Sports Then and Now

Steve Reeves (far left) helped elevate interest in bodybuilding.

The roots of bodybuilding can be traced back as far as ancient Greece. But in those ancient times, it was not so much a tool for personal body modification as it was a method of training for sports that the ancient Greeks participated in. Since then of course, many have chosen bodybuilding as a means of attempting to achieve some sort of aesthetic muscular perfection. Some of these fitness mad individuals have now become household names.

Steve Reeves

In the late 1940s and 1950s, Hollywood heart throb Steve Reeves was largely responsible for bringing bodybuilding into the public consciousness in a big way. Prior to Reeves, bodybuilding was a relatively unknown sport and it was through Reeves’ series of movie roles that bodybuilding first gained recognition and interest from the general public. Considered by many now to be the Arnold Schwarzenegger of his era, Reeves won the 1947 Mr. America, the 1948 Mr. World and the 1950 Mr. Universe, putting him amongst the most prolific bodybuilders of his generation.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Undoubtedly the most famous of all professional bodybuilders, Arnold Schwarzenegger burst onto the international bodybuilding scene in 1966, known then as “The Austrian Oak”. At the age of only 23, Schwarzenegger became the youngest ever man to win the Mr. Olympia contest in 1970, a title he would hold for six consecutive years. On the brink of retirement from bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger was convinced by filmmakers George Butler and Robert Fiore to compete in Mr. Olympia one more time, an event which was captured in their documentary Pumping Iron. The film drew interest from Hollywood, and catapulted Schwarzenegger into international stardom.
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Chrissie Wellington has developed into a record-setting triathlete.

In the past, feats including marathon and triathlon were accolades only a few could boast. Only the elite were understood to have the natural capability and mental strength for such challenges. Today, this notion is all but eroded. Today, ‘ordinary’ athletes train around family and professional commitments to not only complete, but to race in prestigious events. Regular people have a thirst for ambition and continue to push personal and industry boundaries.

The Ironman Triathlon, for example, is a pursuit that is growing in availability, and popularity, against all odds. The 2.4-mile swim, followed by 112-mile bike ride culminating in a marathon distance run is a daunting prospect for even the fittest of athletes.  In its infancy, the event wasn’t wholly competitive, more a quest for survival. The achievement was simply to finish within the stated time. It was the intense rivalry between Dave Scott and Mark Allen that catapulted the legendary Kona Ironman from test to race, in 1989.

Another personality making Ironman history is world- champion, Chrissie Wellington, who is the only triathlete- male or female- to have won the Ironman TriathlonWorld Championship less than a year after turning professional. Formerly a marathon runner with little background in endurance, Chrissie Welllington went on too lower the world record every time she raced the triathlon Challenge Roth in Germany. Read the rest of this entry →

Events like the Tough Mudder help fitness buffs get back to the basics.

Fitness technology is unarguably developing at an exciting pace: Mobile phones, such as the Samsung S4 are able to provide a holistic record of your sleeping patterns, daily exercise output, heart rate and more. Garmin watches can track how fast and how far you run. Of course, the gym remains the place that harnesses the latest of technology all under one roof.

Yet, alongside the penchant for virtual personal trainers and hyperreal fabrics, there exists a demand for more classic, tried and tested approaches to exercise. This might be a reflection of the fact that technology, with its obvious advantages, remains potentially unreliable. Moreover, the latest technology advancements can be alienating, or simply distracting from the enjoyment of recreational exercise. The appeal of this informed ‘back to basics’ approach is evident in the continual revival of fitness classes. Classes such as circuit training, spinning, bootcamp and dance have increased in popularity due to a demand for creative, rather than innovative, exercise options. Similarly, traditional endurance events, such as the Tough Mudder challenge reflect this desire for fuss- free programs that guarantee results. Read the rest of this entry →