Can Bodybuilding be a sport or not

Can you imagine that in an time point in time where you can turn your television onto ESPN and find the national spelling bee or the world series of poker on this would still be a debatable topic? The fact of the matter is that both sides have a valid argument on this issue. From the outside looking in it might appear that bodybuilding competitions are nothing more then male competitions. Let's face it! The men in these competitions wear bathing suits while parading on stage to music and flexing their muscles. When golf, Nascar racing and darts are constituted as sports without any resistance, why is it that weightlifting still garners such a high level of negativity? To first understand where weightlifting is now, we must understand where it's been. The bodybuilding competitions of the early 1900s were a much different affair then what we have become accustomed to today. The competitions of old were broken into three different classes that each contestant would need to compete and be judged on. The 1st being a test of strength, followed by an agility competition and ultimately by an overall muscularity showcase. It wasn't feasible to win the event on any one category alone. The winner would excel in all 3 facets of body-building. It is safe to claim that there wasn't any debating whether muscle building was a sport in these past times.
Bodybuilder's workout from 5-6 times a week for up to 2 hours per day! I don't know what the statistical data are but every one of us are at least friends with somebody who has taken up iron pumping to get in shape but had to stop either because of lack of dedication or too many wounds. You aren't going to find anyone saying these routines are easy nor are you going to find many folks that enjoy giving up the foods they enjoy for 3 month spans. All this dedication and sacrifice they put in is for the day of the competition .
All the detractors are asserting to themselves that yes body-builders may put work in at the gym but that still doesn't change the proven fact that their competitors is nothing else then a glorified pageant for males! If you are up for the test I challenge anyone studying this piece to stand up at the moment and continuously flex your muscles at full strength for a three minute duration. My point was never to persuade you that body-building is or is not a sport but to open your consciousness up to the possibility that their can be and is, a ton more to a bodybuilding competition then meets the time-honoured eye. So next time you are asking yourself if iron pumping is a sport bear in mind how much effort, dedication and sacrifice these folk make to even get to the point of being on stage!
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