Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, Highlights the Drastic Change in NFL Athletes Due to One Simple Inclusion Over the Years: ?Football Players Are Really Benefiting From That?

Bodybuilding icon and New York Times bestselling author Arnold Schwarzenegger is basking in the success of his new book. The seven-time Mr. Olympia’s first attempt at the self-help genre met with massive success as his book shot to the top of bestseller lists in multiple countries. Despite its success, the 76-year-old has continued to promote it through television, podcasts, and interviews.

Earlier, the former Governor of California appeared on ESPN on the Manningcast. During the show, Eli Manning asked the former Mr. Olympia about his bechpress personal record. Schwarzenegger said he benched a maximum weight of 525 lbs on the beach during?“the good old days.”?However, thanks to Manning’s question, Schwarzenegger elaborated on weightlifting in the NFL on the Monday Night Football show.

Arnold Schwarzenegger explained how weightlifting benefited NFL athletes

When Arnold Schwarzenegger came to America, in 1968, strength sports and bodybuilding were not very popular. While Olympic weightlifting had a storied history, general weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding were looked down upon by many.?“When I came over to America… the football players doing the football playing. But they didn?t do lifting,”?said Arnie.

Schwarzenegger said with the lack of research, even sports persons harbored many misconceptions. “They always thought it would slow you down and make you muscle-bound. It is not healthy for you…”?said the 76-year-old fitness icon. However, with time and the advancement of sports science, weightlifting has become an integral part of every sport, including football.

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Schwarzenegger saw how football players started lifting weights and became a combination of track-and-field and powerlifters. “It was interesting to see the development in sports… the football players are benefitting from that,”?explained the former Mr. Universe. Besides performance, Arnie admired the?“amazing shape” footballers maintain year-round. However, lifting massive weights was no easy task even for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The champion bodybuilder recalled his first crack at benching 500 lbs

While Arnold Schwarzenegger’s personal best benchpress was a whopping 525 lbs, he struggled the first time he attempted to bench 500 lbs. In an interview with Town and Country?magazine, the 76-year-old fitness icon recounted the memory.?”It was in front of a packed house at a powerlifting championship in Munich. I failed miserably,”?confessed the seven-time Mr. Olympia.

Arnie recalled unracking the weight from the bar, but he couldn’t move the bar off his chest after the eccentric part of the movement. However, the failure made Arnie determined. He trained and attempted the lift multiple times. “I tried a 10th time, and I did it,”?revealed the bodybuilding legend.

Arnold Schwarzenegger knew that people had many misconceptions about lifting weights in the 60s. Hence, seeing all athletes benefit from something he helped pioneer fills the 76-year-old with joy.

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