One would think that Arnold Schwarzenegger has always considered bodybuilding to be one of the most high-standard sports owing to the illustrious career he had in the arena. Yet there was a phase when the bodybuilder felt that the charm and glamour of bodybuilding were not properly displayed, even when the winners would get titles of “World Champions.”

The 76-year-old bodybuilder who single-handedly brought about an influx of people in the sport of bodybuilding through his popularity,, could not believe when in the past, some bodybuilders could not maintain their stature after posing for a while. This deeply troubled The Austrian Oak, and he had once been vocal about it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized bodybuilders for losing control after posing

After the conclusion of Arnold Classic 2024, at its seminar, Schwarzenegger recalled the time when he had found fault with the state that bodybuilding was in, in the past. He stated, “I remember 15 years ago I criticized bodybuilding I said, what’s going on here, this is the top guys in the world and after a few poses, they were huffing and puffing their stomachs hanging out.” The bodybuilder further complained about how these participants could not get their bodies under control after a little intense posing.

He further commented how he noticed participants shaking if they posed for a little too long. He stated, “I said what is this is like a bunch of you know cripples, so I was criticizing them.” The Austrian Oak further mentioned how many bodybuilders couldn’t do a vacuum pose anymore, owing to their lack of stamina. “They are out of control they’re not really in shape that like a World champion should be,” he recollected.

While this revelation showcases how Schwarzenegger critiqued bodybuilders of the past, he is also someone who engages in self-criticism as well. There have been moments when the bodybuilder became an extremely harsh critic for not being able to keep promises he had made to himself. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger called himself a loser

The bodybuilding beast had once confessed how he used to lead his life by only following the training program he designed himself. This also included his diet plans and competitive programs. He firmly believed that if he missed one of those, he would not be able to face himself in the mirror. “You know something: You’re a f**king loser; you cannot even do the kind of sets and exercises and eat the kind of food that you wrote down,” the bodybuilding GOAT would tell himself. 

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Although criticism is often very harsh, it can eventually lead to a much more fruitful career, if taken seriously. And Schwarzenegger did see changes in the community and on stage after he ended up being vocal about his concerns. Do you think the present state of bodybuilding is better than how it was 15 years ago? Let us know in the comments below.

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