“Literally Cried All Night”: Despite Being an Epitome of Masculinity, Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Left Emotionally Vulnerable During a Low Point in His Career

Arnold Schwarzenegger is coming out with The Pump App, and a lucky few have had the opportunity to help test the app. In the latest edition of his newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, the bodybuilding legend shared some of the questions fans asked him on the app. The first question Arnie highlighted talked about disappointment and redemption. The user asked the Austrian Oak about a time when Arnie didn’t reach a goal. “Were disappointed in yourself? How did you deal with it and how did you comeback stronger?” asked the user.

For years, the media and cinema portrayed the 75-year-old as the epitome of masculinity. From an unbeatable seven-time Mr. Olympia winner to an invincible machine in The Terminator, Arnie seemingly didn’t have any vulnerability. However, the former bodybuilding champion revealed how a loss early in his career left him emotionally vulnerable.

Arnold Schwarzenegger suffered a confidence-shattering loss

After spending his childhood in poverty, Schwarzenegger saw a way out through bodybuilding. The then-young bodybuilder competed and won multiple prestigious titles before getting the opportunity to compete in America. After winning the Mr. Universe in London, Arnie “got the telegram from Joe Weider inviting me to come compete in the IFBB Mr. Universe in the US.”

“That telegram was a dream come true,” wrote the bodybuilding icon. The Austrian was confident he would win but suffered a confidence-shattering loss at the hands of Frank Zane in 1968. “My first reaction was denial, that this smaller guy beat me,” the 75-year-old responded. Arnie had come to America with lofty goals but faltered at his first obstacle.

“I literally cried all night – I had come here with nothing and had no one. I was worried my vision was too much,” Arnie revealed in his newsletter. However, the next morning, The Austrian Oak decided that crying was not the solution.

How the bodybuilding legend redeemed himself

While mainstream media often hides vulnerability while portraying masculinity, Schwarzenegger knows that showing emotions doesn’t make some less masculine. Arnie told himself that he had gotten the varying out of his system and looked at his flaws. “Saw that Frank had much better definition than me,” realized the Mr. Universe winner.

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What Schwarzenegger did next is something few bodybuilders would do. Instead of forming resentment against his rival, like Phil Heath and Kai Greene, Arnie reached out to Zane. “I invited him to come train with me and live on my couch so I could learn from him,” revealed the 75-year-old. He also wrote that working on his flaws with Zane was the key to his success at the Olympia stage.

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