Forget Charles Atlas. Forget Jane Fonda. Forget Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and that guy on the infomercials for the Gazelle Freestyle Muscle Toner. When it comes to exercise and fitness, there's one man who has had far more influence than any other. That man was Jack LaLanne.
LaLanne, who died on Sunday 23rd January 2011 at the age of 96, leaves behind an incredible fitness legacy. He is the man who invented cable machines, leg extenders and Smith machines. He's also credited with concocting the first meal replacement drink and the first nutrition snack bar.
He introduced millions of people to the star jump. And in the 1950s, when Jane Fonda was still in pigtails, he pioneered television exercise programmes, dragging thousands of overweight Americans off their couches in the process.
He also completed an astonishing number of formidable physical challenges, and we list some of his greatest hits below.
Thank you, Jack. Rest in peace.
1954
Swims the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge underwater with air tanks and 140lb (63.5kg) of equipment - a world record.
1955
Swims from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco in handcuffs.
1956
Sets a world record of 1,033 press-ups in under 24 minutes.
1958
Paddles a paddleboard 30 miles (48km) from the Farallon Islands to San Francisco in under ten hours.
1959
Does 1,000 star jumps and 1,000 chin-ups in 1hr 22min.
1975
Aged 61, swims the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge underwater, handcuffed, with legs shackled, towing a 1,000lb (454kg) boat.
1976
Swims a mile (1.6km) across Long Beach Harbor, handcuffed, with legs shackled, towing 76 people spread across 13 boats.
1979
Swims across a Japanese lake, handcuffed, with legs shackled, towing 65 boats filled with 65,000lb (21,484kg) of wood pulp.
1980
Swims over a mile in the sea off Florida, towing 10 boats containing 77 people. It takes less than an hour.
1984
Swims a mile and a half (2.4km) across Long Beach Harbor, handcuffed, with legs shackled, while towing 70 people in 70 boats for his 70th birthday.
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