Gold's Gym in Lynbrook

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comments 2

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  Matt Lee

  :: 04 August 2015 16:33:17

  Corner fitness, there is no golds gym here

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  Thomas Szymanski

  :: 09 January 2013 10:41:47

  I have been a satisfied member of Gold’s Lynbrook since 2004, until a deeply disturbing incident occurred in late November 2012. In the middle of my workout (a circuit of push ups, pulls, and barbell thrusters) the owner, Leo Prestopino verbally accosted me in front of several other customers using multiple expletives, threatening to throw me out of the gym, ironically telling me to “be an adult,” and all the while being unclear as to what set off this enraged frenzy of his. When I calmly asked what the problem was he told me that I was “running around and f****** slamming the f****** weights” and continued his intimidation tactics. As I mentioned, I have been a member at this gym for close to a decade and have never once been approached by anyone (staff or otherwise) for problematic behavior or improper gym etiquette. As a matter of fact the only times I have ever been approached (again by staff and others) is to ask for a spot, give training and diet tips, and to be told that way I carry myself and work out is an inspiration to others. After the incident I was approached by a number of other customers who said that Mr. Prestopino’s behavior was completely uncalled for, and that they have seen much more egregious ‘weight slamming’ go unchecked (to give you an idea, the weight I was “f****** slamming” was a 105lb barbell. This is a very light weight for Gold’s Gym where the dumbells go up to 140lbs and where the day before a customer was squatting 495lbs at the same station I was using). What was almost more unsettling than my experience was hearing dozens of other stories about Mr. Prestopino’s treating his staff and paying members in the same manner. Since my time at Gold’s I have brought in countless family and friends, and have been very vocal about the superiority of Gold’s to other gyms because as it announces on the Gold’s website Gold’s is, “the original, the place where it all began.” So, I ask you, is Mr. Prestopino running a gym meant, “to help people realize their goals and find their inner strength,” in a “supportive environment?” Was what happened to me, “the ultimate fitness experience?” Can Gold’s as a franchise, and moreover as a cultural symbol be confident that Mr. Prestopino promulgates “a tradition of commitment and excellence that spans more than 30 countries, 36 states and has helped millions accomplish their dreams” through his bullying? I’m not the only one who found the unfortunate answers to these questions. While looking for a new place to workout I ran into former Gold’s Gym Lynbrook members at four other gyms in the area. It was no surprise to me when I heard that for all of them the reason they left could be summed up in a single name, Leo Prestopino. I want to be clear; as the owner of a gym I understand the responsibility to ensure a safe environment where all people can get the most out of their workout. If there is an issue with a client, it should be addressed privately and professionally. As I said, I had been a member of Gold’s from 2004 until 2012 and have done the same, and similar workouts, in Mr. Prestopino’s presence without issue so I’m still unclear as to where I was at fault. What is inexcusable, unprofessional, and childish is to aggressively approach and make a spectacle of a paying customer using expletives, threats, and menacing body language. The motto of Gold’s Gym is “Know your strength,” but it is important too to know your weaknesses. Mr. Prestopino certainly is one such, if not the only, weakness at the Gold’s Lynbrook location.