20th centuries
The 20th century symbolized the beginning of a new era for fitness leaders: the President of the United States. Theodore Roosevelt had excellent physical condition and led the country in the new century. He acknowledged the importance of exercise and physical activity and had the power to encourage the citizens of United States to be physically active. President Roosevelt had a enthusiasm for fitness similar to the ideology of ancient Greece. His desire to fitness has evolved since its battle with asthma as a child which he overcame with a rigorous exercise program. As president, he committed several forms of physical activities including hiking, horseback riding and other outdoor activities. Although not all the presidents that followed Roosevelt have held the same esteem for fitness that him, but tehy recognized that the president position required a commitment to the physical condition of the United States citizens.
1st World War
In Europe, the first World War began in August 1914. The United States entered in the war three years later in 1917. The US had hundreds of thousands of soldiers prepared and trained for combat. After the war was won, the statistics on preparing soldiers were released with alarming data on the levels of physical conditions. It was found that one of three was unfit for combat and that many people prepared was very unfit prior military training. Government legislation ordered the improvement of physical education programs in public schools. However, the increased interest and concern for poor levels of physical condition will be short for the United States who came in the 1920s and the Great Depression.
That’s all for today. Soon the rest of the fitness history
-Steph