Despite No Fear of Death, 86-Year-Old Frank Zane Once Felt Worried About It for a Specific Reason: “Everybody Has To Leave”

Frank Zane was one of the earliest proponents to bring the focus on symmetry and shape in bodybuilding. He won his 3x Mr. Olympia titles after a long wait of competing with giants such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbo. However, his legacy extends far more than achieving three successive titles. At 86, Zane is calm and composed about what lies ahead of him in the afterlife, but death does worry him for one specific reason.

In an interview with the YouTube channel Escape Fitness in November of last year, Zane explained what he honestly feels about his inspiring life coming to an end and what his legacy will be. But he does have one worry that concerns his family.

Frank Zane shared his honest thoughts on death

Nearing the sunset of one’s life, people often have to tackle the subject of death in discussions. Frank Zane, as his name suggests, had a frank and candid answer to it. He said, “I am not really that afraid, the fear of passing away. I just don’t like thinking about the gap I’ll leave.” Zane was referring to the safety net that he has created for his wife and kids and their life after his death.

Following the last comment, Zane had a sort of revelatory moment, as if he is almost accepting there is an afterlife after death. He said, “I mean, I know there’s something else, but the fact that you have to leave and that everybody has to leave. Nobody gets out of here alive”. That we all die is common knowledge, but very seldom does one stop to really ponder about it, unless people get older.

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However, Zane is perfectly aware of all his accomplishments in life and everything he will be leaving behind to his wife and children. His only concern is regarding his family, but except that, Zane is in a zen-like mode.

Zane wishes to go out in his way, and what other people thought about death

Zane finally touched upon the fact that we get to choose how we leave this world (if we are lucky), calling it an exit vehicle. He said, “I wanna make sure that my exit vehicle is as good as it can be, and I wanna take my rest of the life to build into that”. After everything he has contributed and the life he is still living, it would only be justified if he gets to do that.

As mentioned above, the question of death often comes up within older people’s circles. Arnold Schwarzenegger was once asked the same question by Howard Stern on his radio show. To this, he said, “I am not scared of it, I am just pissed off by it”.

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While death is an inevitable conclusion, the life we live prior to it is ours to make. And Frank Zane certainly lived a life worthy of living. Can you think of another sportsperson who had a unique perspective on life and death? Let us know in the comments!