Classic Sandow

Muscle & Fitness, July, 2006 by Shawn Donnelly

How important was 19th-century strongman Eugen Sandow? To this day, his sculpted, barbell-clutching likeness adorns the trophy awarded to winners of the Mr. Olympia contest--essentially making him the Heisman of bodybuilding. Here now are three superlatives from the new edition of David L. Chapman's Sandow the Magnificent ($21.95; University of Illinois Press, www.press.uillinois.edu).

* Best reason for Ronnie Coleman to respect Eugen Sandow:

"Sandow was the first athlete to make a comfortable living by displaying his muscular physique."

* Biggest fraud:

Irving Montgomery, who cashed in on the real muscleman's reputation by exhibiting his flabby physique under the name "Sandowe."

* Best evidence Sandow was a marketing wiz:

"The Sandow Pins," a packet of 400 needlepoint pins that displayed on its cover Sandow unsuccessfully trying to break a giant pin.