The Arnold Sports Festival took over Columbus once again, with thousands of fans packed into the convention center. People traveled from all over for a weekend full of muscle, motivation, and straight-up madness. From massive bodybuilders to first-time gym-goers, everyone was there to soak in the energy, meet their fitness icons, and leave the room with an inspiration. Marwan Attar summed it up, saying, “I use this as a great motivation to stay persistent at the gym.” With Jacob Grabowski adding, “I got to shake Jay Cutler’s hand—a bodybuilder—it was fun!”

This year, the Arnold Sports Festival hit on February 28, 2025, bringing together two absolute legends, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rob Gronkowski, on a special panel discussion. It’s a great fitness talk amongst the motivational gems, when Gronk, never one to miss an opportunity for fun gave the crowd a moment to remember. Gronk reposted a small clip on his Instagram Story, where he is casually flexing his biceps while chatting with Arnold on stage, with the caption, “Was hoping for a flex-off 😂😂” Instead of a full-on pose battle, he just got a chuckle from Arnold. If it had happened, who would win would not be a question, when the opponent is the seven-time Mr. Olympia champ.

As the name suggests, Arnold is the man of the festival, the crowd ate it up when he hit the stage. In the festival, we saw Caden Masterson, a four-year veteran of the festival, hyping the event up, “I’ve been here four years now and never seen Arnold at the expo—so seeing him talk was really cool.” Alongside there were first-timers like Declan Jewitt, who found it just as special, “This is actually my first time here, so it’s pretty sweet getting to see him. I’m glad I got to see him!”

In the panel talk, Arnold’s message to us – to set goals, don’t quit, and always give back. This touched a lot of hearts. At the end of the day, the flex-off was all in good fun. But both Arnold and Gronk used the moment to drive home a bigger message—fitness isn’t just about looking strong, it’s about consistency, discipline, and, most importantly, having fun. “Fitness isn’t about competition; it’s about enjoying the journey,” Arnold told the crowd. Gronk, ever the entertainer, chimed in, “Just keep moving, stay active, and have fun with it!” Honestly, solid advice from two guys who know a thing or two about staying in shape.

Gronk’s journey from football to fitness star

Gronk may have retired from football, but not just to sit around. He walked into the fitness world, co-founded Gronk Fitness, a brand that sells top-tier gym equipment. His fitness biz is up, and why would it not be? He launched Gronk Fitness with his fam. I mean, the whole Gronkowski crew is built like tanks. They offer everything from dumbbells, squat racks, resistance bands, and battle ropes to full-on gym setups. With the motto – “Train Like a Gronk.”

Gronk is making fitness more fun, accessible, and inclusive. With over 4.9 million Instagram followers, he is always up to his workout clips and goofy fitness challenges. He shows us getting in shape doesn’t have to be boring. Whether it’s in the gym, at an expo, or during an impromptu flex-off with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even in 2012, he posed for ESPN’s Body Issue, proving that tight ends don’t just catch passes, they can look like action heroes too. Giving the audience a space to connect. To this date, he is a regular at events like the Arnold Sports Festival, to connect to his fans, to let them see his passion for training up close.

Even now, Gronk is jacked up, unlike traditional bodybuilders. Gronk’s workouts have a mix of powerlifting, agility drills, and core training, because, let’s face it, getting tackled by 300-pound dudes requires serious core strength. For the 2010 NFL Combine, Gronkowski underwent rigorous training under Pete Bommarito. His daily routine included early morning sessions starting at 6:30 a.m. and extending until 4 p.m., combining a strict diet with 500-pound squats, deadlifts, and explosive sprint drills. He’s all about staying strong, fast, and injury-free. In a Men’s Journal Interview, Gronkowski emphasized the importance of lateral movements in his workouts.

The Columbus Sports Festival gave fans an unforgettable moment with Gronk and Arnold’s epic flex-off. But beyond the fun, it was a reminder that fitness is for everyone—whether you’re a Super Bowl champ, a bodybuilding legend, or just someone trying to stay active. And if you ever find yourself on stage with Arnold Schwarzenegger? Well, you better be ready to flex.