Body Building - The History of Body Building

Bodybuilding: The process of developing thehow closely they matched these "ideal" proportions.
musculature of the body through specific types of dietThe very first bodybuilding contest took place on 14
and physical exercise, such as weightlifting, especiallySeptember 1901 in the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK. It
for competitive exhibition. In competitive bodybuilding,was organised by Sandow and judged by himself, Sir
bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel ofCharles Lawes, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The
judges, who assign points based on their aestheticcontest was a huge success and sold out! The prize
appearance. Many public figures worldwide havewinner was handed with a trophy which was a bronze
bodybuilding to thank for their success, e.g. Arnoldstatue of Sandow himself, sculpted by Frederick
Schwarzenegger.Pomeroy. Today this contest still exists as Mr Olympia
Bodybuilding (the art of displaying the muscles of theand since 1977, the winner has been presented with
physical body) is considered to have started betweenthe same bronze statue of Sandow, he himself
1880 and 1930. It was promoted in the late 19th centurypresented to the winner, William L. Murray of
by a man named Eugen Sandow. Sandow, who wasNottingham, England, at the first contest. This contest
from Prussia, is now referred to as "The Father ofwas called the "Great Competition".
Modern Bodybuilding". Sandow was a pioneer in theThe first large-scale bodybuilding contest took place on
sport and later created several businesses around his16 January 1904 at Madison Square Garden, New
fame.York City. Al Treloar won the contest and was named
Sandow took the phrase "looking like a Greek god" to"The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World". He
heart and was a strong advocate of "the Grecianwon a cash prize of $1000 which was a substantial
Ideal". This was a standard where a mathematicalamount at the time. Thomas Edison made a film of Al
"ideal" was set up and the "perfect physique" wasTreloar's posting routine, 2 weeks later. He also made
close to the proportions of ancient Greek and Romantwo films of Sandow a few years prior, which made
statues from classical times. Sandow shaped hishim the man who made the first three motion pictures
physique to this philosophy and men were judged byfeaturing a bodybuilder.