|| www.area9.net - Information that brings results! ||

Area9.net
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER BIO PT1 : BODYBUILDER

I can still remember seeing Arnold for the first time in predator and commando. I didn't know anything about Arnold the bodybuilder. Bodybuilder? What was that I asked myself as a twelve year old. I then heard about a movie called Pumping Iron. I saved up my pocket money and got my self a copy. Well anyone who has seen it (and why the hell haven't you- its required watching for any Iron Warrior) will have there own memories of the impact it had. From that moment on I was hooked on bodybuilding and have never looked back.

For many, decades after he stepped down from the bodybuilding platform, Arnold is still the king of the sport. Bodybuilders have got bigger (Arnold says he hates today's look and personality dead competitors even though he has his own bodybuilding competition) and many make Arnie look like an amateur but ask most bodybuilders young and old who first started them on the path it was Arnold, even most of today's beginners. Ask many who they want to look like it isn't the ultra modern, ultra huge Flex wheeler, Dorian Yates or Ronnie Coleman it is still Arnold.

Myself I like the standard (albeit with a little less fat) that Arnold was when he was in his late teens early twenties. I don't care what anyone else says, I simply love the look . It massive yet looks achievable.

Still this is a biography on the big man himself, not little insignificant me. So without further a do lets begin. Arnolds life is so big he will be the only Legend that we cover over two articles. One as a bodybuilder, one as a Film star and businessman and of course now as a politician

The Beginning

Arnold was born in Thal a small village in Austria on the 30th July 1947. He was a sickly child who lived in a 300 year old house with his father (a police commandant) Gustav, his mother (a housewife) Aurelia and his older brother Mienhard. Sadly all his immediate family have since passed away.

His house was meagre. No heating no plumbing. Arnold along with his other chores would have to gather water from a well 150 yards outside his house. Arnold recalls that the highlight of his childhood was when the family got a refrigerator. they found it amazing , opening up the door and putting their hands inside.

His father was strict and often pitted his two sons in competition with each other.

Arnold started training when he was sixteen in order to build up his legs for his soccer training. As soon as he stepped into the dungeon like gym in Graz, which he had to cycle the four miles to and from each time he trained, he knew he had found his sport.

Like most of us the first day he trained he went crazy, doing reps upon reps on every exercise. He was so sore he could hardly ride home and had to 'walk' his bike the rest of the way home because he was so weak.

Arnold was hooked and under the instruction of some of his new found friends at the gym started training for bodybuilding with his goal of wining the Mr.Universe contest. Some were bemused looking at the skinny kid training with his mouth half open, eyes half closed and his sunken chest saying he was going to win the then second most converted title in bodybuilding.

Arnold was soon training seven days a week. When he couldn't train at the gym he trained at his make shift gym in the basement of his house. He was dedicated to the extreme. Once 'breaking in' to the gym because it was closed and he wanted to train. Another time ripping the skin of his hands because he was training so hard he had not noticed how cold it was in the gym and his hand had 'stuck' to the barbell.

On to the USA

In 1965 Arnold was conscripted into the Austrian army for the compulsory years national service. His father managed to pull some strings and so his son spent his time driving a tank.

He wanted to compete in the 1966 Junior Mr.Europe competition in Stuggart Germany. However in order to do so he had to climb over the army barracks was and go A.W.O.L. He won the competition and was invited to try the Mr.Universe. On returning to the barracks he was caught and put in jail. He didn't care. He had his trophy and he was on his way to win the Mr.Universe title.

His first attempt at winning the 1966 Mr.Universe failed. But in 1967 He went to London and won the Mr.Universe become the youngest person to do so. He was only twenty years old.

From then on Arnold set his sights on America and the Mr.Olympia. He had built up his raw bulk of 250 lbs. Now he needed to go to the hub of bodybuilding and learn everything he could to become the best bodybuilder ever.

He was defeated only twice. Once by the ultra ripped Frank Zane and again by the Myth Sergio Oliva for the 1969 Mr.Olympia.

From then on he dominated the sport winning every competition going at the time. He was charismatic, charming and the biggest thing to ever hit bodybuilding.

COMPETITION RECORD

1963 Contest in Graz, Austria, at Steirer Hof Hotel (2nd)

1965 Junio Mr. Europe in Stoccarda, Germany (1st)

1966 Mr. Europe (1st amatorial)

1966 Best Built Man in Europe (1st)

1966 NABBA Mr. Universe in London (2nd, tall class amatorial)

1967 NABBA Mr. Universe in London (1st, tall class amatorial and abs.)

1968 NABBA Mr. Universe in London (1st, tall class pro and absolute)

1968 IFBB Mr. Universe in Miami, Florida (1st, tall class)

1968 IFBB Mr. International in Tijuana, Mexico (1st, tall class and abs.)

1969 IFBB Mr. Universe in New York City (1st)

1969 IFBB Mr. Olympia in New York City (2nd)