Not many people know that before Schwarzenegger there was already a superstar of bodybuilding. The immortal Steve Reeves had a golden tan and a stunning, unsurpassed body with classic lines and proportions that were appreciated not only by bodybuilders, but also by ordinary people, which is rare! Reeves' muscular aesthetics with impressive symmetry and shape defined the standard that still exists: wide shoulders of champions, a huge back, a narrow, defined waist, impressive hips and rhomboid muscles.
It is interesting to note that many bodybuilding historians see Reeves in the mid-20th century as the beginning of the development of a modern, clean bodybuilding period. This is due to his innovative teaching methods.
Biography
January 21, 1926 in the family of ordinary people in Montana, Steve Reeves was born, who later became a famous actor and bodybuilder. Steve's father Lester Della Reeves passed away when the child was only a year and a half. The burden of education fell on the shoulders of the mother of Goldie Reeves. In 1936, Steve and his mother moved to California, where he began to engage in power sports. An example for him was the athlete John Grimek. The future champion, looking at the photos of bodybuilders on the pages of magazines, said that it was not right to have only beautiful breasts, or legs, or back. He saw himself in ideal proportions of these parameters.
Military sports youth
After graduating from high school, in 1944, Steve Reeves (photo above) goes to the army. These were the last days of World War II. After completing army training, he was sent to the Philippine trenches, after which he took part in the Battle of Ballet Pass. In the war, he contracted malaria and ended up in a military hospital. The disease took 15 kg from him. While in military hospitals, he began to regain his weight by training with a 100 kilogram barbell. After serving, he returns to bodybuilding. It took an athlete three months to get back to normal and take part in competitions. On them, he easily bypasses his competitors, and wins the titles "Mr. Pacific Coast", Mr. Western America. In the same year, bodybuilder Steve Reeves outranks 35 rivals in competitions, including the world-famous bodybuilder George Eiferman and receives the title of Mr. America The following year, Steve won Mr. World, and in 1950 became Mr. of the Universe, beating Reg Park.
Having become a professional bodybuilder, having gained fame and fame among the hundreds of fans who appeared, Steve Reeves decides to move to New York to continue his performances at a higher professional level. In New York, Reeves became the idol of many athletes, many photographers wanted his photo. Yes, and he had a passionate desire to shine on the covers of magazines in the form of a photo model and as an actor.
Bodybuilding or the film industry
Recognized by a man with a beautiful figure, agents of the film industry became interested in Steve. Demand for such type did not weaken. Films about Pompeii, gladiators, Greek gods were released. Since the income from bodybuilding could not provide a comfortable existence, Steve decides to accept the offer to act in films. He enrolled in acting classes, and auditioned for the role of Samson in the film "Samson and Delilah." But the viewer did not see the film with Steve Reeves in this role. The fact is that the condition for filming in the picture was weight loss. He needed to lose seven kilograms, which was not part of Steve’s plans. He understood that this would affect his performances in bodybuilding shows. That decision might have seemed silly at the time, but Reeves was determined to win the Mr. Universe contest and ultimately won in 1950.
Movie career
Having become Mr. Universe, Steve takes part in television shows as a guest. Gradually begins to take part in the filming. From 1954 to 1969, he starred in 18 films. The best films in Steve Reeves filmography are the films: Last Days of Pompeii, Romulus and Remus, The Trojan Horse, Il figlio di Spartacus, and at least a dozen films with an adventure plot. One of the successful characters who were lucky to play Reeves was Hercules in the film of the same name. He was perceived by the viewer as a standard of courage and strength, a living embodiment of the valor of a true man.
All the tricks that needed to be performed in the paintings, Steve Reeves performed without understudies. During the filming of Pompeii, he injured his shoulder, falling from a chariot. The injury he was very worried about. This served as Reeves' departure from the film industry in the late sixties.
book author
There came a period in the biography of Steve, when he decided to write a book that is completely autobiographical - "Building a classic physique. The natural way." Steve Reeves in the book describes all kinds of his training, which are subject to certain rules. These rules were simple:
- Mandatory recovery between sets, between exercises and between workouts (1 day). Reeves has always been against training for two days in a row. The load should alternate with rest.
- Work on the leg muscles should be towards the end of the workout. The largest muscles of the body are located at the hips - ATVs, hamstrings and buttocks. If you start training from these parts of the body, training these areas would be tiring so that it would be impossible to train the entire body.
- Setting a goal before each workout. To achieve a long-term goal, you need smaller ones that help in achieving the main goal of victory. This means that training should be performed and proper nutrition should be observed.
Steve was far ahead of his time when he created an absolutely perfect exercise program with the Power Walking routine. This is ideal because anyone and everyone can do it regardless of age or fitness level.
The book is good in that it has the whole package - from proper nutrition, to warming up, stretching and weight training - and there are many photos to demonstrate. Steve has been a staunch advocate of healthy, natural bodybuilding all his life, and has written many articles about this for many years.
Steve Reeves Nutrition
Steve was aware of the importance of nutrition, and how it could help his body work. He used 20% protein, 20% fat and 60% carbohydrates. The high carbohydrate content provided more energy for training. Moreover, he ate three times a day, which, in principle, differs from many of the recommendations given at present (5-6 meals). Reeves was against steroids and claimed that he did not accept them in preparation for the competition.
Steve possessed unique genetics, which allowed him to build his beautiful, athletic body. At the time of writing the book, there were no modern simulators in the gymnasiums; exercises were performed in the simplest gym.
Body work
Working on his body, Steve Reeves wanted to ensure that it was not only large, but pleasing to the eyes in terms of shape. He definitely knew that there were specific standards for what physique should look like, and what the correct proportions should be. For example, one thigh should be half the size of the chest. He was very close to his standards. At its peak, its measurements were as follows:
- Weight: 97.5 kg (215 lbs);
- The upper part of the arm, muscle, neck - 18.5 cm each;
- Hips - 68.58 cm (27 inches);
- Chest - 137.16 cm (54 inches);
- Waist - 76.2 cm (30 inches).
After completing a career in sports and film
Steve's personal life was not the subject of discussion and was never mentioned in his interview. It is known that the athlete had three marriages. The first was with Steve Reeves with Sandra, a beautiful girl. Their married life was a taboo for the public. There are only a few photos of a captured wedding.
In 1963, Steve had a second marriage with Alina Charzavich. He imprisoned him after finishing his speeches in sports. In 1969, the couple left for southern California. To get started in business, Reeves bought a ranch and started horse racing. Steve forgot about bodybuilding. He participated in various campaigns that, with their products and lifestyle, promoted a healthy sport without steroids. But from weightlifting a shoulder injury forced to refuse. He became a power walk enthusiast.
The third marriage lasted from 1994 to 2000 (until his death) was with the Polish noblewoman Deborah Ann Angelhorn. With her, the athlete had two children.