Arnold's Impact on Bodybuilding

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Arnold’s Impact

“Bodybuilding is much like any other sport. To be successful, you must dedicate yourself 100% to your training, diet and mental approach” (“Arnold Schwarzenegger”). Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was one of the most memorable and respected body builders of all time. Between 1970 and 1980, he won seven Mr. Olympia tittles and his record stood for eleven years (Ryan, 1-4). His bodybuilding career helped spark a generation of fitness and weightlifting. The sport was almost dormant before the golden era of the Arnold days when it made an impact on society. Arnold Schwarzenegger started a cultural movement in fitness and body building, making it a socially accepted sport.

Arnold was born on July 30, 1947 in the small Austrian town of Graz and grew up in the village of Thal with his mother, father, and older brother. His father’s name was Gustav Schwarzenegger who was a police officer in their village. He joined the Nazi party in 1938 when Germany annexed Austria and then left the party two years before Arnold’s birth. Gustav was a very strict father and raised his sons to be obedient. He encouraged Arnold to play sports even though Arnold grew up with poor health. By teaching him discipline, Arnold always strived for his goals and applied his father’s teachings to his training. Arnold played several different sports but favored soccer because of the high intensity, physical activity it involved and eventually his health improved, making him an excellent athlete ( Ryan 1-4 ; Schwarzenegger 2275).

“Even from an early age, Arnold was an ambitious person. ‘From the time I was ten old,’ he told an interviewer in 1977, ‘I wanted to be the very best at something‘” (“Arnold Schwarzenegger”2275). At the age of fifteen he knew ...

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...tness interviewed Arnold in 2012 and asked him “How has the fitness industry changed in your lifetime?” Arnold replied, “Thirty years ago, I could be traveling for a movie and be in a hotel and there would be no gym. Today, nearly every hotel has a workout facility, or there’s a place right around the corner. The availability is much better.” (Hyson, 46-51).

The fitness world would be nothing in this day in time without the Austrian Oak. Arnold made being fit a trend or fad in today’s community. His dedication and love for fitness showed that it is okay to be proud and confident in having a muscular or toned body. Without his aesthetic physique as an icon of wellbeing, the world today may not be as healthy as it is. He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time and live on through gyms and through those who have iron in their blood.

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