World Gym
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Genre | Physical fitness |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Joe Gold |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | 260 (2024) |
| Website | www |
World Gym International LLC 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 unaffiliated gym chain, which he sold in 1973.[1] The gym was often frequented by celebrities and famous bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Dave Draper and Franco Columbu.
In March 2021, World Gym said it had over 200 franchises across six continents.[2] Owned by the Cammilleri family since 2009,[1][3][4][5] its plans included further global expansion of the franchise network and the opening of regional flagship gyms.[6][7]
On October 28, 2024, World Fitness Services, Ltd., the parent company of World Gym Taiwan, announced its acquisition of parent company World Gym International for US$9 million.[8][9]
History
[edit]Joe Gold started Gold's gym in 1965.[10][11] Many world-famous bodybuilders trained there. Gold sold the gym in 1973 and went back out to sea as a sea merchant. When he came back, he regretted that he had also sold the rights to his name. Since he could not use "Gold" in its name, he opened a new gym in Santa Monica 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 moved his Santa Monica World Gym to Venice then to Marina Del Rey, and the location closed after he died in 2004.[1] World Gym is now owned by the Cammilleri family, since 2009.[3]
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.[12]
Products and services
[edit]World Gym International offer products for workout gear such as sports bags, water bottles, nutrition products, accessories, gym clothing and apparel.[13] There are also franchise opportunities available at World Gym International.[14] 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.[15]
List of countries
[edit]Over 200 franchised locations in over 20 countries and territories[6]
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Costa Rica
- Egypt
- Cayman Islands
- Germany
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- India
- Lebanon
- Macao
- Mexico
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
Joe Gold Lifetime Achievement Award
[edit]The first Joe Gold Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ric Drasin at the 2012 World Gym International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.[16]
Year Joe Gold Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 Mike Uretz[17] 2014 Jim Brown 2013 Lou Ferrigno 2012 Ric Drasin
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Drasin, Ric (July 26, 2016). "The Birth Of World Gym". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ World's Gym (March 24, 2021). "World Gym International Selects Life Fitness as a Preferred Partner" (Press release). Franchising.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Five Years Later, Guy Cammilleri Is Still Leading World Gym International Around the World". clubindustry.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ "World Gym Franchise Information". Entrepreneur. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ "World Gym International, LLC: CEO and Executives – Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ a b "World Gym International Celebrates 40 Years of Seriously Fun Fitness at 2016 Las Vegas Convention". iClubs. October 26, 2016. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
- ^ "ABC Announced as Preferred Vendor for World Gym". LexisNexis. India Pharma News. January 3, 2012.
- ^ World's Gym (October 30, 2024). "World Gym International Acquired by World Gym Taiwan" (Press release). Franchising.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ "World Gym Taiwan buys World Gym International". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ "About Gold's". Gold's Gym. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Gold's Gym Celebrates 50th Anniversary; Inducts Arnold Schwarzenegger Into The Gold's Gym Hall of Fame" (Press release). Dallas: Gold's Gym. PRNewswire. August 26, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Founder of Gold's Gym and World Gym". National Post (Canada).
- ^ "T.R. World Gym, LLC Company Information". D&B Hoovers. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
- ^ "World Gym International, LLC: Private Company Information – Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ "USPTO grants trade mark 'WORLD GYM' to World Gym International IP (California)". US Official News. March 11, 2014.
- ^ "2012 World Gym Convention". Builders and Lifters. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
- ^ "World Gym Awards Fourth Lifetime Achievement Award" (Press release). ClubSolutions Magazine. December 22, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2022.