Bikini, fitness model, physique, bodybuilding and natural bodybuilding are some of the different divisions in the fitness world. Eugene Sandow (born Fried Rich Muller) set the tone for the fitness world, and how people viewed fitness, with his unprecedented combination of muscle and strength.
In 1965, Sergio Olivia won Mr. Olympia and created a new era in bodybuilding competition. The stage was set for upcoming bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who I believe was the greatest of all time. With five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia wins, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the definition of bodybuilding! But in 1991, Lee Haney won his eighth consecutive Mr. Olympia title, beating Arnold Schwarzenegger's title record.
Among those shining stars are Ronnie Coleman, who actually tied with Lee Haney for eight consecutive wins in Mr. Olympia, and Louis Ferrigno, who some may know him as The Incredible Hulk from 1977-1982 television series. You have Johnny Q. Jackson, Flex Wheeler, Kai Greene and "The Gift" Phillip Heath, who happens to be the current Mr. Olympia champion. Those are just a few of the many great bodybuilders that have opened up a door for more than just bodybuilding. So yes, in my opinion from the 1800s up until the 2000s, fitness was more looked at as "if you are fit you must be a bodybuilder." But the fitness world has evolved so much since then that it became more than a sport, it became a way of life!
Now bodybuilding is one of the many divisions in fitness competitions. Before 2011, there was no men's physique. The fitness world has been around so long, but in our current time, fitness is everywhere, everyone seems to be enrolled in a gym whether they are going hard or once every month. When you look at fitness now it's fashion, swag and being sexy. Bodybuilding had competitions such as Mr. Olympia, Mr. Universe, and Ironman. Now, they have MuscleMania, Men's and Women's Physique, and more. In 2016, with bodybuilders like Kali Muscle, a philosopher, motivational speaker and actor; he's just fitness at its best! Also, there's Ulisses Jr., Jeremy Buendia, and Sadik Hadzovic — the current men's physique champion.
There are so many more, and the world of fitness has become more attractive to all cultures over many decades of blood, sweat, and tears. The fitness world as we know it has come a long way, and it's more than meatheads pumping iron. It takes discipline, willpower, strength and grace in the arts of muscle building and toning! Whether it's Mr. Olympia or MuscleMania, swole vs. ripped, lean against jacked, the fitness lifestyle is being adopted by more and more people, young and old every day.
