Tag: golds gym
Fitness Star Simeon Panda Named Global Brand Ambassador For Gold’s Gym
Simeon Panda will now join an exclusive group connected with the famous Gold’s Gym.
Fitness superstar and bodybuilder Simeon Panda is joining one of the biggest names in fitness. Gold’s Gym is an institution that has been linked to legends such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu. Now, Panda will join that list after being named a Global Brand Ambassador for Gold’s Gym.
Panda has built a huge following on social media, including eight million followers on Instagram. He shared a video on the social media platform to make the announcement and explain what an honor it is to him.
“I am very proud to announce my new position as @goldsgym Global Brand Ambassador ??
I probably wouldn’t be living in LA were it not for @goldsgym Venice. I live and breath bodybuilding, so when I first visited LA everything was centred around it. The hotels I stayed at, and then later the apartments I rented all had to be close by.Jump a few years, I now have the only official home Gold’s Gym in the world!”
Simeon Panda will be linked to the legendary gym and continue to add to the brand. Beginning in May, Panda and Gold’s Gym will reveal a four-week fitness program called “The Mecca Method.” Not only will Panda lead workouts physically but he will create motivational and instructional content.
Simeon Panda, a London-born bodybuilder, has competed in Musclemania competitions over the course of his career. Recently, he has built his brand on social media and is now working to better others. Now, he will join Gold’s Gym and be able to reach more who are interested in fitness.
Gold’s Gym began as a small gym in Venice Beach in 1965. This gym began being associated with some of the biggest names in bodybuilding. Over the last 57 years, Gold’s Gym has over 600 locations on six different continents.
“I am truly excited about this partnership and will do everything I can to continue the Golds Gym core value of building a worldwide fitness community.”
Simeon Panda made the announcement on social media two days ago and will begin his work immediately. Fans can look forward to workout plans that are going to be released in the future by Panda and Gold’s Gym.
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Samir Bannout Shares Old School Stories Of Gold’s Gym And Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Samir Bannout talks about first coming to America, Gold’s Gym, and some early stories he’s heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Samir Bannout is a bodybuilder who came into his prime during the tail end of the Golden Era of bodybuilding. He’s also a bodybuilder who lived the American dream similar to athletes like Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He came to the US with a passion for bodybuilding and became a superstar and Olympia champion. So of course, he has some amazing first and second hand stories of the Golden Era of the sport. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout shares stories about coming to America, Gold’s Gym, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bodybuilding is a very different sport today than it was in the Golden Era. The core elements of the sport remain of course but it is now an entire business model compared to the fledgling niche sport it was in the past. Many bodybuilding fans today romanticize the Golden Era. A time when Gold’s Gym was an iconic location and not a business chain. A time when Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bodybuilding champion and not a politician or action star. A time before social media and a time when Joe Weider was still alive.
That’s why we asked Samir Bannout to tell us some stories from his time as a bodybuilder coming to America and rising in the ranks. Samir Bannout was present for the tail end of the Golden Era. He saw Arnold Schwarzenegger and other greats. He trained at Gold’s Gym and personally knew Joe Gold. He also made connections with individuals who were there from the very beginning.
Bannout describes reading the famous bodybuilding magazines in Lebanon and dreaming of becoming a bodybuilder in America. He saw how Joe Weider inspired athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger to the USA. So Samir Bannout headed out to the United States. He landed in Michigan originally but eventually had an opportunity to meet Joe Weider. That convinced him to move the California and enter the Mecca of bodybuilding.
Samir Bannout describes it as a dream. He made it out to California and Gold’s Gym in 1978. He describes it as coming there just in time. It was the tail end of the Golden Era and he was able to meet Joe Gold, get a lifetime free membership, and that changed everything. He describes himself as a kid in a candy store.
Samir Bannout also describes meeting a man named Art Seller. This was the man who first picked up Arnold Schwarzenegger from the airport when he arrived in Los Angeles. Bannout ended up becoming close friends with Seller and learned of wonderful early stories about Schwarzenegger. During our interview – he shares a short but funny story of Schwarzenegger when he first landed in America.
You can watch Samir Bannout talk about his journey to the US, his stories of Gold’s Gym and some funny short stories of Arnold Schwarzenegger in our latest GI Exclusive interview above. Bannout mentions that he wants to help continue spreading the passion and love and stories of bodybuilding’s past – especially as many of these greats start to recede into time. This video is a great little oral history keeping the past alive.
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