44 Years Later, Frank Zane Unfurls Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Controversial Mr. Olympia Victory That Shocked the Bodybuilding World: “He Wasn’t in His Best Shape”

In the latest episode of the EssentiallySports Fancast, Frank Zane, one of the few men to beat the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger spilled the beans on what he thought about the Austrian Oak winning the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Talking to host Vishal Kolar, Zane spoke about his opinion on the seven-time Mr. Olympia’s physique on the stage that year.

It was in 1980 that Arnold Schwarzenegger made a surprise return to the bodybuilding stage during the Mr. Olympia. However, many, including the other competitors and defending champion Zane, were kept in the dark about Arnie’s return. Zane’s answer came after the host asked him during the EssentiallySports Exclusive Interview if he thought the Austrian Oak “deserved to win” the 1980 Mr. Olympia.

“He wasn’t in his best shape, I’d seen him better than that,” Zane said, while also adding that he wasn’t at his best either. The defending champion had suffered a horrific accident while swimming in his pool just eight weeks before the 1980 Mr. Olympia.

“You might say both of us weren’t at our very, very best…” Frank Zane added. While Arnie’s victory shocked bodybuilding to its foundation, Frank Zane didn’t voice disapproval toward Schwarzenegger in the EssentiallySports Exclusive. Zane and Arnie even remained “friends” after the controversial contest.

However, many of the competitors voiced their displeasure at the outcome. Mike Mentzer retired from bodybuilding in protest of the result and even claimed that the only people who saw Schwarzenegger as the winner were Arnie’s friends and the judges. Statements like these fueled the controversy. Although Zane might not hold a grudge today, he didn’t sit still after The Terminator won his seventh Olympia.

Read More | “Smashed His Trophy to Smithereens”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Detailed the Chaos He Unleashed After His Controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia Victory in His Book

The man who defeated Arnie in the 1968 Mr. Universe didn’t compete the following year in protest. A few other bodybuilders also did the same. However, Zane also explained what he’d do differently if he could go back in time.

Zane says he would have skipped the 1980 Mr. Olympia event

During the EssentiallySports Exclusive Interview, the former champion said he would skip the 1980 Mr. Olympia if he could relive that moment. Suffering a massive injury during a routine swim in his pool severely affected his physique badly. So the 81-year-old feels he could’ve done much better the following year.

“I think I would have easily won in 1981,” said the Chemist. In fact, the 81-year-old bodybuilder said he would’ve won in ’82 and ’83 if he had given his body time to recover. Thankfully, the bodybuilding legend doesn’t have any regrets about how things turned out. Although he feels Arnie didn’t look the best, he has moved on from what happened in 1980.

Read More | 43 Years After a Career-Threatening Accident, Frank Zane Opened Up About His Lesser-Known Recovery Method