Bodybuilding Contests

Some people who get into bodybuilding do so with theSandow used the phrase "like a Greek god" and used
intention of entering a bodybuilding contest at somethe perfect physique created by the ancient Greek
point in the future when they feel they are goodand Roman artists to come up with what he believed
enough. Bodybuilding is an art in itself in that through athe perfect body to look at. He judged all men
diet and a workout routine, one sculpts the bodyaccording to this "perfect" model.
increasing the size and strength of the muscles. In aThe very first bodybuilding contest took place in
competition, the contestants display their physiques toLondon on September 14, 1901 at the Royal Albert Hall.
a panel of judges by posing their body in specificSandow, himself, actually organized this event and the
ways. The whole routine is set to music and thejudges were none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
judges assign points based on specific criteria.the creator of Sherlock Holmes, and Sir Charles
The art of bodybuilding is not a recent one as it wasLawes. Sandow was also a judge. The trophy for the
developed somewhere between 1880 and 1930 by awinner was a bronze statue of none other than
man named Eugene Sandow. He was from Prussia, aSandow.
country that was to become Austria - the homelandThe bodybuilding contest still exists today, but it has a
of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold Schwarzeneggernew name - Mr. Olympia. The bronze statue of
is a well-known bodybuilder who went on to becomeSandow is still presented to the winner of the
a movie star and now is governor of California.competition.