Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to be a major influence in the bodybuilding community even in retirement. During a seminar at the 2024 Arnold Classic, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his thoughts on posing making a comeback in modern bodybuilding, discussed the Franco Columbu Most Muscular Award, and opened up about facing some of his toughest rivals in the sport.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Having brought an incredible physique that displayed sculpted and proportionate muscles, it is no surprise that Schwarzenegger would go on to earn seven Mr. Olympia titles.
Even in retirement, Schwarzenegger continues to give back to the community not only by sharing his invaluable insight on all things health and fitness but also by promoting inclusivity and equality in bodybuilding with the hopes that it will allow more people to enjoy and understand the sport.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Talks Past Posing Critiques and Its Evolution From 10 Years Ago
When Schwarzenegger sat down during one of his seminars that took place during the 2024 Arnold Classic, he revealed that in the past he had been critical about the level of fitness/posing that the athletes brought to the stage.
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“I’m the first one to criticize bodybuilding. Ten years ago, fifteen years ago i criticize bodybuilding. I said what’s going on here? This is the top guys in the world, and after a few poses they were huffing and puffing and their stomach were hanging out. They couldn’t keep the vacuum and they couldn’t keep the stomach in.”
“They couldn’t keep themselves in the control, they were posing and they were shaking up there when they held the pose for a longer period of time. I said what is this? This is like a bunch of cripples. So I was criticizing them. None of them could do a vacuum anymore, they’re shaking, they’re sweating, they’re out of control and not really in shape like a world champion should be because they are world champions up there on stage.”
Even though Schwarzenegger had noticed some discrepancies in the past, he was happy to see the improvements the competitors had made on the 2024 Arnold Classic stage, specifically praising the new champion Hadi Choopan and his incredible stage presence.
“So this criticism maybe they’ve taken seriously and the federation also has taken seriously this whole thing and put much more emphasis on posing because posing is really the only way they can display your body.”
“So when I saw this last fews days the guys posing up there and being called out by the judges, do the bicep fronts, do the biceps back, do the lat spread, do this, do that, and they kept going on and on and on and there was no one up there huffing and puffing on the stage. They just stepped forward, they did their poses, and it was like totally casual. I said this is fantastic” Schwarzenegger added.
Schwarzenegger admits ‘The Persian Wolf’s’ ability to hit a vacuum pose inspired him.
“I got inspired by that. When I saw Hadi was up there posing and smiling and doing his vacuum like it was nothing. It was just very fantastic to see that. I just want to say congratulations to those bodybuilders for having improved their conditioning.”
During the 2024 Arnold Classic, the Franco Columbu Most Muscular Award is given out to one of the Men’s Open competitors, this year being Hadi Choopan. Schwarzenegger reminisces about Franco Columbu and the importance of preserving his best friend’s legacy.
“Franco Columbu was so muscular. He had such thick muscles. I mean, we are talking about 50 years ago so the standards were different then but it was just extraordinary to see somebody who weighs 185 pounds and to have this much thickness and to be so dangerous for the big guys.”
“I mean, Franco would kinda like beat big guys left and right and not only on the stage with the posing but also with power. I mean he would just go to the gym and do press behind the neck with 315, with three big olympic plates on the olympic bar and he would be doing press behind the neck with that. I mean, you don’t see anyone at 185 do this, not even the big guys do this kind of weight.”
“We want to keep the memory alive.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger Reflects On Competing Against His Rivals And Beating His Idol
Arnold Schwarzenegger took a step into his past as he discussed who inspired him early in his life. He also discussed how getting on stage with his rival Sergio Oliva motivated him to improve as a bodybuilder.
“I will always give credit to Reg Park who was Hercules on the big screen when I was 15 years old. So we used to go to the movies and watch Hercules and he was my inspiration. Then eventually I saw a magazine and I started reading about his training and all that, that’s what inspired me originally.”
“Then later on, when I started winning Mr. Universe at the very same time Sergio Oliva started winning Mr. Olympia. So then the following year I won Mr. Universe again and Sergio Oliva won another Mr. Olympia and then eventually I knew I’m going to go and run together with this guy, with this monster” said Schwarzenegger.
He admits that former three-time Mr. Olympia Sergio Oliva Jr.’s physique was extraordinary and it gave him tremendous inspiration.
“I mean he was extraordinary, what a physique and sure enough in 1969 I won the Mr. Universe contest for the fourth time in New York and therefore I was automatically moved into the Olympia competition and there was competing with Sergio Oliva, and I lost.
Which was fair and square, he was without any doubt better than me but it gave me tremendous inspiration.”
While he was incredibly moved by competing next to Sergio Oliva, beating his idol Reg Park was a completely different matter that left Arnold Schwarzenegger unsure of how to feel.
“It was in 1970 just the night before I beat Sergio Oliva here in Columbus, I won against Reg Park. It was, he shouldn’t have competed because he was now 45 years old and I think that he was not quite as sharp as he used to be. I don’t know why he decided to do that. To me, I did not know that he was going to be in the competition and all of a sudden he is standing there next to me in the line up at the Mr. Universe contest.”
“It was one of those things where I of course did everything I could to win and Im sure he did everything he could to win but you know he placed second, he placed right after me and I felt kinda uncomfortable about that that. That I have beaten now my idol. It was kinda really weird” Schwarzenegger revealed.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is dedicated to improving the sport that helped build him into an icon. He is also focused on helping individuals live longer and healthier lives. Schwarzenegger is a huge proponent of consistently moving the body to maintain physical and mental health, having recently shared a study proving strength training can help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.
During the 2024 Arnold Classic, which took place from February 29 through March 3, Schwarzenegger concluded the event by announcing that he was increasing the Men’s Open winner prize money from $300,000 to $500,000 starting in 2025. This surpasses bodybuilding’s biggest show Mr. Olympia, which only offers the Men’s Open winner $400,000.
Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to inspire as a bodybuilding ambassador. From rivals, and modern posing, to the Most Muscular Franco Columbu Award, his impact on the sport is undeniable.
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