76-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger has made it his mission to help other people get fitter. The bodybuilding icon who won seven Mr. Olympia titles started his fitness newsletter in January. However, Schwarzenegger has been training people for decades. While Arinie helped fellow Gold’s Gym members during his prime, in 1979, the former Mr. Universe had an experience that changed everything.

In the late 70s, Schwarzenegger focused on his career. The Austrian’s sole purpose was to star in films and become a star. While he competed in the 1980 Mr. Olympia, it was his last competition. In 1979, Schwarzenegger got an invite to speak as a guest lecturer for Special Olympians at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. There, Arnie had an experience that changed something in him.

Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t think he would feel such happiness

During a recent interview with The New York Times Magazine, the former governor spoke about his journey. The magazine caught up with Arnie as he was about to release his newest book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. During the interview, David Marchese asked the 76-year-old actor about his involvement with the Special Olympics.

In the late 70s, the Austrian Oak started dating Maria Shriver. Shriver’s mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968. After the bodybuilding champion got to know the Kennedys better, they invited him to a program for the Special Olympics. While Schwarzenegger thought former first lady Jackie Kennedy had invited him, on the day of the event he found out, “it was not that Jackie Kennedy.”

However, it was “too late to turn around.” So Schwarzenegger went to the event and “started teaching Special Olympians how to bench press.” Despite the event eating into his hectic schedule, and although he did it for free, the experience changed him. “You could see the change in those kids. I was blown away,” said Arnie. “It’s funny that I feel so good about this. I didn’t make any money, and it was not a career move,” Arnie told The New York Times Magazine. Helping those special Olympians ignited a passion that remains strong even today.

Watch this story | Here’s bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger’s exclusive training guide

The bodybuilding icon continued working with Special Olympians

After the 1979 event, Schwarzenegger started training Special Olympics athletes. He immersed himself in making weightlifting a significant event in the Special Olympics. In fact, the bodybuilding legend became the Special Olympics national weight training coach. According to the LA Times, after ’79, Schwarzenegger started touring America.

The five-time Mr. Olympia arranged for weightlifting demonstrations to raise money for equipment for special athletes. In 1987, Schwarzenegger recounted his journey that began with teaching kids how to benchpress. “We found that it had a tremendous effect on the kids,” Arnie told the LA Times. While everything Schwarzenegger did throughout the 70s was for his career, he felt rewarded while helping specially-abled kids realize their potential. 

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