The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival delivered many memorable moments from February 27 to March 1 in Columbus, Ohio. During the finals ceremony on March 1, Golden Era bodybuilding veteran Mike Katz graciously accepted the 2025 Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award.
Standing at 6’1″, Mike Katz was known for his balance and size in the competitive circuit. He enjoyed several high moments throughout his decorated career, including a second-place Mr. Olympia appearance in 1976 in the Over 200 pounds category.
He and Arnold Schwarzenegger were close friends, and Katz built an astounding record as an athlete. He took part in the iconic bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron in 1977. Before Arnold Schwarzenegger handed out the Lifetime Achievement Award, he rekindled an old memory where he and Franco Columbu were astounded by Katz’s chest development.
“I met Mike when I came to America. We became friends quickly. We became training partners. I quickly became aware that he was not only a hard worker but a really great human being.”
“Franco [Columbu] and I were so impressed by Mike’s chest that we didn’t think it was even humanly possible to achieve the kind of chest he had. So, we concocted a plan to get Mike drunk so he would fall asleep. We wanted to see if his chest would still ‘pop out’ while he was asleep. And to our surprise, it certainly still did stick out. That’s how impressive his chest size was,” Schwarzenegger shared.
Bodybuilder Mike Katz Recipient of 2025 Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award
At 80 years old, Mike Katz reflected on a life of bodybuilding and earning the prestigious honor.
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“Everyone is so kind… Many years ago, I used to work out with Joe Weider in New York… and I know he had a dream, and the dream was to make bodybuilding much bigger than it was then. And he searched Europe and he found Arnold.
And it’s interesting to me the vision and foresight that Joe had because he was looking for a great body, but who would have ever thought that it wasn’t just a body he was looking for; he was looking for someone to take bodybuilding to the next level… I’d like to thank Arnold for this,” Katz shared.
As a football player, Katz was blown away by the award, likening it to the Heisman Trophy.
“This, to me, as a football player, is like winning the Heisman Trophy. I’ve won many awards, but this is the most important award, and I am so happy to receive it.”
Shortly after Katz received the honor, the 2025 Arnold Classic finished up its finals. In the end, Derek Lunsford upset reigning Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda to secure his first AC title in Columbus, Ohio. This sets the stage for an epic showdown on the 2025 Mr. Olympia stage, where Dauda will aim to get his revenge.
Katz continues to appreciate the sport and all it has given him in life. This remains one of the most pivotal moments for him in retirement, following a one-of-a-kind career in bodybuilding. He joins legends of the sport who have also received this honor, such as Flex Wheeler, Jay Cutler, and Ronnie Coleman.
“Whenever someone says you can’t, you say I can. You say I can.”
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