Arnold Schwarzenegger Mr. Olympia 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980
THE BEGINNINGS Arnold Schwarzenegger is without any doubt one of the biggest
stars Hollywood has ever known. And then we aren't only speaking about size.
He's also the proof that everybody with a dream and a lot of perseverance can
realize his dreams. Arnold was born on July 30, 1947 in Thal (4 miles from
Graz), Austria. He grew up on the second floor of the 300-year-old home at 145
Thal-Linak with his parents Gustav and Aurelia and his older brother Meinhard.
Although the Schwarzenegger household came with Gustav's job as a police
commandant, it had absolutely no modern amenities (no plumbing, no central
heating, no phone, no carpeting and just a few lights. For many years they
didn't even had a refrigerator. Can you imagine? Arnold and Meinhard would have
to fetch water from a well 150 yards away from their house).
He started his career in Graz, Austria, with only one thing in mind: capturing
the Mr. Universe title. The costs to be a member of a gym were too high, so he
equipped his own gym in the basement of his parent's home. But in 1961 he met
Kurt Marnul, the former Mr. Austria. Marnul was impressed of Arnold's body and
asked him to train in the Athletic Union in Graz. And of course he wanted that.
In 1965 he enlisted in the Austrian army (where he served as a thank driver at
the Graz Tank Unit Panzer battalion from October 1, 1965 until the end of
September 1966), but to compete in Stuttgart, Arnold had to go A.W.O.L and for
that he was jailed when he came back. But he won the competition and was awarded
the title of Jr. Mr. Europe. By the age of twenty he's named Mr. Europe and he
also was the youngest Mr. Universe in history. Later in his career he won many
other titles and he decided to try his luck somewhere else. The obtaining of the
Mr. Universe title seemed to be a good reason to go to Hollywood. He arrived in
America in 1968.
After a brief stint as a road worker in Santa Monica, California, he competed
with his boyhood idol, Reg Park in 1970 and won the Mr. Universe title again. In
1970 he also wins his 1st Mr. Olympia title. But there's more; he also stars in
his first movie, Hercules in New York! And again in 1971 Arnold wins his 2nd Mr.
Olympia title.
But 1971 is also the year in which Arnold's older brother Meinhard died in a car
accident. 2 years later Arnold's father, Gustav Schwarzenegger also passes away.
After winning his 6th Mr. Olympia title in 1975, Arnold retired from the sport
of bodybuilding. 1977 brought Arnold a lot of success. He writes a bestseller
(The Education of a Bodybuilder) and he wins a Golden Globe Award for his role
in "Stay Hungry". He also was named "honorary weightlifting coach" for the
Special Olympics International (a post that he still holds today).
When Arnold visits the annual Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament in Forest
Hills, New York on August 28, he meets Maria Owings Shriver. The two started
dating and soon fell in love. In November 1979, Arnold graduates from the
University of Wisconsin Superior. He gets the Bachelor of Arts Degree with an
individualized major in international marketing of fitness and business
administration. Arnold comes out of retirement in 1980 to win his 7th Mr.
Olympia title. Three years later, on September 9, 1983 Arnold becomes an
American citizen. 1985 is the year in which Arnold is voted NATO international
star of the year. Arnold also proposes to Maria, and one year later, in 1986,
Arnold and Maria get married.
Arnold receives the 1847th star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on June 2, 1987. As
further tribute to Arnold's cinematic success he was then awarded male star of
the year by the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO). Success followed
the Oak as he deftly moved from the silver screen into the restaurant business.
In 1989 the first Planet Hollywood opens with Arnold, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce
Willis and Demi Moore as major shareholders.
But 1989 has more highlights in Arnold's life: The Arnold Classic is born, just
like Arnold and Maria's first child, Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger (December
13, 1989). Who better to assume the role of chairman of the President's Council
on Physical Fitness than a bodybuilding icon? Arnold took the role in January
1990. That year Arnold also becomes chairman of the Inner-City Games and makes
his directing debut in "Tales from the Crypt". In 1991 Arnold, who is a
"pioneer" of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, received the Center's National
Leadership Award for his support of the organization's holocaust studies. Arnold
has given - and continues to give - huge financial support to this charity each
year. June 16, 1991 is the birthday of Christina Maria Aurelia Schwarzenegger,
Arnold and Maria's 2nd child. In 1991 Arnold finishes his 50-state tour for
President's Council on Physical Fitness (The Oak mission had three objectives:
to improve fitness of American children by returning a regimen of daily physical
activity to the school, to increase parental involvement in their children's
fitness and to promote community-based fitness programs), is in the director's
chair again (now for "Christmas in Connecticut") and he and Maria founded
Schatzi on Main. Schatzi (German for "Little Treasure") is a beautiful
3000-square foot restaurant in downtown Santa Monica, California. 1993: this is
the year in which Arnold is named "International Box Office Star Of The Decade",
accepts the Chairmanship of California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness.
