Bob Birdsong, 1974 IFBB Mr. America winner, is the guest on this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast. Bob was one of the best bodybuilders during the Golden Age and he trained at the original Gold's Gym in the early 1970's alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and Kent Kuehn. Bob made a comeback to competition in the early 1980's and placed very high in the IFBB professional competitions. Bob talks about how he started bodybuilding, competing in the AAU Mr. America in the early 1970's, switching over to the IFBB in the mid-1970's and competing against Lou Ferrigno, Sergio Oliva and others. At the end of the podcast, host John Hansen reads the article "Bob Birdsong's Pilgrimage to Mr. America" written by Armand Tanny from the June, 1975 issue of Muscle Builder/Power magazine.
Time Stamps:
3:00 - Emails to the Podcast
11:24 - Start of interview with Bob Birdsong
12:00 - When Bob started bodybuilding
18:37 - Bob's early competitions
22:50 - Moving to California
24:00 - Training at the original Gold's Gym
31:00 - Competing in the IFBB
36:00 - Taking a different path
45:15 - The 1974 contest season
47:35 - Returning to competition
53:00 - Steroids in the Golden Age
1:08:15 - John Hansen reads the article "Bob Birdsong's Pilgrimage to Mr. America" written by Armand Tanny from the June, 1975 issue of Muscle Builder/Power magazine.
Links:
John Hansen's Online Workout Diet Programs
Bodybuilding Legends YouTube Channel
Bodybuilding Legends on Instagram
