Arnold Schwarzenegger started lifting weights in his early teenage years, dead set on becoming a champion and moving to America. Inspired by Reg Park’s story, he had a vision of how he wanted to build his life, and doggedly chased after that dream.

Winning his first Mr. Universe competition at the age of 20, he became the youngest man ever to hold that title. In 1970, he started a 6-year winning streak for the Mr. Olympia title, making him the greatest bodybuilder to set foot on the world stage yet. In 1980, he upped that tally to 7.

Arnold Schwarzenegger knew he had to promote bodybuilding

When Arnold Schwarzenegger first dreamt of becoming a bodybuilder, the sport enjoyed none of the glamor and attention it does now. The prizes for the winners weren’t big enough to inspire younger generations to pursue the sport, and it got little coverage from mainstream media.

“The last time I competed, I got a thousand dollars for winning the Mr. Olympia competition, so you can just see the difference,” Arnold Schwarzenegger shared in a 1991 interview at the Arnold Classic. Sitting with Lee Haney, he revealed how he wanted the sport to breach into the mainstream.

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“I swore to myself then, when I step down from the competition, I will promote the sport,” he continued. And promote the sport he did. With his ever-growing collection of bodybuilding accomplishments, Schwarzenegger sowed the seeds of his influence. 

He wrote for muscle-building magazines and even released books detailing his life as a bodybuilding champion. His entrance into the film industry and continued efforts to promote bodybuilding through it did wonders for the sport.

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How Schwarzenegger changed the face of bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger set his sights on a Hollywood career from the very beginning. He got his first role in the 1970 movie Hercules in New York. But it was with the release of the cult classic Pumping Iron that bodybuilding started gaining public attention.

Several bodybuilding titles under his belt gave him the reputation of the greatest bodybuilder ever and established his credibility in the fitness scene. Consequently, his developed muscles scored him macho roles, and with his feature in the ‘Terminator’ franchise, Schwarzenegger became a household name.

Prizes jumped to $50,000 back in 1986 as Schwarzenegger and his business partner Jim Lorimer began promoting Mr. Olympia. After he retired from bodybuilding, he created his own contest, known as the Arnold Classic, with Lorimer in 1989. Now, the grand prize for the event stands at a worthy $200,000 going to the big winner.

Notably, 1991 Arnold Classic champion Shawn Ray said about Schwarzenegger, “Arnold opened the door for the Bodybuilders to be seen outside of the gyms. He paved the way for the Pro athletes to be recognized by the masses by way of his cross over into Hollywood.”

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