Joe Weider, a renowned Canadian bodybuilder and entrepreneur, co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) alongside his brother Ben Weider, revolutionizing the world of bodybuilding.
As a visionary, Weider created the prestigious Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest, a benchmark for bodybuilding excellence.
In addition to his impressive bodybuilding achievements, Weider was a prolific publisher of various bodybuilding and fitness-related magazines, including Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Men's Fitness, and Shape.
Moreover, Weider manufactured a range of fitness equipment and supplements, further solidifying his impact on the fitness industry.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Weider was the son of Louis and Anna Weider, Polish Jewish emigrants from Kurów, Poland.
Weider's entrepreneurial spirit was evident from an early age, as he published the first issue of Your Physique magazine in 1940 and constructed a set of barbells out of car wheels and axles in his family garage on Coloniale Street in Montreal.
Throughout the 1950s, Weider designed numerous training courses, including the Weider System of Bodybuilding, which has had a lasting impact on the fitness industry.
Notably, Arnold Schwarzenegger credited Weider with inspiring him to enter bodybuilding and to move to the United States.
Tragically, Weider passed away on March 23, 2013, at the age of 93, due to heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Throughout his remarkable life, Weider left an indelible mark on the world of bodybuilding and fitness, inspiring countless individuals to pursue their passions and strive for excellence.
