Hippolyte Triat | |
|---|---|
 Hippolyte Triat c. 1876–1877 | |
| Born | Antoine Hippolyte Trilhac 14 October 1812 Saint-Chaptes, France |
| Died | 11 January 1881 (aged 68) Paris, France |
| Resting place | Montmartre Cemetery |
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Spouse | Marie-Françoise-Cornélie Pasquet |
Antoine Hippolyte Trilhac (known as Hippolyte Triat; 14 October 1812 – 11 January 1881) was a French strongman and entrepreneur, one of the founding fathers of modern physical culture and fitness centers. Born into humble circumstances, he was abducted and sold to a troupe of Italian acrobats at the age of six. While on tour in Spain in 1828, he was in an accident that forced him to leave his troupe. He was taken in and educated by a lady-patroness from Burgos. At 22, he introduced an itinerant sports show, showcasing physique posing, which gained popularity in Spain and England. Triat's travels led him to Brussels, where he opened the first commercial gymnasium in 1840, catering to the elite. He later moved to Paris and, in collaboration with Nicolas Dally, founded the "Gymnase Triat". Triat envisioned himself as a "gymnasiarch", educating aristocrats and the bourgeoisie in hygienic sports. Triat and his businesses suffered a number of setbacks due to the Franco-Prussian War, especially in the aftermath of the Paris Commune. He died in Paris in 1881.