Arnold and Maria's third child, Patrick Arnold Schwarzenegger, is also born in
1993 (September 18). One year later the Oak's hands, feet and signature are
immortalized at Mann's Chinese Theatre.
The following 3 years Arnold would make 5 movies: True Lies and Junior in 1994,
Eraser and T2:3D in 1995-1996 and Jingle All The Way, in 1996 too. In 1996
Arnold also receives the Honorary Degree of Humane Letters from the University
of Wisconsin, Superior. Batman and Robin, Arnold's 35th movie, opened in 1997.
In that year Arnold also receives the Leadership Award by Simon Weisenthal
Center, and he and Maria gave birth to their 4th child on September 27,
Christopher Sergeant Schwarzenegger. On April 16, 1997 Arnold underwent elective
heart surgery to repair a defective aortic heart valve. The surgery had no
complications and Arnold made a complete recovery. Shortly after being released
from the hospital Arnold and Maria were going to an event to promote his new
movie Batman and Robin, when they arrived a group of over eager photographers
(paparazzi) trapped Arnold and Maria in their car and essentially held them
hostage while they scrambled for the "first photos" of Arnold after his surgery.
While in Graz Austria promoting Batman and Robin, visiting friends, and family,
Arnold had the honor of opening the "Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium". The stadium
named for the famous Austrian is an impressive site and a tribute to Arnold and
all of his hard work. Arnold's Mother, Aurelia, passes away in 1998 after a
heart attack. In 1999 Arnold makes his "comeback" after two years with End Of
Days and his latest movie is The 6th Day. In 2002 is another time Terminator in
T3.
Arnold's first approach to bodybuilding was fairly atypical. When he was 13, he
played soccer, but felt very dissatisfied with a team sport. "I didn't like the
fact that I couldn't be personally gratified" he declared. He tried other
endeavors: track and field, boxing, javelin throw and weightlifting. But only
when his coach suggested he tried working with weights (to strengthen his legs),
Arnold found his true vocation. When he first walked into a gym he was literally
awed. "I found myself in a gym, in awe of muscles I had never seen before and of
which I didn't even know the correct name. The bodybuilders were powerful,
Herculean. Before my very eyes, my true future opened up: I had found the answer
I had been looking for." (writes Arnold on "Education of a Bodybuilder", New
York, Fireside, 1993) Thus began, at 16, the career of the greatest bodybuilder
of all times, the man who would be crowned Mr. Olympia for a record seven times.
RESPECT As his physique started developing, so did his self-confidence. Very
soon he discovered the thing somebody described as the "power of size". And, as
his muscles grew, so did the respect he was receiving from his peers. The
growing of his muscular mass, started influencing his relationships with other
young men and, of course, with women too. He realized that some women were
decidedly turned on by his physique, whereas others seemed to be disgusted by
it. "I wanted to become even bigger, so that I'd be able to really impress the
girls who dug muscles and... irritate even more the ones who disliked them."
MISTAKES Even Arnold made mistakes. "I was pretty inexperienced - he
says - so I was observing other bodybuilders' routine and tried to imitate them.
There was a famous bodybuilder who smoked cigars and drank whisky, so I thought
that if I did the same I'd be winning too! God, how awful I felt!
So, I learned the hard way never to do that again, backstage, or before a
contest." Mistakes could also be of a psychological nature. Arnold recalls that,
while he was on the flight to London, in 1966, to participate in a contest, he
started looking at the pictures of men he would have to compete against. "I
started thinking: I can beat this one, but I can't defeat that one and so forth.
In so doing, I had already defeated myself - mentally - even before I set foot
on stage for the competition."
FIRST VICTORY The first step toward stardom for Arnold was the junior Mr.
Europe, held in Stuttgart in 1965. In those days, Arnold was drafted in the army
and he asked permission to attend the contest, permission which was denied. He
left anyway. In spite of not having the vaguest idea about how to pose, he won
anyway and that first success officially started his bodybuilding career. Upon
his return to military camp, he was punished with one week in detention,
however, his victory seemed to favorably impress his commander, who - from then
on - encouraged him to persevere in further training.
