Ah, the 80s. Can any other decade be more vibrant and entertaining as the neon-colored and pop-filled era of the 1980s? A major part of that time was the fitness craze. When you think about the decade, do you picture spandex and muscles? Shwarzenneger and Olivia Newton-John? And how about our dear old friend Richard Simmons?
Let’s go back in time and look at the most popular 80s fitness stars, what they did, and what they’re up to now. And you might as well put on the track “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar, you know if you want the full experience.
Richard Simmons Back in the Day
I don’t think it’s even possible to forget about someone like Richard Simmons. With a personality and style like his, he will forever be ingrained in our memories in the category of 80s fitness stars. Simmons was an icon of the neon spandex fitness video era, sporting his sparkly outfits and afro.
Source: YouTube/Photo by Harry Langdon, Getty Image
The eccentric fitness instructor rose to fame when he documented his own successful weight-loss journey and went on to help others do the same in his own personal gym. Richard targeted his workout videos to people who loved retro music. His most popular video was called ‘Sweatin’ to the Oldies.’