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Interest in bodybuilding is growing in parallel with the fashion for a healthy lifestyle and training, and consequently working on one's own body. The figures developed by professional athletes arouse admiration among the majority of society. Particular inspiration comes from those who have undoubtedly already earned the title of legends of world bodybuilding. On the occasion of Father's Day, we present a few figures worth remembering. Perhaps without them, bodybuilding as we know it today would not exist.
Fathers of bodybuilding
Eugene Sandow: lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. His fascination with the development of the figure and muscles was influenced by a trip to Rome, on which his father took him. At that time, young Eugene had the opportunity to admire the beauty of the body present in sculptures and paintings. From then on, he devoted himself to the embodiment of the dream of a strong, muscular figure. He searched for the best way to train, until he came to the conclusion that in order to achieve the best possible effects, it was necessary to increase the weights used in training. The weightlifting shows he organized gathered crowds of people, although their shape was different from the character of today, they undoubtedly contributed a lot to the development of bodybuilding itself.
Steve Michalik: The model of the body that many strive for? Many athletes would answer precisely: Steve. The athlete stirred up a lot of controversy, among others, due to the fact that he used steroids, without which he would not have been able to achieve such spectacular effects. His love for training began with the desire to resemble the appearance of the American superhero Captain America. That is why he began training at the age of only twelve. As a teenager, he was already winning competitions. He became famous, among other things, for the fact that in one series he was supposedly able to perform even 50-80 repetitions.
Arnold Schwarzenedger: one of his favorite stations was the seated dumbbell press using shoulder rotation – the exercise was named “arnoldki” after the bodybuilder. Arnold has won numerous awards in prestigious competitions such as Mr. World, Mr. Universe, Mr. International, Mr. Europe. He was awarded the Mr. Olympia title seven times. Due to the dimensions he achieved, he was placed among the world's top bodybuilders. Interestingly, even at the age of 70, he does not give up physical effort, training several times a week. Keep it up!
Greg Kovacs: he was a phenomenon also because of the way his body was shaped. For those who normally deal with strength competitions in the super heavyweight category, one characteristic is, among other things, a significant amount of fat tissue next to muscle tissue. Greg, on the other hand, was perfectly sculpted, and his muscles reached truly impressive dimensions. He could also boast of lifting almost a ton in the leg press with as many as 20 repetitions! A real exception.
Joe Weider: called the "father of bodybuilding". In addition to his figure, he could also boast about his achievements in the world of press. He published his first magazine as a teenager - today it is published as "Muscle & Fitness". In adulthood, he created the next ones (also in the subject of bodybuilding and fitness): Flex, Men's Fitness and Shape. Weider was the initiator of one of the largest physique competitions in the world - Mr. Olympia and the founder of the IFBB bodybuilding federation.
