Eugene Sandow: Find out who was the “father of modern bodybuilding”.

Highly dedicated athletes who compete in pursuit of the most beautiful and defined physique. This is the basic definition of bodybuilding, a sport that began in the 19th century. Learn more in this gallery!

Considered the “father of modern bodybuilding,” Eugene Sandow was a German strongman who popularized the idea of ​​sporting a muscular physique.

In 1891 he organised the first bodybuilding competition in London and his image became synonymous with strength and body aesthetics.

During the first half of the 20th century, bodybuilding began to become professional in the United States. The International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) was founded in 1946, creating an international platform for competition.

In 1948, bodybuilding contests began to be organized, such as the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) Mister Universe.

Considered the “golden age” of bodybuilding, the 1970s saw the emergence of iconic figures such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and Lou Ferrigno.

Created in 1965, “Mr. Olympia” has become the most prestigious event in professional bodybuilding. Over the years, bodybuilding has continued to evolve, with competitions becoming more sophisticated and professional.

Over the years, bodybuilding has diversified, with the inclusion of new categories such as “Men’s Physique” and “Women’s Bikini,” which provide options for athletes with different body types.

In February 2024, Brazilian Ramon Dino finished second in the world champion standings at the “Arnold Classic Ohio,” the second most prestigious event in the industry in the world, behind only Mr. Olympia.

Ramon, already champion in 2023, competed in the “Classic Physique” category and lost first place to Dutchman Wesley Vissers (right).

The Brazilian athlete is 29 years old and is known as the “Dinosaur of Acre”, in reference to the state where he was born. With the second place he collected about 30 thousand dollars (about 148 thousand R$).

In the women’s category, Brazilian Francielle Mattos, known as “Ferrari Humana”, beat her compatriot Isabelle Pereira Nunes to win the title in the “Wellness” category.

“I can’t believe I’m in front of the biggest idol in bodybuilding. I’ve been dreaming about this moment. I’m very excited,” Francielle said after receiving the award from Arnold Schwarzenegger, the event’s host.

The Brazilian is already considered a phenomenon in the category, and is even the current three-time champion of “Mrs. Olympia”, the main competition of this sport.

Another notable category for the Brazilians was “Men’s Physique Pro”, where three national representatives reached the podium: Diogo Montenegro (1st place), Vinicius Mateus (2nd) and Vitor Chaves (3rd).

In another category, called “Wheelchair” – specifically for people in wheelchairs -, Brazilian Josué Fabiano, better known as “Gorila Albino”, placed 3rd.

Held annually, the “Arnold Classic” is a professional bodybuilding competition in honor of former bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Since its inception in 1989, this sport has been a staple of the IFBB Pro League (Professional Bodybuilding League) and has had events in Australia, the UK, some African countries and even Brazil.

Currently, the competition has a total of seven categories. This was the 35th edition of the event.

Furthermore, the “Arnold Classic” is part of the “Arnold Sports Festival”, a multi-sport event that also includes other sports, such as “strongman” and “bodybuilding”.

The main difference between the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia is the organization and the promoters: while the former is organized by the actor himself and his team, the latter is organized by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) and Weider Publications.

The judging criteria are similar for both events, but there are some subtle differences. The Mr. Olympia tends to place more emphasis on size and muscle mass, while the Arnold Classic places more emphasis on symmetry, proportions, and overall aesthetics.

As a bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Olympia seven times, a record that stood until American Lee Haney won it eight times in a row, from 1984 to 1991.

After him, another North American ended up winning the Mr. Olympia eight times, Ronnie Coleman, known as “The King”.