| Starting in the 1980's people have become significantly | | | | building contest, held in London. You could say it was |
| more aware of the importance of their health and | | | | the early version of the Mr. Olympia. |
| physique. They spend huge amounts of money on the | | | | Ironically, World War II gave body building a boost. Men |
| creation of a perfect body. Statistics show that body | | | | had to defend themselves and their families and their |
| building supplements sell like crazy, personal trainers | | | | behavior became more aggressive. They wanted to |
| are making good money and gyms pop up | | | | stand up against the enemy and began to build a |
| everywhere. | | | | bigger and stronger physique. More time was spent on |
| But where did it all start? The history of body building | | | | improving training techniques, better nutrition and the |
| as a sport starts approximately a century ago. Eugene | | | | first effective and more user friendly training equipment |
| Sandow gets the honor of having invented the sport. | | | | was built. |
| The father of body building invited spectators to watch | | | | Body building became an organized sport and leading |
| his muscular body. Displays of strength and agility | | | | organizations like the IFB, International Federation of |
| became the center of his stage performance and he | | | | Body Building, were founded in these days. The |
| showed the ultimate Grecian physique. Soon he | | | | popularity of the sport hasn't stopped growing since |
| became very popular and used his fame to build | | | | then. The famous Arnold Schwarzenegger gave the |
| various businesses and started marketing body building | | | | sport a real boost. In the 1990's female body building |
| products. The first exercise equipment for the masses | | | | made it's entrance and now has its own Ms. Olympia |
| bears his name. Sandow's name is also connected | | | | competition. |
| with 'The Great Competition', the first ever body | | | | |