This figurine was first reported on by the Smurf Collector's Club International in Spring 1988:
"Feast your eyes upon this Smurf! "Bodybuilding Smurf" is it's name. Our sources tell us, 'There are a lot of Body Building Clubs in Europe and this Smurf was made for them.' It is a Smurf with muscles galore in a bodybuilding position. Blue injected mold, white hat. We have verified two different colored bathing trunks; wine and gold. On the right side of it's head is printed the words "Sport and Fitness," in black lettering." The SCCI goes on to note that this piece is unusual because a totally new mold was used for it. Previously, promos had been issued from existing Schleich molds with messages printed on them or items placed in their hands to give them special promotional meaning.
In March 1988 the SCCI received an unprinted example of this Smurf, and they reported in the Summer 1988 newsletter that it would be added to the regular line as Schliech #20228. However, the Winter 1988 newsletter advised that Peyo did not approve of the new Bodybuilder Smurf and insisted on it's withdrawal from the official line. Reportedly, he found the sculpted muscles to be unsmurf-like. Only 5,000 pieces had been made before it was discontinued, a very small production. All of them had red (wine) trunks. It was replaced with what is known today at 20228 Fitness Smurf (the Smurf stretching the work-out springs). Peyo died at the end of 1992, and in 1993 the Bodybuilding Smurf was added back to the line as Schleich #20417 with gold trunks. This variation was produced for 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
