TRAILBLAZER
I made no money doing bodybuilding – when I retired I had to build the sport up and it was my mission to raise prizes
Arnold Schwarzenegger has helped lift the sport of bodybuilding to new heights
BODYBUILDING icon Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up on his drive to elevate the sport.
The now 76-year-old Austrian arrived in the U.S. in 1968, looking to propel his career to new heights.
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A regular at Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, California, Schwarzenegger would go on to be named Mr. Olympia each year from 1970 through 1975, and once more in 1980.
Meanwhile, he gradually forged a legendary career in Hollywood, with his breakthrough coming in 1982 thanks to Conan The Barbarian.
But Schwarzenegger's climb to the top of the mountain was a tough one.
Speaking to former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on the New Heights podcast, he explained how he was jealous of then-New York Jets star Joe Namath upon his arrival in the U.S.
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"Because in bodybuilding I had to go and do bricklaying jobs," Schwarzenegger explained.
"I made no money in bodybuilding. There was nothing. There were no sponsorships or anything.
"And Joe Namath was on television, this great football player, and he was on television and I'm watching TV and I see him advertising and endorsing pantyhose.
"And I said, 'Are you f*****g kidding me?' This f*****g guy is the number one football player that everyone watches in America, everyone is watching football and baseball, and I'm in a sport no one watches and this is like a subculture kind of a thing."
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The commercial in question aired in 1974 and featured Namath wearing a pair of pantyhose.
A voiceover artist then explained how the commercial would demonstrate "that Beautymist pantyhose can make any legs look like a million dollars."
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"So I said to myself, 'I've got to go to do something to build the sport of bodybuilding, to build it up so it can get some popularity,'" Schwarzenegger said.
He knew it would never reach the heights of football in terms of popularity, but he remained determined nonetheless.
"That was then my mission," Schwarzenegger said.
"When I get out of bodybuilding competitions to go and start promoting bodybuilding competitions and raise the cash prizes and to get sponsorships involved.
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"And we now have the number one bodybuilding competition, the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio."
Coincidentally, it turned out that Jason had attended the Classic during his days at the University of Cincinnati.
He recalled going to see the bodybuilders and strongmen compete, while also loading up on supplements from the suppliers in attendance.
"That's the first time I ever saw Arnold in person," Jason said.
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"And even from a distance, it felt like I was meeting my childhood hero, to be honest with you."
Founded in 1989, the Arnold Classic has been competed annually ever since.
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