Gold's Gym facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Genre | Fitness |
| Founded | August 25, 1965 in Venice Beach, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Joe Gold |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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Nearly 700 worldwide (May 2020) |
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Area served
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United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Nepal, Jordan, India, Czech Republic, Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, Morocco, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Indonesia, Spain, Poland, Venezuela, Mongolia, Philippines, Armenia, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Kuwait, Georgia |
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Key people
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Sebastian Schoepe (CEO) |
| Parent | RSG Group |
Gold's Gym International, Inc. is a famous chain of fitness centers, also known as gyms. It was started by Joe Gold in Venice Beach, California. These gyms offer many types of equipment for cardio and strength training. They also have group exercise classes. Gold's Gym has its main office in Dallas, Texas. It is now owned by the German company RSG Group.
Contents
The Story of Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym began in August 1965. Joe Gold opened the first gym in Venice Beach, California. Back then, there weren't many modern health clubs. Joe Gold built much of the equipment himself. His gym became known as "the Mecca of bodybuilding". Famous bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper trained there.
Early Challenges and New Owners
In the 1950s, bodybuilding was not very popular. Gyms were often simple and sometimes even outdoors. Joe Gold wanted a better place for bodybuilders. He turned a building he owned into the first Gold's Gym. Many bodybuilders loved the new gym. It became famous for helping legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger grow.
However, even with homemade equipment, the gym struggled to make enough money. Joe Gold decided to sell the business in 1970 for $50,000. The new owners also found it hard to make a profit. They even thought about turning the gym into an antique shop!
Then, in 1971, a gym member named Ken Sprague bought Gold's Gym. Ken had a background in movies. He brought new energy to the gym. He started organizing bodybuilding shows. This helped Gold's Gym finally become successful.
The Famous Gold's Gym Logo
The well-known Gold's Gym logo was created in 1973. It shows a bald weightlifter holding a barbell. A professional wrestler named Ric Drasin designed it. He was Arnold Schwarzenegger's training partner. He drew the logo on a napkin during a break. This logo quickly became a symbol for bodybuilding.
Gold's Gym in the Movies
In 1975, a filmmaker named George Butler wanted to make a movie. The movie was called Pumping Iron (1977). Gold's Gym was the main place where they filmed. Ken Sprague gave the filmmakers full access to the gym. He even helped prepare the gym for filming.
The movie ran out of money, but Arnold Schwarzenegger and other bodybuilders helped raise more funds. Pumping Iron became a huge success. It made Gold's Gym, and bodybuilding, very famous worldwide. The gym's membership prices tripled. Gold's Gym became a legendary place in bodybuilding history.
Growing into a Global Company
In 1979, Ken Sprague sold Gold's Gym to three new owners. These were Ed Connors, Pete Grymkowski, and Tim Kimber. At this time, it was the most famous gym in the world. The new owners moved the gym to a much larger building.
They decided to turn Gold's Gym into a franchise system. This meant other people could open Gold's Gyms in different places. Gold's Gym was one of the first fitness companies to do this, starting in 1980. They also sold products like fitness equipment and clothing.
Soon, Gold's Gym expanded outside the USA. The first international gym opened in Canada in 1985. By 1993, over 1 million people were members. During the 1990s, Gold's Gym opened locations all over the world, including Japan and Russia. This global growth changed the gym into a modern fitness company.
Gold's Gym continued to grow. It added modern wellness programs. The original Gold's Gym in Venice Beach is now a national sports landmark. Many celebrities have trained at Gold's Gym. These include Jessica Alba, Dwayne Johnson, and Tiger Woods. In 2016, Gold's Gym opened 58 new locations globally.
New Owners and a Fresh Start
The Covid-19 pandemic hit Gold's Gym hard. Many gyms had to close temporarily. In May 2020, the company had to file for bankruptcy. This affected its 61 company-owned gyms. Gold's Gym announced it would close 30 locations permanently.
However, the company aimed to recover quickly. On July 13, 2020, Gold's Gym was sold in an auction. Rainer Schaller, who owns the German fitness company RSG Group, won the auction for $100 million. Owning Gold's Gym was a dream for Rainer Schaller. He had been inspired by it to start his own fitness company.
Since then, Gold's Gym has been revitalized. It has opened new gyms in Austria, Italy, and Germany. New locations have also opened in places like Dallas and Georgetown. The company continues to expand and update its gyms worldwide.
Gold's Gym Today
Gold's Gym is now owned by the international fitness company RSG Group. It has about 68 gyms owned by the company itself. There are also about 520 international gyms run by franchise owners. These gyms are in many countries around the world. The main office is in Dallas, Texas.
What Gold's Gym Offers
Gold's Gyms are located on six continents. In 2015 and 2016, Gold's Gym was ranked very high for customer satisfaction.
In 2017, Gold's Gym launched GOLD'S AMP. This is a fitness app that works like a digital personal trainer. People can use it anywhere, anytime. It offers many workout options led by Gold's Gym coaches. It also has thousands of music mixes.
Equipment You'll Find
Gold's Gyms have large areas for strength training. They have heavy dumbbells and Olympic barbells. There are also areas for endurance training. Many gyms offer a wide range of fitness classes. You can also hire personal trainers for extra help. Most gyms have a sauna. Some even have a special room for bodybuilders to practice their poses.
Gold's Gym Competitions
The Gold's Gym Fitness Competition
Gold's Gym holds an annual fitness competition in the USA. It used to be called the Gold's Gym Challenge. This competition lasts for 12 weeks. It focuses on how much a person's body can change. Participants take measurements and photos at the start. After 12 weeks, they do it again to see their progress.
Each Gold's Gym chooses its own winners. These winners then compete nationally. Finally, an overall winner is chosen. The winners have been featured in many magazines and newspapers.
Gold's Gym Products
Nutritional Supplements
In 2021, RSG Group started Gold's Gym Nutrition. This is a line of nutritional supplements. They offer different products for athletes. These include drinks, shakes, bars, powders, and capsules.
Sportswear and Apparel
Since the 1980s, Gold's Gym has sold special clothing. These clothes feature the famous bald weightlifter logo. This logo has become an iconic symbol. Today, "Gold's Gym Apparel" designs its own sportswear. They make functional clothes and accessories for everyone. Some items are even made sustainably in Portugal.
Gold's Gym Franchise Groups
Gold’s Gym SoCal
Gold’s Gym SoCal is a group that owns 23 gyms. These gyms are in the Southern California area. The Banos brothers operate them. They opened their first gym in North Hollywood in 1988.
Gold’s Gym India
Gold’s Gym India has over 150 locations. These are in more than 90 cities across India. Gold’s Gym first came to Mumbai in 2002. It is the second-largest fitness group in India. It is now owned by "Fitness Unicorn Cult.fit".
Gold’s Gym Japan
In Japan, Eiji Tezuka is the largest franchise owner. He has grown Gold’s Gym in Japan to over 95 facilities.
Gold’s Gym Arabia
The Gold’s Gym Arabia group has over 70 gyms. These are located in Saudi Arabia. The owner is Batterjee Holding Co. in Jeddah. These gyms use modern Matrix Fitness equipment. Gold’s Gym has also helped lead the way for female fitness in Saudi Arabia.
Images for kids
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Gold's Gym Milano Monterosa in Italy
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Gold's Gym in Berlin
