Tom Tyler, weightlifting champion

While Tom Tyler was a champion weightlifter, it is important to keep in mind the fact that he was not by any means a bodybuilder, at least in the modern sense of the word, a label more commonly ascribed to actors like Steve Reeves or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tom did however have a naturally muscular physique honed to perfection through weightlifting, nothing overemphasized nor overdeveloped as in the case of some professional weightlifters, such as Greg Valentino. Anabolic steroids did not even come into being until the 1930's, and chances are very good that Tom would not even have to use them. It is safe to say that Tom Tyler's physique at the height of his weightlifting career, between 1925 and 1928, was aesthetically attractive to both genders, boys and men who wished they had Tom's build, and women who dreamed of marrying a man like Tom.

According to Mario De Marco's book “Tom Tyler and George O'Brien: The Herculeses of the Cinema Range”, Tom's weightlifting measurements were as follows:

Height: 6'2”

Weight: 200 lbs

Right wrist: 8.0”

Left wrist: 7.8”

Right forearm: 13”

Left forearm: 12.5”

Right biceps: 15.9”

Left biceps: 15.0”

Neck: 16.4”

Chest (normal, not expanded) 44.8”

Waist: 32”

Hips: 40.6”

Thighs (average): 23”

Knees (average): 15.9”

Calves (average): 15.2”

Ankles (average): 9.4”

Tom was right-handed by nature, and it is perfectly natural for the dominant hand and arm to be slightly more large and stronger than the non-dominant one. When Tom won the American Amateur Heavyweight Weightlifting Championship in 1928, there was no Mr. America nor Mr. Universe competition but had there been, there is no doubt he would have won those titles.