A bodybuilding and action film legend, Arnold faced several notable challenges on his path to success. However, one of the biggest obstacles he had to overcome was the lack of support from his own parents when he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a renowned bodybuilder.
His story of overcoming and perseverance is an inspiration. He reminds us that pursuing one's dreams can lead to extraordinary achievements, even when they go against the wishes of those who love us most. Although the criticism was harsh, he followed his instincts, paving the way for him to become one of the most iconic figures in history.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, now considered one of the best bodybuilders in the world, became the youngest Mister Universe by winning the title at just 20 years old. After that first great success, he continued to collect victories in the most renowned bodybuilding contests. But, long before he found himself at the peak of his career, he had to work hard to have the physique that made him the winner of the Mister Olympia title for seven consecutive years.
Beyond arduous training, he had to overcome the concerns of his parents, who were not happy with his plans.
His interest in acquiring a stronger physique was born at the age of 15 and he began lifting weights because he wanted his muscles to be not only aesthetic, but also really strong. But, while he aspired to be a world-famous bodybuilder, he decorated his room with posters of boxers, wrestlers, and bodybuilding champions, which worried his mother.
According to the actor, his mother questioned why all his friends had posters of girls, while he preferred strong boys. “And she was crying. She was facing the wall crying every day until she called the doctor, our family doctor,” he recalled.
Fortunately, the doctor was on his side and reassured his mother that it was common for boys his age to idolize strong men. That was very true because Arnold wanted to be like Steve Reeves, the Hercules actor, and the bodybuilder Reg Park.
“When I read that Reg Park worked out five hours a day, he lifted heavy weights and did 50, 60 sets of exercise and lifted 50 tons of weights a day, I did the same,” he revealed.
However, the problem did not end there, because, in the words of Arnold, his parents began to think that he was sick in the head since they considered that he was overdoing it and that he was obsessed with exercise. In fact, his father did not agree with his interest in bodybuilding, as he considered it a narcissistic activity.
To which Schwarzenegger said: “My dad told me: 'You look in the mirror when you train, what's that all about? You’re too into yourself… If you want to use your muscles, go chop wood.’”
But no criticism or concern stopped young Arnold from his goal: to become a champion. “My own plan was formed when he was 14 years old. My father wanted me to be a police officer like him. “My mother wanted him to go to business school,” he said. However, he continued training him and although he did not win in his first big competition, he did manage to impress the judges, to the point that one, Wag Bennett, offered to train him.
Thanks to training with the expert, the following year he became the youngest winner of the Mister Universe award. He even managed to get his childhood idol, Reg Park, to become his mentor and friend, proving to his parents and the world that he was not a bad kid, but someone determined to fulfill each of his goals. the dreams of him.