THE IDOL Finally, Arnold met his idol, Reg Park, and started training with him
and even went to visit him in South Africa, where Park lived. Arnold claims he
learned a lot from Park like many useful tips on how to better train the parts
of his physique more in need of development. Most importantly though, he learned
from Park how to improve himself as a human being. "At the time I was just a
punk, a bully, always ready to show off. I used to get in fights almost daily.
Coming in contact with Reg helped me getting rid of my behavioral problems. He
was such an accomplished gentleman and it certainly wasn't difficult for me to
admire him and wanting to emulate him."
ASCENDING TOWARD STARDOM The beginning of Arnold's true ascent towards the top
of the bodybuilding ranks took place in 1967. He went back to London to compete
for NABBA Mr. Universe and, as he had promised, he triumphed. To achieve that,
he had to defeat Dennis Tinnerino, the freshly crowned Mr. America. Arnold is
still particularly fond of that memory: "I beat them all, including Tinnerino.
That was the first time I heard the crowd calling out my name out loud." Taking
notice of this important victory, among others, was Mr. Joe Weider. "I kept
hearing about this massive young athlete," says Joe, "so I asked my European
associates to find out more about him. I already knew that someone like Arnold
would be very beneficial for our sport."
Arnold Schwarzenegger 101 days out from the Mr. Universe Contest
ARNOLD'S "LUNACIES" Even though he had wised up a little, Arnold was still
incorrigible when it came down to "having fun". Once he decided to promote
himself in somewhat of an odd way: he went down to Munich's shopping district,
in the middle of a snow storm, wearing only swimsuit trunks! His close friends
know dozens of similar stories about Arnold's extravagant exploits.
FAREWELL TO AUSTRIA Whenever Arnold would lose a contest, he knew that something
was still amiss in his training. He was big and could train in a disciplined way
but his muscles were not sufficiently defined and he also knew very little about
how how a certain diet could help him. He felt that only the Americans knew a
lot more than he did, in those fields, so he decided to leave Austria bound for
the US, where he could learn from his opponents and then, one day soon, defeat
them.
LAST DEFEAT During the 1969 IFBB Mr. Olympia, the first one in which he
competed, Arnold suddenly understood why they called Sergio Oliva (a massive
bodybuilder from Cuba, now living in the US) THE MYTH. Oliva was famous for his
lengthy "pumping" routine before the contest. He used to wear a long apron, to
hide the sight of his muscles from his opponents. "When it came time to go on
stage for the pose down - recalls Arnold - Sergio took the long apron off and
started walking in front of me down the hall. Then, nonchalantly lifting one of
his shoulders, he spread the largest lat muscle I had ever seen; then he
repeated the same movement with the other shoulder. His back muscles were so
huge that he seemed to be as wide as the hall itself! As far as I was concerned,
I already knew - then and there - I would lose against him." In fact, Sergio
won, even though not by much, over Arnold. Arnold claims that was the last time
an opponent was able to intimidate him. And it was also the last time Sergio
Oliva was able to defeat the "Austrian Oak."
Competition History of the Austrian Oak
1963 Contest in Graz, Austria, at Steirer Hof Hotel - 2nd place
1965 Junior Mr. Europe in Stoccarda, Germany - 1st place
1966 Mr. Europe - 1st amatorial
1966 Best Built Man in Europe - 1st place
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 place, tall class
1968 IFBB Mr. International in Tijuana, Mexico - 1st place, tall class & abs.)
1969 IFBB Mr. Universe in New York City - 1st place
1969 IFBB Mr. Olympia in New York City - 2nd place
1969 NABBA Mr. Universe in London - 1st place, tall class pro and absolute)
1969 Mr. Europe ad Essen, Germany - 1st place, tall class pro and absolute)
1970 NABBA Mr. Universe in London - 1st place, tall class pro and absolute)
1970 AAU Pro Mr. World in Columbus, Ohio - 1st place
1970 IFBB Mr. Olympia in New York City - 1st place
1971 IFBB Mr. Olympia in Parigi - 1st place
1972 IFBB Mr. Olympia in Essen - 1st place
1973 IFBB Mr. Olympia in New York City - 1st place
1974 IFBB Mr. Olympia in New York City - 1st place
1975 IFBB Mr. Olympia in Pretoria, South Africa - 1st place
1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia in Sidney, Australia - 1st place
Arnold's Top Form Measurements
Arms: 22 inches
Chest: 57 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Thighs: 28.5 inches
Calves: 20 inches
Weight: 235 pounds
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
