How much can a person squat with thighs as big as a bicycle tire? German track cyclist Robert Forstemann has had the world mesmerized since 2012, when he flaunted his massive thighs at the Olympic Games. And even now, the size hasn't decreased.

At 29 inches, 'the Quadzilla' flaunts a thigh size that is commonly the waist size of most people. But how is that possible? How was he able to maintain such a massive size and conditioning?

Well, when you can squat 640 lbs (290 kgs), you are bound to get a thigh size like that. According to reports, Förstemann has also performed split squats with 485 lbs (220 kgs) for two reps per leg.

Förstemann is one of the most recognizable athletes in cycling history, who specializes in track sprint events where power output matters more than stamina. His massive lower-body size turned him into an internet sensation.

But beyond the online attention, Förstemann remains an elite competitor who has earned several medals at World Championships and represented Germany at multiple Olympic Games. His massive thigh size is due to his strenuous training routine and reportedly a reduced myostatin activity.

Myostatin is a protein that manages muscle growth as it is a natural limiter on hypertrophy. In rare cases, like Förstemann's, individuals who have significantly reduced myostatin function can develop unusually large amounts of muscle mass.

This is the best theory that people have come up with to explain Förstemann's enormous size. However, there is no publicly verified medical document that states it is true.

But Förstemann isn't the only athlete with such a unique distinction. New Zealander cyclist Greg Henderson once shared a picture on X (formerly Twitter) of Förstemann standing beside road sprint specialist André Greipel in an informal comparison of their famously muscular legs. Greipel's thigh size is a massive 27 inches.

That's impressive, but how does Förstemann maintain his size? Let's take a look at his training routine.

Robert Förstemann’s Training Routine

You don't get a 29-inch thigh and a nickname like the Quadzilla without a dedicated training routine.

Talking to Men's Health magazine, he said that he also does a lot of road training. “I do a lot of road training. It's also possible with these big legs to do a 230km ride on the road bike. It's no problem for me, but of course, the distances are shorter usually, between 50 and 80km.”

Here is everything the Quadzilla does to maintain his enormous size:

• Squats (4 to 6 sets of 1-3 reps)
• Deadlift (4-6 sets of 4-8 reps)
• Leg press
• Swiss ball crunches

Besides that, his routine includes a cold plunge at five degrees Celsius to promote blood circulation. He also gets underwater massages and acupuncture.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil