February 01, 2024 | SPORTS | By Nick Bennett
Most individuals with an active social media presence might notice an increasing popularity of “fitness influencers” on the internet. In the past couple years, social media has propelled a new era and popularity of aesthetic lifting. This has led to a rise in popularity in the sport of bodybuilding: the want to enhance bodily aesthetics.
Towards the end of winter break, I spent a lot of time at my local gym. While there, I came across countless high schoolers getting their 2-hour (on average) workouts in. I couldn’t help but make a direct connection to the content I typically view on Instagram, these high schooler’s demeanor and actions in the gym.
Most gym-goers, a part of the stereotype, would lift up their shirt, flex, get a bigger pump, and repeat. Although most would be annoyed at this, a rather blatant display of arrogance, I believe there is another perspective: this wave of aesthetic lifting on social media, in my opinion, is not just some ego-centric trend. Rather, I’ve come to appreciate that aesthetic lifting, often associated with bodybuilding (although this phrase does come with negative connotations) is very much a sport.
From the eras where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Bumstead claimed their fame all the way to the local gym of Colorado College, working-out has from transcended being just a hobby. The increasing prevalence of fitness content on social media has propelled this formerly niche sport into increasing popularity and recognition.
At Colorado College, many students face their own problems regarding managing this underrecognized sport during the Block. One of the biggest consistencies across the following interviewees was their feelings towards the atmosphere of the CC gym.
For those pursuing the sport of bodybuilding, Christopher McCormick ’25 says, “It is nerve-racking to be pushing yourself to the extremes, making weird faces, and grunts around college classmates.” This raises the point that it would be atypical to want to come off as “arrogant” to peers so intertwined with their college lives.
In a similar vein, the CC gym is often coined a social space. One respondent from the junior class mentioned that it is hard to “lock in” when you must take out your earbuds and say hi to your friends. To those treating working out as a sport, maximizing their athletic performance is as important to them as it is to other athletes during their varsity practices.
Across my interviews, it appeared that for many gym-goers, the morning gym sessions often result in a much better atmosphere for focusing on self-improvement. Iza Mesa ‘25, describes how: “everyone that goes in the morning was just kind of there for themselves and their own improvement.” To Mesa and other like-minded students, there’s something about later-in-the-day gym sessions that just don’t provide as productive an energy.
For those pursuing this niche sport of bodybuilding, many find it difficult without a coach. Living the life of a student-athlete can be extremely demanding without the guidance of a superior pushing you to achieve high goals in both fitness and academics. More often than not, interactions with fitness influencers as well as strength and goal-oriented students in the gym are some of the only forms of guidance.
Although bodybuilding in college has different struggles than other sports, it has proven to be a place of amazing friendships, at least for myself. When in a crowded gym full of a variety of fitness goals, those pursuing the specific goal of bodybuilding recognize each other across the room. From my interviews and own observations, simple things like someone practicing “time under tension” or doing “optimal” workouts for muscle growth as opposed to functional strength are noticed by like-minded individuals. To many, there is an unspoken bond for bodybuilders in the gym.
Recognizing students with similar fitness goals has sparked many friendships. For Greer Bleyl ‘24 and Merritt Curtis ‘24, friendly nods in the gym turned into conversations and potentially, great friendships. To others, there is an unspoken mutual respect for progress. Very interestingly — and to this point — several students I interviewed suggested I reach out to people I had already spoken with, highlighting just how close this community is at CC.
The bodybuilding community at Colorado College is small and relatively unknown, yet tightly knit. They are close in ways that span from very conventional friendships to a simple nod when they enter the gym that gives those a part of this group the confidence (and sometimes competition) to perform to their best capabilities.
Although many bodybuilders may appear arrogant or self-centered to people with different lifting goals, I believe the CC bodybuilding community has struck a healthy balance of respect for students in the gym, as well as making it both a spoken and unspoken safe space for other bodybuilders. With the rising popularity of fitness content on the internet, I believe this community will only continue to expand. And with a rise in interest, my hope is that it will remain as respectful and positive as it is today.