Leading the charge in NYC’s fitness renaissance, Maik Wiedenbach — a two-time World Cup and Olympic-level swimmer turned Musclemania champion, NYU adjunct professor and celebrated author – has redefined what it means to train in Manhattan and by doing so has transformed hundreds of physiques. The German and now true New Yorker, found an abnormally efficient sweet spot between the old school and current science — and the city loves it.
Wiedenbach’s journey began in Germany as an elite swimmer, competing at World Cup and Olympic levels before earning a swimming scholarship to Fordham University in New York. His athletic legacy continued in the States as he transitioned into bodybuilding, clinching multiple bodybuilding titles and building a reputation rooted in discipline and results. He’s also a member of the Fordham Hall of Fame and holds dual degrees in history and German literature — there clearly was more than muscle to the successful athlete and entrepreneur.
After becoming NASM-, BSA-, and AFPA-certified, Wiedenbach founded what is now Maik Wiedenbach Personal Training, based in Midtown Manhattan.
Awards, accolades and a clear method – What It Takes To Thrive In The City
Wiedenbach was voted NYC’s Best Coach from 2020 to 2024 consecutively as well as USA Top Coach in 2022 and Best Personal Trainer in NYC in 2021 by Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s Best of the City list.
These are accolades that Wiedenbach doesn’t take lightly — they’ve inspired him to continue setting higher standards and goals.
He’s also been featured in major publications and even on a billboard in Times Square, testaments to his widespread respect and visibility in the fitness world.
Wiedenbach holds a “science-first, no-gimmicks” ethos. Rejecting fad diets, overpriced supplements and hyperbole, he emphasizes evidence-based training, nutrition adherence, technique-first exercise execution and individualized programming. From custom-built U.K.-imported equipment to personalized recovery plans, every aspect underscores precision and results-driven coaching. Nothing about his facilities or approach is random; the difference is in the details.
He often shares core principles: “Train each muscle twice weekly close to failure, hit macros right, recover fully. Everything else is just noise.”
Image provided by Maik Wiedenbach Personal Training
Resilient as a true New Yorker
When the pandemic shuttered NYC gyms, Wiedenbach pivoted swiftly — rolling out online training, taking sessions to Central Park, Long Island City and beyond using bodyweight and bands. He did so despite suffering greatly from Covid, losing 35 pounds of muscle and the ability to walk more than one block in the immediate aftermath of the illness.
His resilience helped his business not only survive but thrive — growing from near-zero to over $3 million in revenue within a year, while maintaining abnormally low trainer turnover (8%) and high client retention (10-12 months vs. industry average of 10 weeks).
These days his gym is thriving, and the entrepreneur has shared his methods and concepts all over the globe. In 2026, Maik Wiedenbach Personal Training will open in Dubai and Abu Dhabi simultaneously.
As an adjunct instructor at NYU teaching Exercise Sciences, Wiedenbach influences future fitness professionals with evidence-backed training principles. He’s also a published author (“101 Fitness Myths,” “Success DNA” and his autobiography, “Show up or Shut Up: A Real Story of Mental Health, Muscle, and Money”) and regularly contributes expert content across media platforms including his YouTube channel.
It’s no secret that the fitness and personal training industry in NYC is competitive, high level and crowded. Maik Wiedenbach aims to stand out as a beacon of integrity, expertise and innovation. His story — from German swimmer to top Manhattan trainer — is one of destined transformation, resilience and consistent excellence.
