Bodybuilding in Germany

Bodybuilding in Germany dates to at least 1812, and was focused around the gymnasium. Later it would develop a national governing organization that was internationally recognised. German competitors have competed in international competitions. Drug testing is done for the national championships.

Bodybuilding in Germany
Eugen Sandow, an early German bodybuilder
CountryGermany
National team(s)Germany

History

1812 saw the start of Turnverein by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, which started the tradition of muscle building in Germany focused around the gymnasium.[1] At least 1,500 gymnasiums existed in Germany by the 1870s with muscle mass building a component of what took place in them.[2]

The 1992 edition of the Ms. Olympia contest was held in Chicago, Illinois with 20 competitors, including at least one from Germany.[3] In 2003, the German National Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation was founded by Berend Breitenstein.[4] In 2003, the German National Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation became affiliated with the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation.[4] Frank Guenther won the men's world championship in 2003.[4] In 2004, the German National Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation organized the German National Bodybuilding Championships.[4] Frank Kaeger won the men's world championship in 2007.[4] In 2009, German competitor Sabine Streubel won the WNBF Pro World Championships in the women's category.[4] In 2012, the German National Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation became affiliated with the Drug Free Athletes Coalition and severed its relationship with the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation.[4]

Drug testing

The German National Bodybuilding Championships test competitors using a polygraph, and urine analysis for all winners.[4]

Governance

Germany has an organization that is a member of the European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.[5] The country has a national organization that is a recognized by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness as a national federation, representing the country's bodybuilding community.[6]

References
  1. David L. Chapman (1994). Sandow the Magnificent: Eugen Sandow and the Beginnings of Bodybuilding. University of Illinois Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-252-02033-9.
  2. David L. Chapman (1994). Sandow the Magnificent: Eugen Sandow and the Beginnings of Bodybuilding. University of Illinois Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-252-02033-9.
  3. Maria R. Lowe (1 January 1998). Women of Steel: Female Bodybuilders and the Struggle for Self-Definition. NYU Press. pp. 1–6. ISBN 978-0-8147-5276-0.
  4. Berend Breitenstein (January 2013). Bodybuilding - Successful. Natural. Healthy. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3-8482-4750-9.
  5. "European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation National Members". European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation. 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  6. "International Federation Of Bodybuilding And Fitness". European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation. 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
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