Sport

Same Old New You

Exercise routines through the decades, inspired by the 'new year, new you' mantra

Magnum Photographers

Philippe Halsman Marilyn Monroe. California, Hollywood, USA. 1952. © Philippe Halsman | Magnum Photos
Rene Burri A man exercising on a beach, not far from the port where nuclear submarines are stationed. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. USA. 1966. © Rene Burri | Magnum Photos
Inge Morath © The Inge Morath Foundation A drag queen at an aerobics class at a Crunch Gym. New York, USA. 1997. © Inge Morath © The Inge Morath Foundation | Magnum Photos
Dennis Stock An exercise class at a campground in Florida. Florida, USA. © Dennis Stock | Magnum Photos
Stuart Franklin Mass Aerobics in the Interlagos Leisure complex. Sao Paulo, Brazil. 2002. © Stuart Franklin | Magnum Photos
Burt Glinn Sumo wrestlers of the Dewanoumi Beya sumo stable do daily exercises in a training camp. Tokyo, Japan. 1985. © Burt Glinn | Magnum Photos
Peter Marlow Exercise for the elderly at a sanatorium near Riga. Latvia, Soviet Union. 1981. © Peter Marlow | Magnum Photos
David Alan Harvey A seventy-five-year-old Carlos Leblanc exercises on the beach. Barcelona, Spain. 1991. © David Alan Harvey | Magnum Photos
Thomas Hoepker Senior citizens perform tai chi exercises at sunrise on the Bund (Zhongshan Road), with the Pudong skyline in the background. Shanghai, China. 2001. © Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Micha Bar Am Early morning gymnastics on the beach of Tel Aviv. Israel. © Micha Bar Am | Magnum Photos
Jean Gaumy Central park. New York City, USA. 1987. © Jean Gaumy | Magnum Photos
David Hurn The Dancing Grannies are a 5 member team in their early 60s to mid 70s. Although they kick and jump better than most 19 year olds they are all grandmothers. “Who says you can’t feel good and be sex (...)
Thomas Hoepker A jogger stretches at the Central Park Reservoir. New York City, USA. 1983. © Thomas Hoepker | Magnum Photos
Eli Reed Girls exercise during basketball lessons. Eau Claire, South Carolina, USA. 1999. © Eli Reed | Magnum Photos
Philip Jones Griffiths Ho Chi Minh City's first health club. Obesity is a new phenomenon in Vietnam. Vietnam. 1993. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos
Leonard Freed A Jewish old age home. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 1985. © Leonard Freed | Magnum Photos
Danny Lyon A health center. Chile, Arizona, USA. 2000. © Danny Lyon | Magnum Photos

As a new year begins and gym ads, magazine articles and television features suggest working on a ‘new you’, we present a curation of images of exercise, captured by Magnum photographers throughout the decades, documenting the eternal pursuit for the body beautiful.

Stay in touch
Learn about online and offline exhibitions, photography fairs, gallery events, plus fine print news and activities, on a monthly basis.
Get fortnightly tips and advice articles, find out about the latest workshops, free online events and on-demand courses.
Stay up to date every Thursday with Magnum photographers’ activities, new work, stories published on the Magnum website, and the latest offerings from our shop.