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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 05: Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to fans during the Slap Fighting Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus Convention Center on March 05, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 05: Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to fans during the Slap Fighting Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus Convention Center on March 05, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
The year was 1970- and 23-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger climbed the summit of bodybuilding for the first time in his career. After winning the Mr. Olympia championship in ’70, Schwarzenegger would continue to win the title for 5 more years. The ‘Austrian Oak’ retired in 1975, but made a surprise comeback in 1980 to pick up one last Mr. Olympia title.
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Even 42 years after his retirement, Schwarzenegger still holds a prominent place within the bodybuilding community. He has seen a constant change of trends within the community of bodybuilders. With the latest trend being as bulky as one can get, Schwarzenegger has had his say about it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed the only thing bodybuilders care about
Arnold Schwarzenegger has followed the sport closely while also weighing in with his expert opinion from time to time. During an interview in July this year, Arnie shared his frightening thoughts about the new era of bodybuilders. According to Schwarzenegger, they care only about “size, size, size.”
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25 September 2022, Bavaria, Munich: Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and former governor of California, is on stage at the Bits & Pretzels company founder and investor meeting. At Bits & Pretzels, successful founders talk about their experiences, present ideas and can get in touch with investors. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)
They have taken it, in my opinion, too far. It has gotten too competitive. They’re gonna take more and more stuff that they’re not supposed to, and sometimes it kills people.”
But the most devastating statement came when Arnold said, “The more extreme it gets and the more competitive the top athletes get, the more they are lifting weights that the body was not meant for.”
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The obsession, also known as muscle dysmorphia or ‘bigorexia,’ has affected roughly 10% of men working out in the gym. But this is not the only major issue prevalent in the community.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 15: Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks during a press conference on March 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Sam Tabone/WireImage)
Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) has also grown immensely. This has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of deaths in the community. Keeping the same in mind, Schwarzenegger even called bodybuilding one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Arnold elaborated that sometimes bodybuilders take PEDs that damage their health in the longer run.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Six Bodybuilders Who Can Defeat 8-Time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman In a Beast-Like Structure
Should it not reach the extremes, bodybuilding remains a positive sport. It has led to the opening of gyms in almost every block, inspiring an uncountable number of people to lead a healthy life. Schwarzenegger has even come forth to say bodybuilding has been one of the biggest benefits of human development in the last five decades.
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