The rippling muscles of heroes, from sword-and-sandal epics to modern-day spy films, have inspired the sale of countless workout regimens and supplements. This week, we take a look at the enduring appeal of the muscle man (and woman).
Bodybuilding might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone says ?Afghanistan,? but the sport is incredibly popular there?and was, surprisingly, even permitted during the 1996-2001 Taliban regime. Break out the fake tan.
There were plenty of muscles in those beach movies of the ?50s, but the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron brought the world of bodybuilding into public consciousness like nothing before. It’s considered a classic, and you get to see a very young Arnold Schwarzenegger before he became a governor.
Forget the tiaras and the evening gowns. The ladies in the Ms. International competition are all about muscles and symmetry. This is a great shot of the 2010 winner, Iris Kyle of Cypress, Texas. Even if It’s not your idea of beauty, you’ve got to admit it takes awe-inspiring dedication to get there.
The 1904 Physical Culture Show in Madison Square Garden is hardly the first time people have battled it out over who has the biggest muscles. But this clip probably is one of the first times a bodybuilding contest was recorded on film.
