World Gym International is an American fitness center founded in 1976 by Joe Gold during the glory days of "Muscle Beach" in Venice Beach, California. Joe Gold is also the founder of Gold's Gym, another gym chain, which he sold in 1973. The gym was often frequented by celebrities and famous bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and Dave Draper. World Gym currently has approximately over 220 franchises worldwide located across six continents, 20 countries, and territories. Currently owned by the Cammilleri family, their plans include further global expansion of the franchise network and the opening of regional flagship gyms.
History
Joe Gold started Gold's gym in 1965. Many world-famous bodybuilders trained there. Gold sold the gym and the rights to the name in 1973 and went back out to sea as a sea merchant. When he came back, he regretted that he had sold the rights to his name. Since he could not use "Gold" in its name, he opened a new gym under the name of World Gym. Joe sold his World Gym in the valley to a bodybuilder named Steve Davis, who later sold it for $25,000. Gold retailed his other World Gym in Santa Monica and the licensing rights until he died in 2004, at the age of 82. World Gym is presently owned by the Cammilleri family. Joe Gold's gym was where Arnold Schwarzenegger built and sculpted himself when he first came to America. Schwarzenegger has been California's governor, a movie actor, and a former Mr.Olympia. For the film Pumping Iron, released in 1977, Schwarzenegger's training was recorded in Joe's gym. Peter Brockway said in an interview that the gym earned $20 million before expenses.
Products and services
World Gym International offer products for workout gear such as sports bags, water bottles, nutrition products, accessories, gym clothing and apparel. There are also franchise opportunities available at World Gym International. World Gym International offers gymnasium services, equipment for fitness and physical exercise, fitness and exercise facilities, exercise classes, fitness and nutrition seminars, personal training in nutrition, exercise and fitness, training in fitness, mixed martial arts, boxing and kickboxing. World Gym International also holds exhibitions or contests for athletics, bodybuilding and mixed martial arts.
