“Even if I Become the Greatest”: Decades Before an Outsider Became the Highest-Paid Athlete on U.S. Soil, Arnold Schwarzenegger Sacrificed One Dream to Pursue Another for Obvious Reasons

While many regard Arnold Schwarzenegger as the greatest bodybuilder of all time, bodybuilding wasn’t the first sport he played. Arnie’s father, Gustav, urged his son to play soccer which was far more popular in Austria. Young Schwarzenegger also practiced diligently and hoped to find success. At the age of 10, however, the Austrian Oak saw videos of America in his classroom and became “obsessed.” Everything about America attracted the young Austrian, and he desperately wished for the opportunity to move there.

Despite being a kid, Schwarzenegger decided to do “anything and everything” to get out of Austria. The young soccer player soo started strength training in the gym as a requirement for soccer. When Arnold Schwarzenegger started training seriously, he knew he had found a way to America. While an outsider is set to become the highest-paid athlete in America today, back then, Schwarzenegger had to sacrifice one dream to pursue another.

Arnold Schwarzenegger chose the right sport

While appearing for an interview at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to talk about his upcoming book, the bodybuilding legend spoke about why he chose bodybuilding. During the interview, the host asked Austrian Oak about his decision to choose bodybuilding. “When boys are poor, they have only their bodies to work with. Was that part of it?” she asked.

While Schwarzenegger partly agreed, he also said that he was playing soccer. His father also supported the idea of his son becoming a soccer player. However, despite his father’s disapproval of bodybuilding Schwarzenegger’s study of America made one thing “very clear.”

“I was playing pretty much every day. This is a big sport in Austria, but it’s not an American sport,” said Arnie. He realized soccer wouldn’t get him to the United States, “even if I become the greatest soccer player in Austria,” added the seven-time Mr. Olympia. Arnie’s pursuit of building a physique soon introduced him to Reg Park, and there was no turning back for the teenager.

The seven-time Mr. Olympia emulated his childhood icon

Today soccer has gained considerable ground in the U.S. According to Andrew Petcash; Lionel Messi is set to become the highest-paid athlete on U.S. soil after signing with Inter Miami. However, in the 50s, that wasn’t the case. Instead, Schwarzenegger came across Reg Park in a magazine. Park was one of the first bodybuilders who successfully became a movie star, and he mesmerized Arnie.

Read More | “My First Fitness Idols Has Passed Away”: Heartbroken Arnold Schwarzenegger Honors the Memory of the Man Who Taught Him How to Lift Weights

Schwarzenegger decided that emulating the Park would be his goal. Not only did a young Arnold Schwarzenegger want to build a physique like Park, but he also wanted to become a movie star. So Schwarzenegger worked hard, became Mr. Universe, and moved to America. Schwarzenegger’s dream came true when Park took notice of Arnie’s talent and helped him improve his weaknesses.

While initially, Schwarzenegger has no qualms about becoming a soccer player, the dream of becoming a great bodybuilder and moving to America overshadowed everything else.

Watch this story | Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 3/4th back pose and others – some of the best bodybuilding poses ever