The sport of bodybuilding evolved over a century, with elite bodybuilders contributing to the sport’s growth. While the present bodybuilding arena reveres Arnold Schwarzenegger as the legendary athlete, it was German bodybuilding icon Günter Schlierkamp, who had signed the biggest contract with Joe Weider, the co-founder of IFBB. 

The latest episode of The Menace Podcast with Dennis James spilled beans on the bodybuilders who signed a mind-blowing contract with the Canadian bodybuilding legend, Joe Weider. 

The bodybuilder who signed a lump-sum contract

The elite bodybuilding experts meet to discuss the important facets of the sport on The Menace Podcast, which includes the Serbian bodybuilding icon Milos Sarcev. They discuss the past, present, and future of the sport to give the viewers great insights into the bodybuilding arena. 

In the recent podcast, the experts arrived at a point where they started discussing who signed the biggest contract in the history of the sport. Interestingly the name they arrived at was not the bodybuilding icons who appeared in the Pumping Iron documentary, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. It was a German bodybuilder who stands as tall as 6’1”, Günter Schlierkamp.

“Who had the biggest contract with Weider back at that time?” questioned Dennis James. It was Chris Cormier who spoke about Gunter, which left James shocked. The host asked, “Gunter got three hundred thousand a year?” in bewilderment. Sarcev instantly confirmed, “He got the million for three years.”

The bodybuilding story Gunter Schlierkamp

Schlierkamp is a German bodybuilder who took to the sport at 16 after witnessing the ripped physique of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Pumping Iron and Conan the Barbarian. In 1993 he earned his Pro card by winning the World Amateur Championships. His professional bodybuilding hence started. 

In 2002 he won the GNC Show of Strength, defeating The King Ronnie Coleman. He finally retired in 2006 after leaving his impression on the sport. From working along with his father on farmlands to building a lucrative bodybuilding career, the story of the elite German bodybuilder is truly inspirational.

Read More: “Legs So Big It Grew a Damn Arm”: Bodybuilding World Bows Down to Most Iconic Rivalry Ever as Two Legendary Beasts Pose Alongside Each Other in a Throwback Picture

The bodybuilders strive hard to earn medals in the events by following a strict diet and training regime. But Schlierkamp will be remembered for his record-creating check offered by Joe Weider. What do you think about this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 

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