For practically any list of notables, each person will have their own personal preferences. It's impossible to identify everyone who has made a significant contribution to the field of bodybuilding, weightlifting or aerobics, just to name few examples. However, I've made an effort to include persons who have consistently come to my notice since I first encountered weight training in 1961, when I was 16 years old. It has been my goal to focus on those individuals who I believe have made a significant contribution to the field of weightlifting or overall physical fitness. I'm sure there will be a number of readers who have a favourite.
On the other hand, Eugen Sandow The Best There Is (1867 - 1925) Often referred to as the "Father of Modern Bodybuilding," Eugen Sandow was born in Germany. While growing up, Sandow shared Charles Atlas' passion for Greek and Roman sculptures representing athletes and gladiators, much in the same way as Atlas himself. Sandow is regarded as a forerunner in the field of bodybuilding because of his work developing his own body parts to fit the precise proportions of sculptures. Florenz Ziegfeld saw him perform in a strongman show in his late teens and offered him a job. The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago was where he made his mark in the United States. With a combination of his knowledge, natural charisma, and refined looks, he became a household name. Women paid him to let them feel their musculature. He wrote extensively on health, fitness, and bodybuilding for the males.. As with Charles Atlas and Bernarr Macfadden, he provided a mail-order course on how to improve one's health and fitness. He ultimately created a sophisticated fitness club in London that was a dramatic contrast to the dingy, dark, and steamy gyms of the day.. Because of his charisma and creativity, he was able to reach a far larger audience with his message of physical health and exercise.
Bernarr Macfadden is the name of the actor (1868 - 1955) Bernie MacFadden was born Bernard Adolphus McFadden in Missouri, but he changed his first and last names to Bernarr MacFadden in order to look stronger. In addition to fasting and other esoteric health practises, he encouraged frequent fasting, which his wife labelled him "a kook." His first publication was called "Physical Culture," a term he used to describe the combination of his own personal beliefs on fitness training and health practises. He became a publishing tycoon, but his compulsive dedication to physical fitness was thought to be on the fringes of reality. He did, however, serve as an inspiration to others, like Charles Atlas, who popularised the concept of health and fitness as a way of life.
Angelo Siciliano, better known as Charles Atlas, was born in Acri, Calabria, Italy, in 1892. When he was a child, Angelo's parents moved to the United States with him. When he won a picture contest in a magazine published by Bernarr Macfadden, he changed his first name to "Charles" a few years later. Charles was inspired by the Brookly Art Gallery's Greek sculptures to work on his body. With twigs and stones, he fashioned makeshift barbells for his initial workouts. This prompted him to base certain fitness activities on the apparent techniques that animals in captivity use to preserve their health and well-being. Many young men and boys have since benefitted from what he coined the term "Dynamic Tension". To become "Charles Atlas," he had to pose for Atlas sculptures. His original idea for several of these works came from the museum. He was still working out every day and jogging every other day when he died. More than three million men and boys have been inspired by his Dynamic Tension course.
Hoffman, Bob (1898 - 1985) York Barbell was founded by Bob Hoffman, widely regarded as the "Father of World Weightlifting." He was a weightlifter, nutritionist, coach, and philanthropist in addition to all of the above. Bob Hoffman was a remarkable athlete as a child, but he was never a great weightlifter or instructor when he got older. York Barbell, the firm he founded to produce weightlifting equipment, is still in existence today because of the vision, purpose, and personal confidence in its worth that he had. Even though many thought his writings and opinions were "over the top," his personal courage was demonstrated during World War I, when he received three Croix de Guerres with two palms and a silver star from France, the Belgian Order of Leopold by Belgium, the Italian War Cross by Italy, and the Purple Heart by the United States.
JACK LANCANE (1914 - present) In the 1950s, Jack LaLanne, better known to the American audience as Francois Henri LaLanne, hosted a popular television programme. Even more interesting, his programme was undoubtedly viewed and followed by more women than males, and he may have been crucial in pushing the notion that women could "become fit." For the first time in fitness history, Jack LaLanne took the time to thoroughly research his topic before introducing what he believed to be the correct approach. Today, he is still involved in the fitness industry and sells a variety of fitness and dietary supplements.
There's a Joe Weider out there (1922 - present) Bodybuilding legend Joe Weider is one of the most well-known individuals in the sport today. The young Austrian called Arnold Schwarzenegger, who would go on to become the most famous bodybuilder in the world, is just one of the many who credit him with helping to launch their careers. When he was a teenager, he built his first set of barbells out of old vehicle parts. In 1939, at the age of 17, he published the first edition of "Your Physique" with a $7 investment. Muscle Builder was the name of the magazine in 1968, and "Muscle & Fitness" was the name in 1982. Joe Weider formed the International Bodybuilding Federation with his brother and business partner, Ben Weider (IFBB). "Shape," "Men's Fitness," "Living Fit," "Prime Health and Fitness," "Fit Pregnancy," "Cooks," "Senior Golfer," and "Flex" are among his many current publications. Fitness and bodybuilding literature, dietary supplements, and weightlifting gear and accessories are all now available from Weider.
The Honourable Kenneth Cooper (1931 - present) Dr. Ken Cooper, an MD and former Air Force officer, is perhaps best known for his 1968 book "Aerobics," which sparked my interest in physical fitness. Dr. Cooper's book was a hit because of his straightforward explanation of what he dubbed the "Training Effect," as well as a step-by-step approach for improving one's health and fitness. He also provided vivid examples of the personal impacts of participating in a fitness programme. Kenneth Cooper's modest little book "Aerobics" may have been the push which placed physical health into millions of people's thoughts and hearts worldwide. Today, Dr. Cooper is the head of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.
R.I.P. Richard Simmons (1948 - present) Richard Simmons, the bouncing, relentlessly cheery aerobics expert, is often described as "flamboyant." More than 3,000,000 pounds of weight have been lost as a result of Richard Simmons' advice on good diet and vigorous exercise, according to some estimates. "Disco Sweat," "Sweatin' to the Oldies," and "Stretchin' to the Classics" are just a few examples of Simmons' witty and energetic programming. Products and programmes that vary from mild stretching for the elderly to very strenuous cardiovascular training have been developed by him. However, even though my wife despises doing out, she's become very adept at following some of Richard Simmons' more intensive routines, even if she had to start off by just making the hand gestures while sitting on the sofa.
Actress Jane Fonda (1937 - present) When it comes to fitness, many people don't think of Henry Fonda's daughter, who starred in such films as "Barbarella" and "Coming Home," and who is the daughter of actor Henry Fonda. Actress and political activist Ellen DeGeneres was once considered the most famous woman in the world. Ms. Fonda's fitness DVDs, which began in 1982 and lasted into the mid-1990s, were a huge success, especially among women. Indeed, many people now remember Jane Fonda more for her work in the fitness and wellness industry than for her fame as a movie actress. Jane Fonda, like Richard Simmons, was able to improve the status of health and fitness among a wide female audience and helped make it trendy to work out, sweat, be fit, and be feminine. Because of Jane Fonda, the public's perception of the importance of physical fitness has shifted, and many now see a physically fit woman as attractive just for that reason.