History dictates that bodybuilding has always been a typically male-dominated sport, and women only recently entered the scene. In spite of this delayed introduction, women athletes quickly rose to the top. Their strength in body and spirit allowed them to quickly overcome the sexist stamp placed on them when women's bodybuilding competitions first took place.



Californian athlete Lisa Lyon wrote the first chapter in the history of women in bodybuilding. Born in 1953, Ms. Lyon was a graduate of UCLA and a student of the Japanese martial art Kendo. At the time when Lyon was a budding bodybuilding enthusiast, she was encouraged to join a women's competition by premier bodybuilding promoter Arnold Schwarzenegger. He saw big potential in Lyon's small dancer's physique, and his vision paid off when Lisa Lyon took first place in the first women's bodybuilding championship.

Another important name in the history of women's bodybuilding is Rachel McLish. Ms. McLish was crowned champion at the first Miss Olympia bodybuilding women's competition, sponsored by the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFFB). With her combination of good looks and sheer muscle, Ms. McLish was considered by many to be the epitome of bodybuilding women. This Texas-born athlete was more than a sports icon; she helped to define the popularity of women's bodybuilding.

If McLish was the feminine embodiment of women in bodybuilding, Bev Francis presented the muscular extreme. This Australian shot putter-turned-bodybuilder co-starred with Rachel McLish in the movie "Pumping Iron II: The Women". Her incredible appearance and awesome muscular bulk incited both awe and shock in spectators at women's bodybuilding.

The organizers and sponsors of women's bodybuilding competitions began to ask, "how much is too much"? Since Francis first hit the spotlight as a finalist in the 1986 Ms. Olympia competition, this question has continually created controversy within the sport of women's bodybuilding.

In 1991, a new "less is more" trend in women's bodybuilding became apparent when the extremely muscular Bev Francis placed second to a more slender athlete by the name of Lenda Murray. Following this victory, Ms. Murray went on to claim victory at eight more Ms. Olympia titles. Since her last win in 2003, Lenda Murray continues to be hailed as one of the most popular and successful women's bodybuilding figures.

There are, of course, many other important names in the history of women's bodybuilding. Juliette Berman, known as the "Dutch Superwoman", won the Ms. Olympia competition in 2001. Professional IFBB fitness competitor Mandy Blank was a leader in the movement of more slender women in bodybuilding. Here focus was on shaping the muscular body into an aesthetic form, rather than beefing it up to become hugely muscular.

Monica Brant, another important figure in women's bodybuilding, was named Fitness Miss Olympia in 1998. Another important name is Sharon Bruneau, a Canadian model who left the runway, entered the gym, and became a hardcore female bodybuilder and fitness competitor.

Despite the efforts that these incredible women have undertaken, men continue to have a hand in the sport of women's bodybuilding. Many people, particularly men, hold a disapproval (or maybe a fear) of super muscular women. For this reason, there was a decrease in financial support of traditional bodybuilding competitions that promoted muscle mass, with more funds being designated to those featuring more slender physiques. The obvious sexist double standard this demonstrates has not halted the decline of the sport for women.

The history of women in bodybuilding, and modern sport in general, owes a great deal to the strength that these women have displayed. They have overcome obstacles to bring the sport to where it is today, allowing all women the opportunity to work hard and achieve their full potential.