The sport of bodybuilding was always associated with Venice Beach in California, more like the base camp of the sport. However, that was until legend, Arnold Schwarzenegger came into the scene. Soon after his triumphs in the industry, he was on an expedition to redefine the standards of competing. Therefore, he did this by putting up his own event with his late friend, Jim Lorimer, which resulted in a 50-year-long partnership. 

A question by a fan on the athlete’s newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, pondered over the Arnold Classic and bodybuilding’s special relationship with Columbus, Ohio as a location, despite Venice Beach being hailed as the ‘Mecca’ of bodybuilding. Arnie took the opportunity to elucidate how it all began. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer’s genius act that earned them millions

According to the newsletter, the 75-year-old legend narrated the turn of events that eventually landed them with the ultimate fruition: a bodybuilding event of their own. It all started with a brief call from Lorimer asking Arnie if he would be willing to collaborate to organize the 1970 Mr. World contest in Columbus.   

However, Arnie was in a pickle. He was scheduled to perform at the Mr. Universe competitions in London only 2 days prior. It seemed “impossible” to reach the venue on time, yet he did. The former national track coach had a private jet waiting for Arnie in New York. “We made it! It was the best organized event I had ever seen,” the star athlete wrote. Furthermore, he promised Lorimer that they would be partners after Arnie retires from bodybuilding. 

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Hence, soon after he won his final Mr. Olympia title in 1975, the Austrian Oak vouched for the initiative of organizing, and he and Lorimer got the 1976 Mr. Olympia in Columbus. Nevertheless, after having organized a couple of Mr. Olympia, the IFBB “got tired” of their way of doing it and took it away. However, that was not it for the duo. 

Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer built a legacy of their own

After they got reeled out by the IFBB, Arnie and Lorimer went on to organize a few other competitions. This included Mr. International in Columbus. A sudden realization changed the course of their lives. “Eventually Jim and I decided nobody could ever take it away from us if we named it after me,” the star athlete wrote.

Hence, cherishing his late friend and age-old business partner, Lorimer, he expressed his gratification. “Jim passed away last year, but we were partners for almost 50 years on a handshake.” That is why Columbus became the home of the iconic event.

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This is how the legendary Arnold Classic, which has now evolved into the esteemed Arnold Sports Festival and has come to match the standards of the Mr. Olympia competitions, was born. Undoubtedly, a true example of a successful partnership.