A good bodybuilder has the same mindset as a sculptor.
“Good bodybuilders have the same mindset as sculptors. They look in the mirror and say: ‘I need a little more deltoid here, so the proportions will be right.’ Then they train to build up those deltoids — just like a sculptor would add clay to his statue.”
— Arnold Schwarzenegger
This is the perfect image to start with. Because bodybuilding – real bodybuilding, made of method, observation, and patience – is much more than just “pumping up muscles.” It is a form of art.
It’s no coincidence that the bodybuilders of the Golden Era were inspired by the classical canons of harmony and beauty: Frank Zane sought symmetry and elegance, Serge Nubret and Sergio Oliva embodied power and grace, while Arnold himself aimed for a balance between strength, stage presence, and proportion.
But even before them, Steve Reeves was the symbol of an almost perfect physical ideal. Actor and bodybuilder, he played Hercules in the ’50s and ’60s, becoming for many the visual reference for the classical hero. His physique combined strength, grace, balance: he was the Greek statue come to life.
Steve Reeves, sculpted harmony
One of the first to embody this ideal was Steve Reeves.
Bodybuilder, actor, model: in the 1950s he became famous for playing Hercules in peplum movies. But more than fame, it was his physique that left a mark. Symmetrical, proportioned, harmonious. The perfect balance between aesthetics and strength.
Anyone looking for a “divine” model of inspiration turned to him. And from Reeves onward, many others carried that vision forward.
Frank Zane, for example, with his refined, sculpted physique. Or Serge Nubret, with his statuesque elegance. Or Sergio Oliva, nicknamed “The Myth” for his extraordinary build. And of course Arnold, who embodied it all: strength, beauty, proportion.
Heracles (Hercules): the first athlete?
In Greek mythology, Heracles – Latinized as Hercules – is the hero par excellence. Son of Zeus, he has the strength of a god, but lives among men. And just like us, he must face challenges. And overcome them.
The myth tells that, to atone for an unintentional crime, he was assigned Twelve Labors. He could not refuse. He had to complete them, or perish.
But each task was not only a physical challenge, but also a mental one. Each trial required strength, yes, but also discipline, cunning, and endurance. Heracles is a warrior, but also an athlete. He trained everything: strength, technique, stamina. In a sense, he was the first complete athlete of Western culture.
Some examples?
- Slaying the Nemean lion: its skin was impenetrable. Hercules strangled it with his bare hands and wore its hide as a cloak and symbol of protection.
- Catching the Erymanthian boar: he chased it for hours in the snow, showing endurance and determination.
- Cleansing the Augean stables in one day: he diverted the course of two rivers, showing ingenuity as well as strength.
- Defeating the Lernaean Hydra: he cauterized the severed heads to prevent them from growing back. Strategy, not just muscle.
In every labor, Hercules does not just face a beast: he faces himself. And he comes out transformed.
Bodybuilding and myth: the road to Olympia
It is no coincidence that the most famous bodybuilding contest in the world is called Mr. Olympia. The name recalls the city of Olympia, where the sacred games were held in honor of the gods. But also Olympus, the home of the immortals.
The bodybuilders of the Golden Era sought to embody precisely that image: divine strength, sculptural beauty, perfect proportions. Inspiration that came directly from Greek and Roman statues, carved according to eternal canons.
Training today, with care, vision, and consistency… is in some way following that tradition. It is an aesthetic journey, but also a personal one.
The Icarus pose
There is a bodybuilding pose, with arms open and chest forward, that recalls ancient statues. Some call it the “Icarus pose”, because it resembles the moment when Icarus spreads his wings.
Perhaps Icarus is a less “strong” figure compared to Hercules. But he represents something else: the courage to try. To fly high, even at the risk of falling. A metaphor that perfectly fits those who decide to change, to train, to sculpt themselves.
Those who enter SPORTFORMA to truly improve themselves, who look in the mirror not out of vanity but to observe their own work, who train their body as a form of personal expression… have already started a journey that deserves respect.
Our body is a temple. And as such, it must be respected, cared for, and honored.