Joe Weider
Joe Weider (born November 29, 1922 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is the co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) and creator of the Mr. Olympia, Ms. Olympia and the now defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests.
Before founding the IFBB, Weider published the first issue of Your Physique magazine in 1939. Twenty-nine years later, in 1968, the publication was renamed Muscle Builder magazine. The name changed again to Muscle & Fitness in 1982. Other magazines published by Weider's publishing empire include Shape, Men's Fitness, Living Fit, Prime Health and Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Cooks, Senior Golfer, and Flex. In 1983, Weider was named "Publisher of the Year" by The Periodical and Book Association.
Weider began his publishing empire with $7 at age 17, after building his own barbells out of junked car wheels and axles. As an adult, he has introduced a line of top-notch home and gym exercise equipment. One of the first to incorporate nutrition into bodybuilding, Weider also offers a line of nutritional supplements. He has won many awards and wide recognition for his work toward a healthier America, from everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to President Eisenhower to the Boy Scouts.
Weider's holistic approach-- mental and psychological as well as physical-- was developed over years of study on the human physique; he claims not to be an innovator, but a synthesizer of successful elements from many sources.
Weider has been accused by his critics of fixing Mr Olympia contests, but there has never been any evidence that he did, and no ex-IFBB judge has ever claimed that Joe Weider has ever interfered in the judging process.
See also
- List of Montreal athletes
- List of famous Montrealers
- Ben Weider, brother and co-founder of the IFBB
External links
- Joe Weider: His Fitness Legacy Article on the history of Joe Weider and his impact on the fitness industry.