Thank You Louie - CoryG Fitness

*Originally written in 2022

600-lb. bench press

I watched you bench 600 on your 50th birthday in 1998 it was my second meet ever and I was 18 years old. I printed every article off your website and put them into a binder to learn as much as I could so I could get stronger.

You took a meeting with me 10 years later to try some of my supplements that you heard were okay. You told me that if they are shit I’ll tell you that they’re shit.

I’m super appreciative of your willingness to help me. Tim Harold starting bringing me on Fridays to squat. You said, “Skinny Cory you wanna squat at Westside huh? “

Gritter hazed the fuck outta me that day and I got out squatted by Amy. But I showed back up the next week and you continued to let me come for some reason.

You side spotted my first 700-lb. squat in a meet in 2011 at Old School Gym. It was unreal. I bombed out of a meet in Tennessee and I was embarrassed as hell because a lot of the guys were helping me. I went home and told myself I would never let that shit happen again… so I started to #squateveryday. I know you didn’t love that but you explained the Bulgarian methods to me a lunch one day.

> WATCH LOUIE’S 600-LB. BENCH PRESS

> MY 700-LB. SQUAT

Constant curiosity

Your curiosity for learning, teaching, and testing protocols and living the life inspired me to never be scared to miss weights or mess shit up because it’s all part of it.

Louie you are one of my idols and I owe a lot of my understanding of training to you and the members of Westside Barbell. My thoughts and prayers are with Doris. I could never repay you for what you have taught me directly and indirectly. The world lost an irreplaceable icon who’s body of work in this life was amazing and inspiring. Louie followed his passion unapologetically and helped millions along the way. RIP 🐐