“Wanted to Be the Center of Attention”- Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Obsessed With Limelight, Revealed Former Bodybuilder

The sport of bodybuilding has been around for a long time now. However, when Arnold Schwarzenegger came into the picture, the legend knew how to remain at the focal point. Of course, it irked other bodybuilders to see the attention he received. Therefore, former bodybuilder Mike Mentzer brought that to the limelight during the 1980 Mr. Olympia. It was a moment for everyone to push the panic button.

When Arnold returned to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia title, fans and his counterparts were shocked. Expected to commentate the contest, he stunned everyone to register on the day of the event. The other bodybuilders felt confused about the decision, and Mentzer spoke about how Arnold wanted everyone’s attention. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger wants attention!

The controversy surrounding the 1980 Mr. Olympia was huge. Arnold won the contest six times and returned to win his seventh. Notably, in 1974 and 75, they had two weight classes for the event. However, it shifted to an open weight class in 1979. Most bodybuilders preferred this approach, but Arnold had other ideas. He was adamant about it and wanted a meeting for the decision. As the other 15 contests signed a petition for abolishing the two-weight class rule, Arnold thought otherwise. 

It prompted former American bodybuilder, Mike Mentzer, to give a character analysis of the Austrian Oak. “There were maybe 50 people at the competitors meeting and, as usual, Arnold wanted to be the center of attention. In every situation, he tries to be the standout, and on this occasion, he was the only athlete of the 16 in the contest who wanted to keep the two weight classes,” said Mentzer. 

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The authority he held over the bodybuilding fraternity speaks for his success in the future years. But, the other athletes were far from impressed. 

Making a name for himself

Throughout his career, Arnold achieved remarkable success. Some bodybuilders never appreciated his conduct, although. After the 1980 controversy where he won the title, he left with the seventh Mr. Olympia title in controversial circumstances. Therefore, things became sketchy with the contest. Joe Weider, the creator of Mr. Olympia, promoted him to the top of the chain. He popularized the sport and put on Arnold as the cherry on the cake. 

With his looks, accent, and immaculate physical structure, he elevated the sport to unparalleled levels. To sum up, he probably led many eyeballs to the contest with his never-ending charisma and magnificent charm. To some, he is the greatest of all time. But, many people were not a fan of his conduct. 

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