60-YO Bodybuilding Veteran Reveals How He Became a Fitness Influencer During Pre-Social Media Days

Rich Gaspari, three-time IFBB Mr. Olympia runner-up, has observed a vital truth about how people have perceived influencers over time. The bodybuilding beast also pointed out that the medium of influence has also changed with time and he contrasted how he used to be an influencer through a paper-based medium rather than the social media of today.

The 60-year-old bodybuilder who started his professional bodybuilding career by winning the 1983 NPC Junior Nationals as the Overall Winner, told his fans that back in his days he was still considered an influencer through the magazine coverages of himself and his bodybuilding career.

Rich Gaspari as a magazine influencer

In his latest Instagram post, Gaspari shared a slideshow of all the magazines he was featured in back in his peak days. He wrote of how he had also been an influencer but through magazines instead of the usual social media of the present day. He said, “Back in the day before social media, we had magazines to become an influencer.”

He wrote, “My first cover at age 20 in 1984 all the way to 2016!” Then he also added, “I had many more covers but these were the ones I found online. Some covers of me were the same but repeated in the magazines of different countries.”

While 1984 was a long time ago, Gaspari continues to influence lives to this day. The “magazine influencer” Rich Gaspari had one of the most unique bicep training methods that fans seemed to appreciate when made public.

Rich Gaspari’s 21’s bicep training

The retired bodybuilder had previously disclosed one of his special bicep fitness routines. He mentioned how his 21’s technique involves a combination of partial reps and full reps. He also stated, “A great exercise to work biceps are 21’s with a cable or barbell. You do 7 half reps from the top of the movement with 7 reps done at the bottom of the movement then finish with 7 full reps. This is a great finishing exercise you can do to hit the biceps.” 

READ MORE: “Two of the Very Best”: Fitness Community Reacts to Ronnie Coleman and Rich Gaspari’s Most-Awaited Workout Together

With time, the mode of influence has also developed yet those who wish to motivate others almost always find a way. The three times Mr. Olympia runner-up thus continues to be an influencer even decades after his magazine coverages.

What do you think about the change in influencer culture over the last few decades?

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