(Jack LaLanne at age 71)
Jack LaLanne, a fitness icon, passed away on Sunday at the age of 96. LaLanne was born on September 26, 1914. If you remember your world history, you know that 1914 marked the beginning of World War I. Now think about that for a minute – this man has been on the fitness scene for a long, long time. LaLanne was born before women had the right to vote, he was born before the US Coast Guard was established, he was born before a single stone for the Lincoln Memorial had been laid, he was born before Babe Ruth hit his first home run, he was born before there was a single stop sign in Detroit.
Jack LaLanne was an innovator in the world of fitness encouraging everyone to engage in movement and exercise, breaking barriers by opening the first modern health spa and the first coed health club in addition to having the first nationally syndicated exercise show on television. LaLanne encouraged women, the elderly, and those with physical disabilities to work out with weights – something that was discouraged at the time. LaLanne was also a pioneer in drawing the connections between diet and exercise – he combined instruction on weight training with instruction on nutrition and opened the first combination Health Food Bar and Gym. LaLanne was a founding member of President’s Council on Physical Fitness under President Kennedy and in 2007 received the President’s Council on Physical Fitness Lifetime Achievement Award.
LaLanne was also known to engage in feats of strength to mark special occasions and to show people that amazing accomplishments could be achieved with good diet and exercise. For example:
- In 1954 at age 40 he swam the length of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge underwater with 140 pounds of equipment, including two air tanks… an undisputed world record. In 1975 at age 61 he did it again handcuffed, shackled, and towing a 1,000-pound boat.
- In 1955 at age 41 he swam, handcuffed, from Alcatraz to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, CA. In 1974 at age 60 he did it again – this time handcuffed, shackled, and towing a 1,000-pound boat.
- In 1956 at age 42 he set a world record of 1,033 pushups in 23 minutes on television. In 1959 at age 45 he completed 1,000 pushups and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hours and 22 minutes.
- In 1976 at age 62 he commemorated the bicentennial of 1976 by swimming 1 mile in Long Beach Harbor, handcuffed, shackled, and towing 13 boats (representing the 13 original colonies) containing 76 people.
Surely, one did not want to be a guest at the LaLanne household during Festivus.
So, today we honor and remember Jack LaLanne for his tremendous contributions to the world in the areas of fitness and nutrition.