Standing at the peak of physical fitness, Arnold Schwarzenegger redefined the bodybuilding sport. A perfectly chiseled physique, backed by a buffed-up body, meant Arnold was the living embodiment of what the human body could achieve. Apart from the Mr. Olympia championship of 1980, there has never been a doubt about the credential of the 7x Mr. Olympia champion.

All but one credential surrounding Arnold’s measurements has forever been a topic of debate. People have always considered Schwarzenegger’s measurements genuine apart from his height. The bodybuilder-actor has often had to clarify what his correct height is.

Arnold Schwarzenegger snubs claims of him being short

Over the years, Arnold Schwarzenegger has rarely struggled with anything. When he tried bodybuilding, he became a 7x Mr. Olympia champ. As he became an actor, Arnold turned out to be one of the most iconic action heroes of all time. Segueing into politics, Arnold once again met with success as he became California’s governor. But the one thing Arnold has had a problem with has been his height.

While he claims he is 6’2 ft tall, reports often suggest Schwarzenegger might be shorter. Some even speculate he is 5’8 ft tall. During one of his interviews, Arnold addressed the issue as he expressed surprise after finding out about the ridiculous claim. Schwarzenegger said, “I’m 6ft 2in. I’ve heard rumors that I’m really much shorter in real life- like 5ft 6in or something like that – which is ridiculous. I can assure you this is not the case”.

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Furthering his argument, Arnold said people have to look up when they talk to him to maintain eye contact. “People look up to me and not just because I do a lot of work in the community. I mean, most people really LOOK UP to me.” Notably, former professional bodybuilder Vince Basile once claimed to have measured Arnold in person. According to Vince, he recorded Arnold’s height at 6’1.5ft.

Even Lewis Hamilton thought Arnold would be taller

The debate around Schwarzenegger’s height has a far-reaching radius. While it may still be a trivial topic, some of the biggest names from various backgrounds have pitched their views on the same. One such name on the list is that of 7-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

At the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton met Schwarzenegger as they addressed the crowd while engaging in some chit-chat. To Lewis’s surprise, Arnold was nowhere near as tall as he expected. Expressing the same, Hamilton said, “I thought you were taller.” He quickly turned to the crowd and said, “I thought he was taller on ‘The Terminator.'” Schwarzenegger was quick to think on his feet as he came up with a great reply. He said, “I’m not wearing my high heels.”

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The debate about whether Arnold is 6’2ft may go on. But there can be no arguments about the heights of success that the bodybuilder-actor has achieved in his life.