Who is Anja Langer?
The greatest female bodybuilder in German history is Anja Langer.
The German Bodybuilding Hall of Fame has only ever inducted one woman into the sport of bodybuilding. After finishing second to Cory Everson in the Ms. Olympic, her career reached its pinnacle in 1988.
Anja Langer had to deal with her father’s passing while she was in the middle of her Ms. Olympia preparations in 1987, so things weren’t always simple for her.
Body Measurements of Anja Langer
| Full Name: Anja Langer |
| DATE OF BIRTH: June 2, 1965 |
| ERA: 1980, 1990, 2000 |
| PROFESSION: Bodybuilder, Fitness Model, Personal Trainer |
| NATIONALITY: German |
| AGE: 57 |
| HEIGHT: 5’7″ (170cm) |
| WEIGHT: 145 – 155lbs (65.8 – 70.3kg) |
Accomplishments
Contest History and Other Achievements
- 1981 Baden-Württemberg Championships – Did not Place
- 1982 Baden-Württemberg Championships – 2nd
- 1983 NPC German Championships – 4th
- 1984 NPC Amateur World Championship – 2nd (with a partner)
- 1985 NPC Junior World Championships – 1st
- 1986 IFBB European Amateur Championships – 1st (HW)
- 1986 IFBB German Championships – 1st (MW & Overall)
- 1987 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 4th
- 1987 IFBB World Pro Championships – 2nd
- 1988 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 2nd
- 2009: Inducted into the German Bodybuilding Hall of Fame.
- 2011: Inducted into Joe Weider’s Bodybuilding Hall of Fame.
“My life experiences have taught me the value of having a solid foundation, and through physical exercise, particularly bodybuilding, I was able to achieve my strength in both my body and mind.”
Biography
Sports in Anja’s Youth
Germany is where Anja Langer was born in 1965. Anja frequently went to the woodland near her house with her family and friends to play. This perhaps explains why I’ve always been fascinated by nature, adds Anja.
She became interested in athletics at a young age and realized that sports were where her strengths lay. Anja joined a professional gymnastics confederation at the age of 8 and began competing in events.
A few years later, she developed a passion for riding horses and started competing in various horse shows.
Anja, however, was a champion in each sport in which she participated. Because of this, she had the idea, “Why not become an athlete?” She was still ignorant of bodybuilding at this time though.
Swing Dance
Anja experimented with practically every sport “under the sun” over the years. But in high school, she decided to give jazz dancing a shot.
“I was enthused by jazz dancing because I adored the music, the movements, the expressiveness, and performing in particular.
Later, when I had to execute a posing routine on stage, my affiliation with jazz dance would be very helpful to my bodybuilding career; I always considered my routines as dance performances.
Initial Training Exercise
The time eventually arrived when Anja entered the gym for the first time.
She was the sole girl training in her gym, and she was 15 years old. But Anja wasn’t bothered by this. She fell in love with the sensation she got from working out right away and quickly became completely engrossed in bodybuilding.
The fact that I was the lone girl in the gym did not disturb me. Since the boys were all in awe of my strength, I genuinely enjoyed it.
Trying out bodybuilding contests
Anja’s gym workouts immediately started to show in her body; over the months, her muscles grew rapidly.
Anja was inspired to participate in fitness competitions after seeing these outcomes. The Baden Wuerttemberg Championships was the bodybuilding competition Anja participated in for the first time in 1982. Anja finished second to last but wasn’t deterred by the outcome. Instead, this gave her more motivation to work harder and do better.
I learned about dieting and how to maximize my workouts, and I used that information to prepare for the competition.
Anja placed second in the same competition a year later.
A hobby becomes a career
After completing her secondary education, Anja started to daydream of competing as a professional bodybuilder. Anja’s parents, however, preferred that she concentrate on her academics and would not permit this.
Anja was aware that working out in the gym rather than attending class was what she truly loved to do. She consequently began training covertly and competing without her parent’s knowledge.
My parents didn’t fully understand the importance of bodybuilding to my perspective on life or how my involvement in the sport has contributed to my optimistic outlook until much later.
Anja eventually finished fourth at the German Bodybuilding Championships in 1983. She and her posing partner finished in second place at the World Amateur Championships in Madrid the following year.
Anja won the Junior World Championships in Australia two years later, and she added two more triumphs in 1986 at the European Bodybuilding Championships and German Championships.
After that, Anja decided to make bodybuilding her full-time profession, turning it from a pastime to a profession.
Second-place Ms. Olympia
To advance her career, Anja began training for Ms. Olympia in 1987. However, due to the death of her father, this year was incredibly tough for her.
Anja, however, was aware that her father would want her to keep competing, so she accomplished just that, finishing in second place at the famous IFBB Pro World Championships. She ultimately finished fourth at the 1987 Ms. Olympia.
