Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger, born July 30, 1947, in Thal, Austria. Schwarzenegger is without question the most famous bodybuilder in the world, winning Mr. Olympia seven times, he is one of the most influential and important figures in the world of bodybuilding. The annual Arnold Sports Festival, also known as the Arnold Classic, is the largest multi-sporting event in the United States. Apart from being a bodybuilding icon, Schwarzenegger is also an actor, businessman, politician and 38th Governor of California.
Thal was and remains a small village steeped in humble tradition. Schwarzenegger grew up in a very strict Roman Catholic household with two very strict parents: “…the rod was not spared,” he is quoted as saying. Gustav Schwarzenegger (Arnold’s father) was especially brash in that he favored Arnold’s older brother, Meinhard. Schwarzenegger’s parents were conformists, but Schwarzenegger was the exact opposite. His rebel attitude did not bode well with that of the stapled German-Austrian mentality. To those who said he couldn’t do it, he would tell them that he would one day move out of Thal and that he wanted to be rich, and he wanted to be somebody. Now…he’s Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is his own brand; bodybuilder, actor, politician. Schwarzenegger carved his own path.
Growing up, Schwarzenegger played many sports. One day his football (soccer) coach took the entire team to a local gym. Schwarzenegger was just 14 at the time, but it was at that moment that he realized he wanted to be a weightlifter. Arnold’s choice went against his father’s wishes for Arnold to become a police officer, just like he was. At the age of 14 Schwarzenegger began weight training with former Mr. Austria, Kurt Marnul. The training was intense, and Schwarzenegger soon realized it was not all physical. When Schwarzenegger was 15 he began to study with Dr. Karl Gerstl to understand the power of mind over body. Schwarzenegger’s mind was fixated on glorious things and at age 17 he officially began his competitive career. Unfortunately he may have started just a little too early, because a year later he was arrested.
As was required of all men at the time, at 18 Schwarzenegger had to serve a year in the army. Ironically he was chosen to be a tank driver, something that mirrored his physique. Schwarzenegger asked his superiors if he could leave for a bodybuilding competition in Stuttgart, Germany. They rejected his request. In spite of this, Schwarzenegger boarded a train and headed for Stuttgart. As a result, he was thrown in jail for a week. It was during this time that his commanding officers realized he had won Mr. Europe Junior. They reassigned him as an official bodybuilder; to enter into competitions. Schwarzenegger won three major championships, and eventually went on to become the youngest Mr. Universe in history. From then on his life would never be the same. His fame excelled on the big screen in iconic films such as Conan the Barbarian and the Terminator Series. Through it all Schwarzenegger has always stayed close with his first love, bodybuilding.
Throughout the 1960s Schwarzenegger decimated the competition with his powerful physique and unmatched will. He entered into more competitions in the 1970s and continued on to demolish the competition all the way to 1980 when he stopped competing and focused exclusively on his film career.
Bodybuilding
The most weight Arnold ever benched:
520 pounds (20 years old / weighed 245
Quick Facts
On May 10, 2011 Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced divorce after 25 years of marriage. The end of Arnold’s marriage only adds to the curse of the Kennedys
In 1997 Arnold Schwarzenegger had heart surgery to repair an aortic heart valve
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wealth is estimated to be over $800 million
From 1990-1992, Arnold Schwarzenegger was Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under George Herbert Walker Bush (The 41st United States President)
On August 7th, 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he would run for Governor of California on Jay Leno’s “The Tonight Show”
In 1986, Arnold Schwarzenegger married John F. Kennedy’s niece, Maria Shriver
