Proper Peaks

2018 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro champ Steve Laureus plays all the angles in building perfectly proportioned biceps.

- Michael Berg

WHEN YOU FIRST see Steve Laureus’ physique, you’re instantly struck by his incredible X-frame, his wide upper body and well-developed thighs subtly connected by an impossibly small waist.

It’s why Laureus—nicknamed “Mr. Propahhh”— quickly made his mark in the classic physique ranks with a win at his very first pro show, the 2018 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro. Still, the 32-year-old admits he’s not quite satisfied and has work to do in balancing out his upper body with sturdy legs forged through years of intensive soccer in his youth.

What’s never been an issue for him, however, are his biceps. Those progressed quickly as he trained with his father in their makeshift garage gym through high school. “My dad, who had great arms, always told me I needed to work on my biceps, my triceps, my chest. He sang that same song all the time,” Laureus recalls. “From early on, my biceps grew.” Here’s the intensive, four-move workout he’s relied on for years to perfect his peaks.

BARBELL CURL 21S

Starting a biceps session with 21s may seem brutal, but Laureus is undeterred. “I’ve done this workout for years,” he says. “People who have trained with me get done with the 21s and can’t move their arms—and we still have three more exercises to go.”