Anja earned her best-ever Ms. Olympia appearance in 1988, winning the title of vice-champion.
Pregnancy
Anja decided to take a year off from competing after finishing in second place at the Olympia to “recompose me.” At the time, she was only 23 years old and was aware that there was still much room for growth. She set a goal to return and win 1990, Ms. Olympia.
Anja was ready to put everything she had into getting that trophy. Anja explains that “fate had other intentions,” nevertheless.
Anja discovered she was pregnant just as she was getting ready for the competition. In 1990, I was preparing for childbirth rather than Ms. O, which was a different but no less wonderful occasion.
Anja adhered to a certain exercise and food plan throughout her pregnancy.
She then gave birth to her son in 1991. Anja decided to discontinue her pro bodybuilding career due to new priorities in her life, but her love of weightlifting persisted.
New Ground for Bodybuilding
Anja co-authored her first book on exercise, diet, and bodybuilding before the end of 1991. She later made another appearance on the bodybuilding stage but as a guest poser.
Anja claims that guest posing was one of her best experiences in bodybuilding, even though she didn’t do it to earn awards.
Despite not being as muscular as she was during her competitive days, she said that she had the most joy performing ever because of the enthusiastic response from the audience.
Purchasing a Gym
Anja purchased her gym in Stuttgart in 1995 to start her own business.
Anja claims that although owning a gym seemed fascinating at first, she gradually lost interest in it.
The continual stress and lack of spare time that came with owning a business were primarily to blame for this. She ultimately decided to sell the gym in 1998 as a result.
She sold the company and went on to work as a personal trainer, model, and fitness expert. Anja claims that these were trying times; as a working single parent, she had to work very hard to give her family what they required.
Go back to the fitness scene
Anja met her husband in 1999, and they were wed a year later. Anja was able to devote more time to her interests thanks to his assistance and encouragement.
She eventually returned to the bodybuilding industry as a spokesman and paid fitness model rather than as a competitor.
She participated in several high-profile photo projects in the early 2000s, which helped her establish herself as one of the top female models of the day.
“I quickly began to show up in magazines and calendars again. Even though motherhood again got in the way, I even pondered going back to the competitive stage. My second son was born to me in 2001. Since then, I’ve occasionally appeared in a lot of magazines.
Now, Anja Langer
Anja Langer continues to be the most successful German female bodybuilder.
When she was admitted into the German Hall of Fame of Bodybuilders in 2009, this was demonstrated. She was the first woman to accomplish this.
Anja’s glimmering career received its final seal in 2011 when she was admitted into Joe Weider’s Bodybuilding Hall of Fame. “An award I sincerely appreciate.” Aja Langer
Training
Anja Langer used a mix of compound and isolation exercises when she was at her best.
She started her workouts with squats, pull-ups, and bench presses. Anja incorporated isolated exercises as the session went on to concentrate on specific muscles.
She used a push-pull technique, working out for three days straight before taking a day off. Anja concentrated on strengthening her chest and back to obtain a balanced shape because her legs were her best features.
She has always thought that proper shape takes precedence over weight. She avoided doing a lot of hard lifting because of this and concentrated on how the workout was done.
Nutrition
Diet Comes Before Exercise
Anja has always thought that her nutrition contributed to 60% of her bodybuilding success.
She claims that some mistakenly believe that rigorous exercise will result in the ideal physique. When in reality, a significant factor in achieving the coveted six-pack is diet.
Bodybuilders and the numerous fashion models, who exercise little but are lean and almost fat-free, will witness this.
Macros by Anja
Anja consumed a diet with a macronutrient breakdown of 40% proteins, 50% carbohydrates, and 10% fats. She has found that this method works the best for her, but as Anja points out, it might not. Exploration is essential.
Anja didn’t consume carbohydrates, processed meat, or alcoholic beverages, thus her diet was of a high caliber. When she was getting ready for the competition, only healthy foods were permitted.
Anja also made sure that her muscles received continual protein refueling. She frequently drank protein drinks both before bed and just after waking up as a result. This assisted her body to avoid falling into catabolic mode.
Influences and Idols
Even as a young child, Anja was highly affected by her drive to excel in all she did. Anja carried on with this quality as she grew older.
Anja eventually developed into one of the greatest bodybuilders of her time thanks to her competitive spirit.
What Anja Langer can teach us?
Anja’s journey into sports began when she was only 8 years old. She developed an incredible and aesthetically pleasing physique over the years as a result of her love for weightlifting, and she is now one of Germany’s most well-known female bodybuilders.
If Anja Langer can teach us anything, it’s that success comes down to three things: effort, consistency, and sacrifice.
By working hard every single day, and by plowing through any obstacle that might stand in your way, you too can reach your mountain of success – just like Anja did.