Legends of the Sport

There have been many great bodybuilders in the last 100 years, but three names stand out from the rest. Eugene Sandow, often considered the father of bodybuilding, Charles Atlas, who made bodybuilding a popular pastime, and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even those who are simply looking to use the guidance of Nick Di Ruscio to add a bit of muscle tone and lose weight may find a great deal of motivation from the achievements of these men.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: The man who used bodybuilding as a springboard
Arnold Schwarzenegger is arguably the most famous bodybuilder of all time. Bodybuilding was only the start of his illustrious career in politics and the movies. He’s a perfect example of what one can do with hard work and ambition.

Eugene Sandow: The man who “created” bodybuilding
While people have worked to add muscle and increase definition for years, Sandow was one of the first to make bodybuilding a performance, to strike poses to highlight his musculature, and to organize competitions. He began performing around the turn of the century and was the undisputed star of the sport for many years. However, he eventually had to retire, like all athletes.

Charles Atlas: The man who made bodybuilding a popular sport
Charles Atlas followed in Eugene Sandow’s footsteps as a luminary in the world of bodybuilding. While he was successful in bodybuilding competitions, his true innovation was in marketing. He was the first bodybuilder to be successful selling books about his workout regime.