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Have you ever wondered about the origins of bodybuilding? Bodybuilding is a popular and much-talked-about sport. It has been around for centuries. The roots of bodybuilding date back to ancient Greece.
During this period, the Greeks developed a system of physical training to improve their physical strength and conditioning.
The Greek system of physical training was known as “gymnastics” and was used by the Greeks to prepare their athletes for Olympic Games competitions. First, let’s explore how bodybuilding has evolved.
The Beginnings of Modern-Day Bodybuilding
Modern-day bodybuilding can be traced back to the 19th century when it began to gain popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany and France. The early bodybuilding practitioners focused on developing muscular strength and impressive physiques for competition.
Early athletes developed different exercises such as weightlifting, calisthenics, gymnastics, and other forms of physical training to achieve their goals.
The Rise of Professional Bodybuilders
In the early 20th century, professional bodybuilders such as Eugene Sandow and Charles Atlas began to emerge on the scene. These professional bodybuilders popularized bodybuilding by performing demonstration shows around Europe and America.
Early bodybuilders showed off their impressive physiques and demonstrated various exercises. Also, they featured exercises they used to get the best results from their workouts to an eager audience.
Professional bodybuilders also published books detailing how they achieved their muscular physiques. They included diet regimens and detailed workout programs. These activities helped spread the popularity of bodybuilding even further throughout Europe and America.
The Last Word on Exploring the Origins of Bodybuilding
Today, bodybuilding is a multi-billion dollar industry with thousands of professional athletes competing at international events such as Mr. Olympia or Ms. Fitness Universe each year.
The origins of modern-day bodybuilding can be traced back to ancient Greece. Today’s bodybuilders are more indebted to their greek ancestors, who developed a system of physical training. Today’s training principles evolved from those systems to improve personal performance and appearance.
Since the beginning, bodybuilding has continued to evolve from Eugene Sandow to current Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan who holstered the Sandow trophy. Bodybuilding has evolved into promoting fitness through competitions, books, social media, workouts, and supplements. The role of current champions is to spread the popularity of the sport.
If you or someone you know is considering bodybuilding, share this article on Facebook or Twitter so that others can learn more about the history of bodybuilding.
