How Strong Was Arnold Schwarzenegger - MensXP

Advertise With UsAbout UsContact Us HomeHealthMotivationPublished: May 22, 2018, 20:46 UTC    Updated: May 22, 2018, 20:55 UTCHow Strong Was Arnold Schwarzenegger?Yash SharmaFollow UsYash Sharma

Specialty: Health & Fitness

Yash Sharma focuses on fitness, offering advice on exercise routines, health tips, and achieving overall physical wellness. Know More

Golden Era bodybuilders were not just aesthetic and proportionate, but also really strong, and so was Arnold Schwarzenegger—the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Arnold has multiple triumphs to his name. His list of achievements is so diverse that when we discuss it, it seems like we are talking about 5 different individuals. Most people know Arnold as a successful bodybuilder with 7 Mr. Olympia titles. But only a few might know that Arnold was initially a strength athlete. Back in the day, the primary objective of weight training wasn't just muscle gaining but enhancing athletic performance and most importantly improving general fitness, something which today's 'desperate for abs' generation doesn't pay heed to. Arnold's first victory was on a powerlifting platform and not on a bodybuilding stage. So let's discuss how strong Arnold Schwarzenegger really was.

Olympic Weightlifting

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From 1963 to 1965, Arnold participated in Olympic Weightlifting events. He was only a teenager during this time. His best Over Head Press (YES! OHP was once in Olympic Lifting) weighs 119 Kg. His best clean & jerk was 135 Kg and he could lift 110 Kg in the most technical lift of all, the snatch. But Arnie realised his body type isn't meant for this sport and he left competing in Olympic Weightlifting after 1965.

Powerlifting

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Arnold had his share of success in the game of Powerlifting as well. In fact, it was a powerlifting event which gave Arnold the first rush of victory. He competed in powerlifting from 1966 to 1968. His personal best in Squat is 215 Kg. His massive chest could bench press a 200 Kg. And his deadlift weighed an astounding 310 Kg. It is worth mentioning that Arnold was still a young 21-year-old lifter in the initial years of his training.

Unofficial Gym Records

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Later on, Arnold started his career as a bodybuilder but his training philosophy remained the same- 'go heavy or go home'. He is known for lifting insane weights even while training for bodybuilding and aesthetics. In his training program “blueprint to size” Arnold reveals his unofficial gym records to be a 247 Kg Squat, 226 Kg Bench Press and 322 Kg Deadlift. I believe this was during his prime when he won the Mr. Universe titles. Also, Arnold is well known for doing some bloody-heavy cheat curls ranging between 110-125 Kg.

How Was Arnold So Strong?

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Arnold focused on compound lifts from the very beginning. The core exercises in his training programs were always multi-joint movements. Apart from that Arnold trained with lifters who were even stronger than himself. It is said 'if you want to be strong, train in a gym where you are the weakest'. Arnold's training partner was Franco Columbu who's friends with him till date. Franco was exceptionally strong for an under 90 Kg athlete. He was a champion powerlifter and also participated in The World's Strongest Man competitions. Franco's best lift includes a 301 Kg Squat, 238 Kg Bench Press and a 340 Kg Deadlift. So if you look at the numbers, Arnold was pound for pound one of the strongest bodybuilder till date.

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Yash Sharma is a former national level Football player, now a Strength Coach, Nutritionist and Natural Bodybuilder.  He also runs a YouTube Channel Yash Sharma Fitness via which he aims to educate all the fitness enthusiasts to maximize their gains by methods that are backed by science and applicable easily.  Connect with him on YouTube, [email protected], Facebook and Instagram.

Yash Sharma

Specialty: Health & Fitness

Yash Sharma focuses on fitness, offering advice on exercise routines, health tips, and achieving overall physical wellness. Know More

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