Test-input/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 gyms around the world. It was started by Joe Gold in Venice Beach, California. These gyms offer lots of equipment for cardio and strength training. They also have group exercise classes. Gold's Gym has its main office in Dallas. A German company called RSG Group now owns it.
Contents
The Story of Gold's Gym
The very first Gold's Gym opened in August 1965. It was in Venice Beach, California. Back then, there weren't many modern gyms like today. The gym had equipment that Joe Gold built himself. People called it "the Mecca of bodybuilding". Famous bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger trained there.
How Gold's Gym Started
In the 1950s, bodybuilding was not very popular. Gyms in California were often set up outdoors. Joe Gold wanted a better place to train. So, in 1965, he turned a building he owned into the first Gold's Gym. Many bodybuilders loved it right away. It became known as the place where legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger trained.
But even with Joe building his own equipment, the gym didn't make much money. Joe Gold decided to sell the gym in 1970 for $50,000. The new owners also struggled to make it profitable. Then, a gym member named Ken Sprague bought it in 1971. Ken had a background in movies. He brought new energy by holding bodybuilding shows. This helped Gold's Gym finally start making money.
The Famous Gold's Gym Logo
The original 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 weightlifter on a napkin during a break. This logo quickly became a well-known symbol in bodybuilding.
Gold's Gym in the Movie Pumping Iron
In 1975, a filmmaker named George Butler wanted to make a movie. It was a docudrama called Pumping Iron (1977). Gold's Gym was the main place where they filmed. Ken Sprague, the gym owner, gave the filmmakers full access. He even helped prepare the gym for filming.
The movie ran out of money, but Arnold Schwarzenegger helped raise more funds. Pumping Iron became a huge success. It made Gold's Gym famous all over the world. It also brought a lot of attention to bodybuilding. Because of the movie, Gold's Gym became super popular. It is still seen as a very important place in bodybuilding history.
Gold's Gym Grows Worldwide
In 1979, Ken Sprague sold Gold's Gym to three new owners. It was already the most famous gym in the world. These owners 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.
The brand also started selling things like fitness equipment and clothes. In 1985, the first Gold's Gym outside the USA opened in Canada. By 1993, more than 1 million people were members. Gold's Gym kept growing around the world, even in Japan and Russia. This growth changed the gym from a small, unique place to a big, modern fitness company.
In 1999, the company was sold for about $50 million. It was sold again in 2004 for $150 million. In August 2020, a German fitness company called RSG Group bought Gold's Gym. The original Gold's Gym in Venice Beach is now considered a national sports landmark. Many famous people have trained at Gold's Gym. These include Jessica Alba, Dwayne Johnson, and Tiger Woods.
New Owners: RSG Group
The Covid-19 pandemic caused problems for many businesses, including Gold's Gym. Many gyms had to close temporarily in 2020. Gold's Gym had to make some changes to its business.
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. Rainer Schaller had always dreamed of owning Gold's Gym. It was the gym that inspired him to start his own fitness company. With Gold's Gym, RSG Group became a global company. Since then, Gold's Gym has been updated and has opened new gyms. New locations have opened in places like Austria, Italy, Germany, and Dallas.
How Gold's Gym Works Today
Gold's Gym has locations on six different continents. In 2015 and 2016, Gold's Gym was ranked very high for customer happiness.
In 2017, Gold's Gym launched an app called GOLD'S AMP. This app works like a digital personal trainer. You can use it anywhere, anytime. It has many workout options led by Gold's Gym coaches. It also has thousands of music mixes for your workouts. The RSG Group reported in 2020 that Gold's Gym had 61 gyms owned by the company and over 600 gyms owned by franchises.
Gym Equipment and Classes
Gold's Gyms usually have a big area for strength training. This includes heavy dumbbells and barbells. They also have an area for cardio training. There are many different fitness classes in special rooms. You can also hire a personal trainer if you want extra help. Most gyms have a sauna. Some even have a special room for bodybuilders to practice their poses.
The Gold's Gym Fitness Competition
Gold's Gym holds an annual fitness competition. It used to be called the Gold's Gym Challenge. This competition lasts for 12 weeks. It focuses on how much your body changes. 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. Then, these winners compete at a national level. Finally, an overall winner is chosen.
Gold's Gym Products
Nutritional Supplements
In 2021, RSG Group started a new part of Gold's Gym called Gold's Gym Nutrition. This brand sells its own line of nutritional supplements. These products help athletes with their training. They come as drinks, shakes, bars, powders, and capsules.
Sportswear
Since the 1980s, Gold's Gym has sold special clothes with its famous logo. The logo of the bald weightlifter is a well-known symbol. Today, "Gold's Gym Apparel" designs its own sportswear and accessories. They make clothes for both guys and girls. Some items are even made in Portugal in a sustainable way. In April 2024, Gold's Gym Apparel was at a big fitness trade fair in Cologne, Germany.
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 run this group. They opened their first gym in North Hollywood in 1988.
Gold’s Gym India
Gold’s Gym India has more than 150 gyms. They are in over 90 cities across India. Gold’s Gym first came to Mumbai in 2002. It is the second-largest fitness group in India.
Gold’s Gym Japan
In Japan, Eiji Tezuka is the biggest owner of Gold's Gym franchises. He has grown Gold’s Gym in Japan to more than 95 locations.
Gold’s Gym Arabia
The Gold’s Gym Arabia group has over 70 gyms. These gyms are in Saudi Arabia. They use very modern fitness equipment. Gold’s Gym has also helped women's fitness grow in Saudi Arabia.
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