Back in the day, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a force to reckon with in the bodybuilding sphere. But as they say, even the best in the business get humbled by someone. And the 7x Mr. Olympia winner faced the same situation in his decorated career when he crossed paths with Frank Zane in the late 60s.

Currently, Arnold is all over the internet, all thanks to his two continuous Netflix releases, FUBAR and Arnold. Always concerned about his fans, The Austrian Oak often connects with bodybuilding devotees. And recently, while doing the same, the 75-year-old opened up about a crucial point in his career; the time Frank Zane handed him the defeat in a crucial competition.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Loss to Frank Zane: A profound sense of Sadness

During a recent Q&A session on the Pump App, the bodybuilding legend shed light on a crucial point in his career – losing to Frank Zane in 1968 Mr. Universe. The 7x Mr.Olympia shared his strategy for dealing with failure at the time.

Reflecting on the night he lost to Frank Zane 54 years ago, Arnie admitted feeling a profound sense of sadness. His initial reaction stemmed from an internal narrative that labeled him a failure, fueled by the fear of what others might think. However, as he introspected, he realized that his self-doubt was simply a fabrication of his mind. “I imagined everyone must think I’m a loser.”

Additionally, the Hollywood action star stressed that people often focus more on failures and less on successes. First, he asked the audience to think about their own experiences – did they celebrate achievements as much as they criticized themselves for shortcomings? Then, by examining these thoughts, he highlighted the importance of changing perspectives, and realizing that external judgments often matter less. What matters is the value we place on ourselves. “Think about it – when you get an A on a test, do you spend as much time celebrating as you do beating yourself up when you don’t do well? Our minds are geared to do this.”

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As a result, Schwarzenegger’s loss to the God of Aesthetics became a turning point that greatly changed his views on competition. An important lesson from this event was the need to make sure he gave his best effort.

Lessons from Falling Short: The Quest for Self-Improvement

After losing, he realized that he hadn’t fully committed himself, which made the loss even harder to handle. By acknowledging his shortcomings and realizing his poor performance, the Terminator became more motivated to improve and work harder. He drew a comparison to his 1969 defeat against Sergio Oliva, saying, “I congratulated him, kissed him, and told him I’d get him next year,” feeling content knowing he gave his all. This realization made him more committed to enhancing his skills, setting him up for future victories.

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