From its origins in 18th century Europe to the limelight of the ‘Arnold’ era , the sport of bodybuilding has come a long way. This rise continued into the late 2000s when the internet allowed bodybuilding to take yet another step forward. The modern days of widespread computer access have seen a slight changing of the guard. While Arnold Schwarzenegger will always be the most famous figure in bodybuilding, the internets amateur bodybuilding identities are now helping make the sport more accessible and popular than ever.
While the early concept of bodybuilding dated back to 1880 in Europe, it was almost 100 years later – in the 1970s – that the sport was really recognised by Western civilisation.
This exposure was largely due to a the popular 1977 film Pumping Iron, which provided a rare insight into the bodybuilding lifestyle of America’s best, namely Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger. It threw Schwarzenegger into the spotlight by showing what the Western world had never seen before – huge, muscular physiques and a daily routine built around weight-lifting and strict, frequent meals. He went on to win the sports most coveted title, Mr. Olympia, a record seven times. However the publicity was not all positive, as the sports rise also drew great attention to the sports most controversial issue – anabolic steroids. Since the film and Schwarzenggers rise to fame, ‘Arnie’, steroids and California’s famous Muscle Beach have been inextricably linked to bodybuilding. Despite this, bodybuilding was always seen as an ‘exclusive’ sport and simply not a realistic option for everyday people.
However in the modern world, this perception has changed. Bodybuilding has become a far more accessible option, both as a sport and as a lifestyle choice. The internets initial function – connecting people with information – and its additional newer goal – connecting people with people has propelled bodybuilding to a wider audience. The creation and emergence of websites such as Bodybuilding.com and Muscle & Strength have enabled everyday people to find out more about both bodybuilding and weight-training in general. Bodybuilding.com also provides a large forum for enthusiastics to talk and discuss a wide range of topics, both related and unrelated to the sport. It was in this forum that the first and most-popular ‘internet bodybuilder’ shot to fame.
Aziz Shavershian was a teenager from north-western Sydney, who picked up weight training in order to change his skinny ectomorphic build. After adopting the alias Zyzz, he went on to post regularly in the forum. His rapid progess was quickly noticed and, along with his popular YouTube videos and trolling antics, Zyzz was soon the face of the internet bodybuilding generation. He and his group of friends, who also used nicknames, used social media sites Facebook, YouTube and Formspring to spread their unique message – that weight-training lead to a happier more fulfilling life, thanks to the confidence that came with it. However this bodybuilding revolution came short and tragic end. In 2011, while holidaying in Thailand, Zyzz died of an undiagnosed heart condition. The news resulted in not only an outpouring of grief all over the internet from his friends and fans, but also a new desire to ensure that his legacy and message would live on.
Other internet bodybuilders, such as Zyzz’s brother Said aka Chestbrah and friends Supaturk, Babolimp and Philrayho have become more involved through their Facebook pages in order to pick up where their friend left off. Victorian amateur bodybuilder Naso, also a profilic internet user, takes a more informative and educational approach through his popular Facebook page.
Zyzz and his army of internet bodybuilders, like Arnie before them, inspire and motivate thousands from all over the world to take up weight training. However this modern generation spreads the message with an alternative, person-building goal in mind. Today, more and more people are getting to the gym and slotting weight-training and diets into their daily and weekly routines.
Arnold Schwarzenegger took bodybuilding onto the international stage, but the new internet generation of bodybuilders bring a more lifestyle-based form of the sport to the masses.
Rest in peace Aziz Shavershian
Put It On The Bar 