Bodybuilding History: How the Sport Started & Evolved
The history of bodybuilding can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where evidence of physical training and weightlifting has been found in various artworks and artifacts. However, it was not until the late 19th century that bodybuilding as a sport began to take shape and bodybuilding history started to take form.
Early bodybuilding competitions were held in the United States, with the first recorded competition taking place in 1891. This competition, known as the “Great Competition,” was organized by the father of modern bodybuilding, Eugene Sandow.
Sandow, a former circus strongman, is credited with popularizing the sport and establishing many of the fundamental principles of modern bodybuilding. We’ll touch on Sandow a little later when we dive into the Mr. Olympia competition.
Throughout the early 20th century, bodybuilding continued to grow in popularity, with various organizations and competitions springing up around the world. In 1946, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) was founded, solidifying bodybuilding as a global sport and adding to bodybuilding history as we know it. The IFBB is still going strong today and is a place where amateur bodybuilders aspire to be one day as they work their way through the amateur ranks of the National Physique Committee (NPC).
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Bodybuilding history continued to take form in the 1950s and 60s as we saw the rise of bodybuilding icons such as Steve Reeves, Reg Park, and a guy by the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger. These men helped to popularize the sport and inspire a new generation of bodybuilders. Men like Arnold still have their hands in the sport through his Arnold Classic competitions that are ran and promoted throughout the world.
If you want a piece of history, check out this framed collage of Arnold.
In the 1970s and 80s, bodybuilding experienced a surge in popularity, thanks in part to the rise of fitness culture and the proliferation of bodybuilding magazines and television shows. This period also saw the emergence of new training techniques and supplements, which helped to further advance the sport and etch new areas of bodybuilding history into the record books.
Much of the fitness and bodybuilding magazines back in the day were formed by two brothers, Ben and Joe Weider. We’ll showcase everything they did in bodybuilding history in the next section.
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Today, bodybuilding is a multi-billion dollar industry, with professional bodybuilders competing in international competitions and amateur bodybuilders training in gyms around the world.
While the focus of bodybuilding has evolved over the years and bodybuilding history being made, the fundamental principles of hard work, dedication, and physical training remain unchanged to this day.
Table of contents
Who Were Ben and Joe Weider?
Ben Weider and Joe Weider were brothers and entrepreneurs who played a significant role in the development of the modern bodybuilding industry and will forever have their names engraved in bodybuilding history. Ben Weider was the founder of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), while Joe Weider was the founder of several bodybuilding magazines, including “Muscle & Fitness” and “Flex” magazines.
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Ben Weider was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1923. He became interested in bodybuilding at a young age and started competing in local competitions in the 1940s. In 1946, he founded the IFBB, which quickly became the governing body for the sport of bodybuilding and solidified its place in bodybuilding history.
Joe Weider was born in Montreal in 1920. He was also interested in bodybuilding from an early age and started publishing a small bodybuilding newsletter in the 1940s. In the 1950s, he founded a number of bodybuilding magazines, mentioned earlier, “Muscle & Fitness” and “Flex” magazines, which helped to popularize the sport and bring it into the mainstream.
If you were into bodybuilding in the 90s and early 2000s before everything went digital, you knew just how important these magazines were. People would wait by their mailbox, hoping today was the day their magazine(s) came. Back then, before everything was instantly posted online and on social media, after a competition, we would all have to wait until next month’s issue of our favorite bodybuilding magazine to find out who placed where.
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Both Ben and Joe Weider were instrumental in the growth of the bodybuilding industry and bodybuilding history, and their legacy continues to this day. They are both remembered as pioneers in the sport and as champions of physical fitness.
How Was the IFBB Started?
As mentioned earlier, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) was founded in 1946 by Ben Weider. Weider had a vision of establishing bodybuilding as a global sport and worked to create an organization that would promote and regulate the sport around the world and allows bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts the ability to jump on stage and show off their physique and solidify their name in bodybuilding history as the winner of various competitions.
The IFBB started as a small organization but quickly gained popularity and recognition within the bodybuilding community. Over the years, the organization has grown and now includes more than 200 member countries worldwide.
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In addition to promoting and regulating bodybuilding competitions, the IFBB also works to educate the public about the benefits of physical fitness and healthy living. The IFBB hosts a number of educational events and initiatives and works with governments and other organizations to promote fitness and wellness.
Today, the IFBB is one of the most respected and influential organizations in the bodybuilding industry, and it continues to play a leading role in the development and promotion of the sport and in bodybuilding history.
The Rise of Jim Manion and the IFBB/NPC in Bodybuilding History
Jim Manion is a prominent figure in the bodybuilding industry and is currently the Chairman of the Professional Judges Committee for the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB). He has been involved in the bodybuilding industry for many years and has served as a judge at numerous bodybuilding competitions, including the Mr. Olympia.
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Manion has also had a successful career as a competitive bodybuilder, competing in various national and international competitions. His name will live on in bodybuilding history long after he’s gone.
Competitors Have Their Eyes on the Mr. Olympia Sandow Trophy
The Mr. Olympia competition is one of the most prestigious and longest-running bodybuilding competitions in the world, and every winner gets their name etched in bodybuilding history. It’s something every professional bodybuilder dreams of winning. Even getting to the Mr. Olympia competition is something many aspire to achieve during their career. But being the last man standing is something special.
