I december 2008 hedrade Kaliforniens Guvernörspar de personer som blev invalda i Kaliforniamuseets Hall of Fame. Alla invalda är stjärnor inom sina respektive områden och exemplifierar den innovativa Kaliforniska andan. Fitnesslegenden Jack LaLanne är 94 år och still going strong. Som han själv skämtsamt säger: ”I can’t die, it would ruin my image.”
Jack LaLanne med Arnold Schwarzenegger i december.
Vid 21 års ålder startade han USAs första moderna gym i Kalifornien. De maskiner som man tränar i på gymmen idag utgår i många fall från Jacks egendesignade prototyper för träningsmaskiner. På 1980-talet fanns det över 200 gym i kedjan som bar Jack LaLannes namn. Hans träningsshow ”The Jack LaLanne Show” debuterade 1951 och gjorde LaLanne till ett välkänt namn för alla amerikaner. Närmaste motsvarighet för svenskar torde vara Arne Tammer.
Mer om Jack LaLanne
- Wikipedia om Jack LaLanne
- Jack LaLannes hemsida
- En videointervju där Jack (då 93 år) presenterar ett dataspel som tränar hjärnan
- California Museum
- Video från ceremonin kring invalet i California Hall of Fame
Guvernör Schwarzenegger fick välja vem som han skulle introducera och valet föll på Jack. Här är vad Arnold hade att säga om Jack:
And tonight I had the choice of who did I want to be the one that I wanted to introduce here, because I’m always the first one to introduce an inductee. And I looked through the list and I picked, of course, someone that I’ve admired for a long time and was a big motivator, and that’s Jack LaLanne, because — (Applause) Because he is someone, when I came over here in 1968 that I saw on Venice Beach. I remember, even though I’d seen him in a lot of magazines beforehand, but I saw him on Venice Beach doing chinups and dips and pushups for one hour straight without ever stopping. And no one could follow that routine, so I knew that he was the greatest. And, of course, we became very good friends, and we served then on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and also on the Governor’s Council on Fitness.
But the interesting thing about Jack is that he opened the first modern health studio in the United States. He designed the earliest versions of exercise equipment that we use today when we think about the Nautilus machines and the Cybex machines, actually Jack LaLanne was the one that designed the first equipment. He set also the world record for doing the most pushups. And he swam, handcuffed and shackled, towing 70 boats with 70 people inside. On his 70th birthday, may I remind you. (Applause)
And he swam the Golden Gate Channel towing a 2,500 pound cabin cruiser. And Jack has also written many fitness books, appeared in films and fitness videos, made the Power Juicer famous and had television’s longest-running exercise show. When I talk about the longest-running exercise show, I’m talking about he had it running for 34 years. Think about it, 34 years his exercise show ran. (Applause)
Even though his critics said that it would only last a few weeks, Jack did not listen to them at all. As a matter of fact, he listened to his heart, he listened to his great partner and wonderful wife, Elaine, and he listened to his instincts, he listened to his own research and evidence.
He has always been way ahead of his time. Jack discovered decades ago that nutrition and exercise are the secret to a long life and a healthy life. That’s something that everyone knows today, may I remind you, but in those days no one knew that, and science has proven him actually correct. Jack found the fountain of youth, and look at him today. He is 94 years old — 94 years old, that’s right. (Applause) And he has done all of this, he has done all of this with a great attitude. This man loves life, let me tell you. He believes that in life anything is possible if you make it happen, and I’m a big believer in that too. And that’s why I admire him so much and admire his attitude.
So the state of California honors Jack LaLanne, who inspired millions and millions of people and helped create the modern fitness craze with his living example, that’s staying active and eating right is truly the fountain of youth.
So, ladies and gentlemen, let’s bring him out. Jack LaLanne. Thank you very much. (Applause)Sedan tidigare är Jack invald i Muscle Beach Venice Bodybuilding Hall of Fame – och han fick i september 2007 dess andra Lifetime Achievement Award (det första gick till Joe Weider). Nedan en intervju gjord av Lonnie Teper vid tillfället – klicka på bilden för att spela upp videon:
Organisationen Muscle Beach Venice Bobybuilding Hall of Fame (ledd av arrangören Joe Wheatley) har tillsammans med staden Los Angeles arrangerat så att ett museum för sporten och alla invigda i Hall of Fame byggs mittemot den välkända ”viktburen” vid Muscle Beach. Man har även börjat med minnesplaketter nedsänkta i marken kring viktburen – liknande de som finns i trottoaren vid Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ett givet besök för alla gymråttor som turistar i Kalifornien…
