Ben Weider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Weider
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| Born | February 1, 1923 |
| Died | October 17, 2008 (aged 85) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Other names | The President |
| Occupation | President of the IFBB |
| Known for | Co-creating the IFBB |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Relatives | Joe Weider (brother, deceased) Eric Weider (son) |
Ben Weider (born February 1, 1923 – died October 17, 2008) was a famous Canadian who did many things! He was a soldier, an author, and a historian who loved learning about Napoleon. Ben was also a big supporter of fitness and helped start the sport of bodybuilding.
Along with his brother, Joe Weider, he co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB). The Weider brothers also created many successful businesses. These included gyms, health supplements, and popular magazines like Muscle & Fitness. Ben even wrote several books about Napoleon, and one of them, The Murder of Napoleon, became a best-seller translated into 45 languages!
Contents
Ben Weider's Early Life
Benjamin Weider was born on February 1, 1923, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in an old Jewish neighborhood. His parents, Louis and Anna Weider, were immigrants from Poland. Ben started working at a young age, leaving school at 13 to help his family.
Serving His Country
In 1942, Ben Weider joined the Canadian Army during World War II. He served in the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars. In this role, he worked in intelligence, gathering important information for the Canadian Intelligence Corps.
Building a Fitness Empire
Ben and his brother Joe started their fitness journey with a simple magazine called Your Fitness. They used it to share ideas about weightlifting and to sell exercise equipment. This small start grew into a huge business! They launched many famous magazines, including Flex, Muscle & Fitness, Men's Fitness, and Fit Pregnancy.
The Weider brothers are known for making bodybuilding a popular sport. They focused on how exercise could shape the body and improve fitness. In 1965, they created the first ever Mr Olympia contest in New York City. This competition became a major event in the world of bodybuilding.
In 1968, the Weiders helped bring a young, unknown bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger from Austria to California. He later became one of the most famous bodybuilders in the world. Ben Weider was the president of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB) until he retired in 2006. He also opened many gyms around the world.
Solving Historical Mysteries
Ben Weider was very interested in history, especially the life of Napoleon. He strongly believed that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic while in exile on Saint Helena. Ben even got real samples of Napoleon's hair and had them tested. The tests showed that Napoleon had indeed been exposed to arsenic!
He wrote several books about this theory, including Assassination at St. Helena and The Murder of Napoleon. The Murder of Napoleon became one of the most popular history books ever, translated into 45 languages.
Ben also started the International Napoleonic Society and was its president. He collected many items related to Napoleon and later donated them to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. This made it one of the largest collections of its kind anywhere!
Awards and Honors
Ben Weider received many important awards for his work and contributions:
- In 1975, he became a Member of the Order of Canada, and later an Officer in 2006.
- In 2000, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.
- He received the French Legion of Honor in 2000 for his research into Napoleon's death.
- He was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame.
- He became a Commander of the Venerable Order of St. John for his charity work promoting youth fitness.
- In 1984, Ben Weider was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize!
Universities also honored him. Florida State University created special positions in their history department, like the Ben Weider Eminent Scholar Chair in Napoleonic History, thanks to his generous donations.
From 1998 to 2005, Ben Weider was an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian military. In 2005, he was promoted to Honorary Colonel. He also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro in 2003 and at the Arnold Classic in 2008. In 2014, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
His Faith
Ben Weider was a Jewish person who spoke English. He helped financially to rebuild Montreal's Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral. The Roman Catholic Cardinal, Jean-Claude Turcotte, once said that Ben Weider was "One of the greatest Montrealers I ever knew."
Passing Away
Ben Weider passed away on October 17, 2008, at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
Books by Ben Weider
- Weider B., and Forshufvud S., Assassination At St. Helena: The Poisoning of Napoleon Bonaparte (1978).
- Weider B., and Hapgood D. The Murder of Napoleon (1982).
- Weider, B., and Kennedy, R. Superpump!: Hardcore Women's Bodybuilding (1986).
- Weider, B. and Forshufvud, S. Assassination at St. Helena Revisited (1995).
- Weider, B. The Murder of Napoleon (1998).
- Weider, B. Louis Cyr: Amazing Canadian (2000).
- Weider, B., Weider, J., and Gastelu, D., The Edge (2002).
- Weider, B. Napoleon: The Man that Shaped Europe (2003).
- Weider B., Weider J., Schwarzenegger A., Brothers of Iron: Building the Weider Empire (2006)
- Franceschi, M., and Weider B. Wars Against Napoleon: Debunking the Myth of the Napoleonic Wars (2007).
See also
In Spanish: Ben Weider para niños
- Jake Wood (bodybuilding)
