less lean. I’m sure all these are an inch or more fluff. Just give ur opinion no bs public print ad lies.
His measurements are 1 inch off except for chest which was 48 inches and waist 31. These were taken during mr. America competition in 1947. Everyone was measured that competed.
He was bigger in the 1950 mr. Universe contest, an extra inch of growth wouldnt be an exageration. I cant find the universe measurements but from what ive found it said his chest was 50 and expanded was 52. 29 inch waist was when he did a vacuum.
I got a friend with true 18.5 inch arms (heavily juiced of course) and he is 4” taller than Reeves. Even though, his arms still look far more massive. There is no way the measurements are true, not even by far.
I will go out on a limb and wager that the measurements you have listed are bloated, i.e. chest expanded, waist sucked in, etc. or simply inflated by promoters.
Earlier, the measurements of Mr America contests were usually printed in the program. I cant say how “trustworthy” they are, but they are likely more believable than most internet myths and posts.
Measurements of Steve Reeves, taken from 1947 Mr America contest, which he won –
Height – 6’1″
Weight 213 lbs
Neck – 17.6″
Arms – 17.5″
Forearms – 14″
Chest – 48″
Waist – 31″
Thighs – 25.3″
Calves – 17.5″
Wrist – 7.9″
Ankle – 9.8″
These measurements are much more believable, and back in 1947, before steroids became mainstream, VERY impressive for a natural bodybuilder. Most natties today will struggle to reach these measurements at a relatively low (sub-12%) bodyfat.
The link is here below as a reference –
https://www.musclememory.com/articles/MrAsizes.html
Do you think they measured chest back then how we measure our shoulders now? I’ve seen a couple of pictures of reeves where the lady uses a tape measure around his shoulder circumference with his chest added.
I read a few of the comments. All I can add is that I trained and worked at Vince’s Gym in Studio City Ca. That was the true Mecca of bodybuilding, long before Golds in Santa Monica ..Vince’s is where every top bodybuilder made a pilgrimage to. I got to know some of the greatest bodybuilders and Steve Reeves admired and respected Vince. In fact hanging on the wall was the original famous color portrait of Reeves posing on the beach. Larry Scott the first Mr Olympia trained exclusively with Vince and Larry Vince and many others said Steve Reeves arms in pictures were a little deceiving. His lats and shoulders were so big for that era it almost made his arms appear smaller . I’m person they all said his arms looked fantastic. Vince says when Steve Reeves walked in the gym emptied out because men just were in awe of his physique. Remember this was the fifties nobody had legs calves he was years ahead of his time.
Do you think they measured chest back then how we measure our shoulders now? I’ve seen a couple of pictures of reeves where the lady uses a tape measure around his shoulder circumference with his chest added.