[We are all so sad, but at the same time very happy, to have lived during the tenure of Joe and Ben Weider. Here is my interview of Sir Ben Weider published here 5 years ago.

More coverage on our Facebook page.]

Here is Aronold’s tribute to Joe, published on Facebook today:

“Today, I lost a dear friend and mentor, and the world lost one its strongest advocates of living a healthy lifestyle. Joe Weider was a titan in the fitness industry and one of the kindest men I have ever met.

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. When I was a young boy in Austria, his muscle magazines provided me with the inspiration and the blueprint to push myself beyond my limits and imagine a much bigger future. I know that countless others around the world found motivation in the pages of his publications just as I did, but 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.”

AND NOW MY INTERVIEW OF BEN

INTERVIEW WITH SIR BEN WIEDER

Exclusive Interview with Sir Ben Weider. The Founding Fathers of the bodybuilding world. The Weiders are the undisputed pioneers of the bodybuilding world. Weider Nutrition is a leader in the nutrition supplements industry, which is close to a $14 billion industry here in the U.S. and a $40 billion industry worldwide.

Part 1: biggest changes in the bodybuilding world – most influential female bodybuilder

Lori Braun: What have been the biggest changes in the bodybuilding world from 1980 to Year 2000?
Ben Weider: The biggest change in bodybuilding since 1980 up to now is the fact that we participate in all of the regional games that are organized by the International Olympic Committee. These are the Pan American Games, Central American Games, South American Games, The World Games, the Mini Olympics, the South East Asia Games, and the Asian Games. During this period, the IFBB also received recognition from the International Olympic Committee, which puts our sport on a par with all other sports. This means that bodybuilders could walk with their heads high and be proud to be bodybuilders.
Lori Braun: In your opinion, who has been most influential female bodybuilder of the last 30 years?
Ben Weider: I believe that Rachel McLish and Cory Everson were the 2 most influential female bodybuilders in the last 30 years.
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