SKEGGY
Bringer Of The Seasons
Arnold Schwarzenegger has paid tribute to his mentor and "father figure" Joe Weider, a leading figure in bodybuilding, who died at the age of 93.
Weider brought the young Austrian weightlifter to the US early in his career and helped him achieve the American dream as he became an international movie star.
The Canadian, who was a bodybuilder himself, helped popularise the sport and played a key role in introducing Schwarzenegger to the world.
Weider created one of bodybuilding's leading events, the Mr Olympia competition, in 1965 and reportedly discovered the Austrian at a contest in Europe two years later.
He relentlessly promoted Schwarzenegger, who won the Mr Olympia title a then-record seven times - every year from 1970 to 1975 and again in 1980.
Weider also created the Ms Olympia contest in 1980, the Fitness Olympia in 1995 and the Figure Olympia in 2003.
He spread the message of health and fitness worldwide with publications as Muscle & Fitness and Flex, of which The Terminator star is now the executive editor.
Weider's publicist Charlotte Parker said he died of heart failure in Los Angeles.
Following his death, Schwarzenegger said in a statement: "I knew about Joe Weider long before I met him.
"He was the godfather of fitness who told all of us to be somebody with a body. He taught us that through hard work and training we could all be champions.
"As I read his articles in Austria, I felt that he was speaking directly to me and I committed to move to America to make my vision of becoming the best bodybuilder, to live the American dream, and to become an actor a reality."
http://news.sky.com/story/1069039/arnold-schwarzeneggers-mentor-joe-weider-dies
Weider brought the young Austrian weightlifter to the US early in his career and helped him achieve the American dream as he became an international movie star.
The Canadian, who was a bodybuilder himself, helped popularise the sport and played a key role in introducing Schwarzenegger to the world.
Weider created one of bodybuilding's leading events, the Mr Olympia competition, in 1965 and reportedly discovered the Austrian at a contest in Europe two years later.
He relentlessly promoted Schwarzenegger, who won the Mr Olympia title a then-record seven times - every year from 1970 to 1975 and again in 1980.
Weider also created the Ms Olympia contest in 1980, the Fitness Olympia in 1995 and the Figure Olympia in 2003.
He spread the message of health and fitness worldwide with publications as Muscle & Fitness and Flex, of which The Terminator star is now the executive editor.
Weider's publicist Charlotte Parker said he died of heart failure in Los Angeles.
Following his death, Schwarzenegger said in a statement: "I knew about Joe Weider long before I met him.
"He was the godfather of fitness who told all of us to be somebody with a body. He taught us that through hard work and training we could all be champions.
"As I read his articles in Austria, I felt that he was speaking directly to me and I committed to move to America to make my vision of becoming the best bodybuilder, to live the American dream, and to become an actor a reality."
http://news.sky.com/story/1069039/arnold-schwarzeneggers-mentor-joe-weider-dies