“That Really Was Devastating”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Recalled Upsetting Moment in Bodybuilding World Back in 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak impacted every sphere of life, and the bodybuilding world was no different. The 2020 Arnold Sports Festival, just like every year, was about to start when the pandemic hit. It was a major setback for competitors during that time. The Arnold Sports Festival suffered heavy losses in more ways than one.

During an interview with Nick Miller of ‘Nick’s Strength and Power’, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his feelings at the time. He talked about the devastating impact the cancellation of the festival had on him, and his entire Arnold Sports team.

Tough time for Arnold Schwarzenegger ahead of the Arnold Sports Festival in 2020

In 2022, right after the conclusion of Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke with Nick Miller on his YouTube channel Nick’s Strength and Power about all things bodybuilding. Taking a trip down memory lane, Schwarzenegger mentioned how excited his entire team had been about organizing the Arnold Sports Festival in 2020. March 7 was the given inauguration date and it was around then that the world came to a standstill. The pandemic hit and just like every other ongoing event in the world, it stopped the Arnold Sports Festival.

Schwarzenegger was heartbroken. He said, “We got killed in 2020, where we had the biggest sales of all time, and the most sponsors, the most displays, the biggest convention. Only to be told the night before we opened the doors, that we cannot have the sports and fitness festival in Columbus”. There was one competition still open, but it didn’t lift his spirits. He continued, “that the only thing we can have is the actual bodybuilding competition with no more than 5000 spectators. So I mean that really was devastating to all of us”.

Schwarzenegger doesn’t blame anyone though, but just the dire circumstances the whole world was in at the time. He said, “Not that it was anyone’s fault. It’s just one of those circumstances. Covid started hitting, people started getting scared, and politicians started really banning all competitions and public events…. We really suffered from that”. In addition, Miller and Schwarzenegger also discussed other bodybuilding events.

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Schwarzenegger’s opinion on Big Ramy, Amateur event, and return of Arnold Sports

In the interview, they also touched upon topics such as Olympia Open bodybuilding, Classic Physique, the GOAT in bodybuilding, Classic Physique vs Open Bodybuilding, and many other shared fields of interest.

Schwarzenegger too weighed in on the hot discussion at the time – Why did Big Ramy lose despite being the favorite? As per him, Ramy went for bigger muscles and a larger body, which in turn cost him his perfect symmetry. Schwarzenegger also dismissed the rumor about the cancellation of the Amateur event this year.

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Schwarzenegger can rest easy for now. As the world gears up for the 2023 Arnold Classic, who do you think will take the title?