The first Mr. Olympia competition was held in 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. The winner of the inaugural competition was Larry Scott, who became the first man to be crowned Mr. Olympia and put his name into bodybuilding history as the first ever to achieve such a feat.
Over the years, the Mr. Olympia competition has grown in popularity and has become one of the most high-profile events in the bodybuilding world, now being owned by Jake Wood and run by Dan Solomon.
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To learn more about Dan Solomon and everything he does for the Mr. Olympia, check out the interview I did with him on Fit Business below.
Many of the sport’s biggest stars, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, have won the Mr. Olympia title, and the competition continues to attract top-level competitors from around the globe.
In addition to the main Mr. Olympia competition, the event also includes a number of other contests, including the Ms. Olympia competition for female bodybuilders, the Fitness Olympia for fitness models, and the Figure Olympia for figure competitors to make bodybuilding history.
What is the Sandow Trophy?
The Sandow trophy is a prestigious award given to the winner of the Mr. Olympia competition, one of the world’s most prestigious bodybuilding competitions. The trophy is named after Eugene Sandow, who is considered the father of modern bodybuilding and was the organizer of the first bodybuilding competition, known as the “Great Competition,” which was first held back in 1891.
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The Sandow trophy, which will forever be a part of bodybuilding history, is made of bronze and features a sculpture of Sandow in a classic bodybuilding pose. It is considered one of the most coveted prizes in the sport of bodybuilding and is awarded annually to the winner of the Mr. Olympia competition.
Winning the Sandow trophy is a major achievement for any bodybuilder and is considered a symbol of excellence in the sport. Many of the sport’s biggest stars, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, have won the Sandow trophy, and it remains an important symbol of the legacy of bodybuilding and bodybuilding history.
Mr. Olympia Winners: The Greatest Bodybuilders of All Time Make Bodybuilding History
The Olympia is essentially the Super Bowl of the bodybuilding industry. It is a competition where the best of the best earn their spot on stage to showcase their physique and go up against other bodybuilders from around the world who have won shows throughout the year.
Here is a list of all of the Mr. Olympia winners that have earned their place in bodybuilding history:
1965 – Larry Scott
1966 – Larry Scott
1967 – Sergio Oliva
1968 – Sergio Oliva
1969 – Sergio Oliva
1970 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1971 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1972 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1973 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1974 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1975 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1976 – Franco Columbu
1977 – Frank Zane
1978 – Frank Zane
1979 – Frank Zane
1980 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
1981 – Franco Columbu
1982 – Chris Dickerson
1983 – Samir Bannout
1984 – Lee Haney
1985 – Lee Haney
1986 – Lee Haney
1987 – Lee Haney
1988 – Lee Haney
1989 – Lee Haney
1990 – Lee Haney
1991 – Lee Haney
1992 – Dorian Yates
1993 – Dorian Yates
1994 – Dorian Yates
1995 – Dorian Yates
1996 – Dorian Yates
1997 – Dorian Yates
1998 – Ronnie Coleman
1999 – Ronnie Coleman
2000 – Ronnie Coleman
2001 – Ronnie Coleman
2002 – Ronnie Coleman
2003 – Ronnie Coleman
2004 – Ronnie Coleman
2005 – Ronnie Coleman
2006 – Jay Cutler
2007 – Jay Cutler
2008 – Dexter Jackson
2009 – Jay Cutler
2010 – Jay Cutler
2011 – Phil Heath
2012 – Phil Heath
2013 – Phil Heath
2014 – Phil Heath
2015 – Phil Heath
2016 – Phil Heath
2017 – Phil Heath
2018 – Shawn Rhoden
2019 – Brandon Curry
2020 – Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
2021 – Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
2022 – Hadi Choopan
Bodybuilding History FAQ
Bodybuilding is a form of exercise and physical training that focuses on the development of muscle mass and definition through the use of weightlifting, resistance training, and other exercises. The goal of bodybuilding is to improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the body through the development of muscle size, shape, and symmetry. Bodybuilders often use a combination of weightlifting, cardio, and nutrition to achieve the desired physique. Bodybuilding also includes competition, where bodybuilders perform various poses and routines on stage to showcase their muscles and compete against each other for titles and awards.
Ben Weider created the IFBB back in 1946.
The IFBB stands for the International Federation of Bodybuilding
While many stay quiet for legal reasons, most IFBB professionals use some forms of steroids, anabolics, or PEDs to achieve their desired look on a competitive stage. It should also be noted that they utilize intense training and nutritional programs to help achieve low body fat and high muscularity.
Jim Manion is a prominent figure in the bodybuilding industry and is currently the Chairman of the Professional Judges Committee for the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB).
The Sandow trophy is a prestigious award given to the winner of the Mr. Olympia competition, one of the world’s most prestigious bodybuilding competitions. The trophy is named after Eugene Sandow, who is considered the father of modern bodybuilding and was the organizer of the first bodybuilding competition, known as the “Great Competition,” which was first held back in 1891.
Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman each have eight Olympia titles.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has won seven Olympia titles.
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