Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on 30 July 1947 to Aurelia and Gustav Schwarzenegger in Thal, a small village in Austria . As a boy, he enjoyed a sound reputation at school for his cheerful, good humored and exuberant character. Influenced by his father, he involved in a number of sports, especially soccer (football). At the tender age of 14, he took a great liking to bodybuilding and soon opted for it as a career preferably over football. Although he was slim, he bore a well developed physique. He went regularly to the gym and undertook an intensive training for Olympic lifting. At 15, Arnold studied Psychology in order to acquire learning about the power of the mind over the body. At 17, he officially started his competitive career.

On his regular visits to the gym, Arnold frequently visited the local movie theatres in an effort to see bodybuilding idols like Steve Reeves, Johnny Weismuller and Reg Park , whom he admired greatly. He was deeply inspired by these personalities. He considers himself fortunate enough to have met and trained with former Mr Austria – Kurt Marnul at the gym in Graz , which he frequented. He was a dedicated youngster who would visit the gym even on weekends when it was closed. Such was his devotion towards his career that in 1972, when his father Gustav passed away, he did not even attend his funeral as he was under training for a bodybuilding contest. He won a number of contests and rose to fame after being voted ‘The Best Built Man of Europe'. He was awarded the Mr Universe title in 1966 in London . He was then just 20. He sought bodybuilding as the avenue to become rich and famous.

The bodybuilding career of Arnold can be briefed as follows:

• Won the Mr Universe title – five times (1966 to 1969)
• Mr Olympia – seven times (1970 to 1975 and 1980)
• International Powerlifting Championships

  First 1966 (+80 kg)

• German Powerlifting Championships

  Second 1967 (+80 kg)

  First 1968 (+80 kg)

• Graz- Paradise Keller Powerlifting Championships

  Second 1967 (+80 kg)

• Styrian Junior Weightlifting Championships

  First (1964)

• German Austrian Weightlifting Championships

  First (1965)

• Munich Stone lifting Contest

  First (1967) The stone weighed 508 German pounds (254 kg) and was lifted between the legs while standing on two foot rests.

• Personal Records

  Snatch – 243 lb (110 kg)

  Bench Press – 440 lb (200 kg)

  Clean & Press – 264 lb (120 kg)

  Squat – 470 lb (215 kg)

  Deadlift – 680 lb (310 kg)

  Clean & Jerk – 298 lb (135 kg)

• Considered as one of the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding, Arnold 's legacy is commemorated in the Arnold Classic Annual Bodybuilding Competition.
• The bodybuilding magazines – Muscle & Fitness and Flex include a monthly column authored by him.
• After being elected 38 th Governor of California, Arnold was appointed the Executive Editor of both the magazines mentioned above, in a largely symbolic capacity.
• Both magazines donate $250,000 annually towards the Governor's various physical fitness endeavors.
• The magazine ‘Muscle Mag International' adorns a monthly two-page article on Schwarzenegger, and refers to him as ‘The King'.
• Arnold still continues to work. With regard to his personal training, he admits that he works out half an hour with weights daily.

Competition Weight: 235 lb (107 kg)

Off Season Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)

• Schwarzenegger presented awards at the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame in Columbus , Ohio in 2011.

• After he won the Mr. Olympia title in 1975, he announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding.

• While training for his role in a movie ‘Conan', Arnold undertook intensive training in horse riding and sword fighting. This put him in a good shape. With only seven weeks of preparation, Arnold competed for the one last time in the Mr Olympia contest in 1980 and, to the pleasure and surprise of all, won it. Thereafter, he officially retired.
• Arnold 's officially measured height is 6'2” (1.88 m). He occupies one of the most active and honourable pages in CelebHeights.com, a website solely dedicated to the discussion of the heights of celebrities.
• With regard to his winning streak involving numerous victories, Schwarzenegger has admitted to having used anabolic legal steroids to enhance his performance. In 1977, he wrote in a magazine that these products helped him tremendously to maintain muscle size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. He called the drugs ‘ Tissue Building '.
• Fondly nicknamed ‘The Austrian Oak', Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to prevail as a prominent face in bodybuilding.