The Mighty Sandow

Few people today will have heard of Eugen Sandow but during the last two decades of the 19th century, and for many years after, his was literally a household name. He was the most famous of the old time music hall wrestlers and strength athletes and went on to develop his own system of physical training and lay the foundation of, not only modern bodybuilding, but physical education in general. Rich from the proceeds of all this he could have rested on his laurels, but instead went on to use his fame as a tireless social campaigner. As might be expected, Sandow was a keen on the benefits of exercise, but he went far beyond this and campaigned vigourously for the introduction of free school meals, improved housing, health and safety at work,sanitary inspectors and family allowances. In all of this he was way ahead of his time.
His feats of strength have long been surpassed but to my mind today's sporting heroes,unable in many cases to see beyond a celebrity lifestyle and a colour spread in Hello magazine, they don't compare to the Mighty Sandow.