A survey from the Danish Sports Confederation in 2022 indicates that 39 percent of Danes engage in fitness activities, with 33 percent attending fitness centers. This signifies a shift where “gym” attendance has surpassed football as the most prevalent form of sports activity in the country. DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) explores this phenomenon in a new three-part documentary, “Hard Muscles and Tight Butts,” examining the rise of fitness and bodybuilding culture in Denmark during the 1970s and 80s.

The documentary utilizes a fast-paced style with clips from the past, focusing on anecdotes and told through the pioneers who introduced the ideal of a well-trained body. Sven-Ole Thorsen, known for his action and stunt work in Hollywood alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, is featured as one of the figures who helped popularize a modified version of the bodybuilder physique as an ideal for men. The documentary also touches upon the introduction of Jane Fonda’s exercise wave in Denmark by returned au pair girls, with Charlotte Bircow selling over a million VHSs and DVDs.

The fitness environment was marked by business ventures, ambitions, and competition. The series also touches upon the business and sports history of the time.

However, the documentary omits a deeper analysis of why fitness centers gained popularity in Denmark and continue to do so. It lacks exploration into the cultural factors that contributed to the shift towards a Greek hero statue-like body ideal, the impact of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Olympia victory and the film “Pumping Iron,” and the role of Danish “The Case is Beef” in popularizing the phenomenon. It also overlooks the broader context of individualization, economic changes, and the need for a strong, independent, and physically dominant image in the years surrounding 1980.