Who was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s mentor?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a bodybuilding legend with a monumental legacy from whom we all take inspiration. But do you know about the legendary bodybuilder's mentors? Reg Park and Joe Weider are two phenomenal figures that Arnold Schwarzenegger considers his mentors. Let's see more details about the Austrian Oak's mentors.
Reg Park was the reason Arnold Schwarzenegger started weightlifting
Reg Park played a crucial role in inspiring young Arnie to weightlift and become an exceptional bodybuilder in bodybuilding history. According to Itv's article, while growing up in Graz, the Austrian Oak's hometown, one day he saw a bodybuilding magazine's cover page, and Reg Park was on the cover page. This was the moment when Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to become a bodybuilder.
After six decades, the seven-time Mr. Olympia mentioned Park as his key mentor and the 'blueprint' for his bodybuilding journey. Arnie was featured in the BBC Radio Four Today program and said:
"Because I am a creation of a lot of help: my parents, my coaches, my teachers, my mentors that motivated me and got me where I am today, including a British bodybuilder by the name of Reg Park, who was from Leeds and won Mr Universe three times."
Continuing further, Arnie added, "[He also] did Hercules movies, and I saw him as Hercules when I was 15 years old. Without people like that I would not have ever made it. I have to give credit to those people."
Joe Weider, a father-like figure for Arnold Schwarzenegger
Joe Weider was the co-founder of the International Bodybuilders Federation and a man who promoted bodybuilding worldwide. Weider played a significant role in Arnold Schwarzenegger's journey as Mr. Olympia. He had a close relationship with him, and Weider always encouraged Arnie's efforts to become one of a kind.
Even in Arnold's autobiography, he opened up about his relationship with the co-founder, Mr. Olympia. Arnie wanted to earn money after moving to the States and asked Weider for his help.
"I don’t want to hang around. I don’t want to take your money for nothing. Give me something to do where I can learn," said Arnie.
To which the co-founder replied, "You want to work; you want to build yourself; you are German; you are a machine; you are unbelievable. You are not like these lazy bastards!"
"I was always searching for mentors who could pick up where my father left off. Having Joe around was like having a father who appreciated what I was trying to do," the Austrian Oak concluded.
Both of these two figures made Schwarzenegger what he is now, and the bodybuilder never backs down from showcasing his gratitude for Park and Weider.