A 60-year-old bodybuilding veteran reveals how he became a fitness influencer in the pre-social media era

Rich Gaspari, three-time IFBB Mr. Olympia runner-up, observed an important truth about how people have perceived influencers over time. The bodybuilding legend also pointed out that the medium of influence has also changed over time, contrasting how he was once an influencer through print-based media rather than today’s social media.

The 60-year-old bodybuilder, who began his professional bodybuilding career by winning the overall championship at the 1983 NPC Junior Nationals, was still gaining influence by covering himself and his bodybuilding career in magazines. He told fans that he was considered a certain person.

Rich Gaspari as a magazine influencer

In his latest Instagram post, Gaspari shared a slideshow of all the magazines he was featured in during his heyday. He wrote about how he too was an influencer, but through magazines rather than the usual social media of today. He said, “In the days before social media, there were magazines about how to become an influencer.”

he wrote, “I appeared on the cover for the first time in 1984 at the age of 20 and continued until 2016!” Then he added: “There were many other covers, but these were the ones I found online. My covers, some of them the same, were repeated in magazines in different countries.”

Although 1984 was a long time ago, Gaspari continues to influence people’s lives to this day. ‘Magazine influencer’ Rich Gaspari has the most unique biceps training method, and fans seemed to appreciate it when it was revealed.

Rich Gaspari’s bicep workout at 21 years old

The retired bodybuilder previously shared one of his special fitness routines for biceps. He mentioned how his 21 techniques include a combination of partial and complete repetitions. He also said: “The best exercise for building your biceps is 21 with cables or a barbell. Do 7 half reps at the top of the movement, 7 reps at the bottom of the movement, then 7 full reps. Finish with a repetition of . This is a great finishing exercise to work your biceps.”

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Over time, modes of influence have also developed, but those who want to motivate others almost always find a way to do so. The three-time Mr. Olympia runner-up remains influential decades after his magazine appearance.

What do you think about the changes in influencer culture over the past few decades?

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