“Wasn’t The Best Bodybuilder”: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Rival Made A Huge Claim Before 2001 About Their Past Controversy

It is mindboggling to think that bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has inspired so many, knew someone who didn’t like his guts. The seven-time Mr. Olympia continues to be influential both on and off-stage even today. However, a competitor of Arnold believed that he wasn’t the best.

Bodybuilding is synonymous with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 75-year-old bodybuilder has triumphed over everything that he touched—bodybuilding, acting, politics, powerlifting, and whatnot. However, a contemporary to the Austrian Oak had a different opinion about the guy altogether.

Who disapproved of Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Arnold Schwarzenegger was the youngest ever bodybuilder to win a prestigious competition like Mr. Olympia at 23. After a failed attempt in 1969, Arnold began his winning streak from 1970 to 1975. Even though he announced his retirement after his sixth Mr.Olympia win, he returned in 1980 to win the title for the one last time.

Arnold’s win in 1980 became a highly controversial affair. One of his rivals, Mike Mentzer, stated in an interview with a core-sport  journalist Peter McGough, “The record may show Arnold Schwarzenegger as the 1980 Mr. Olympia champion, but he wasn’t the best bodybuilder onstage that day – not by a mile.”

That year Arnold had no plans to participate in the competition. He was training his body for the film, Conan. In the process, the bodybuilder realized he was in marvelous shape and pushed himself to re-enter Mr. Olympia. However, his spectacular win did not sit well with the competitive line-up of bodybuilders that year.

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Mr. Heavy Duty was not at all convinced by his win and felt cheated. It even prompted him to announce his retirement from the competition at just 29.

He expressed himself in the interviews stating, “There was no way I was going to put myself through the same torturous process again for a similar reward. At no point since 1980 have I been even slightly tempted to consider the possibility of competing. I don’t miss it.”

Mike Mentzer called out Mr.Olympia to be rigged. More than not winning the competition, he was upset about Arnold Schwarzenegger winning it.

It wasn’t just Mentzer alone

Big names from the bodybuilding community like Dorian Yates, Frank Zane, Samir Bannout, and many followed the same train of thought. A long-standing admirer and rival, Samir Bannout, revealed how “he did not bounce like the real Arnold”. 

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A controversy, such as this, has never really ceased for the Austrian Oak. What do you think really happened? Let us know in the comments!