Who trained Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, is a renowned bodybuilder and seven-time Mr. Olympia. He was coached and trained by some of the most well-known bodybuilders in the community, who are primarily responsible for his achievement.

Schwarzenegger expressed his appreciation to his trainers and mentors in his bodybuilding experience in a Facebook post on April 2, 2024.

"When I started training, I was lucky to have fantastic coaches and mentors to show me the way. I’ve spent the rest of my life paying them back by showing millions of people the way to health and fitness," he wrote.

Father of bodybuilding: Arnold Schwarzenegger's mentor Joe Weider

Joe Weider was referred to as the "Father of Bodybuilding" as he made the sport popular worldwide. He also played a significant role in Arnold Schwarzenegger's life when he brought the Austrian to America for greater opportunities.

Weider was Schwarzenegger's support system when he was starting his career. Weider also introduced him to the bodybuilding magazine industry as he rose to fame and established himself because of this publicity.

On March 23, 2013, at the age of 93, Joe Weider passed away due to heart failure in Los Angeles according to his publicist Charlotte Parker.

Schwarzenegger expressed his sentiment, writing on his website:

"Joe Weider was a titan in the fitness industry and one of the kindest men I have ever met... He was the godfather of fitness who told all of us to "Be Somebody with a Body." He taught us that through hard work and training we could all be champions."

Other influential people who helped Arnold Schwarzenegger

Besides Joe Weider, several others helped Arnold Schwarzenegger in competitions and training. Reg Park, Franco Columbu, Charles Bennett, and Vince Gironda each played important roles in Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding journey.

For instance, Schwarzenegger's idol Park inspired him to pursue bodybuilding and provided valuable training advice. He also helped Schwarzenegger adopt training routines like heavy lifting and heavy exercises which aided his strength and development.

On the other hand, Schwarzenegger's close friend and training partner Columbu pushed him to train harder while staying motivated and grounded in life. Their friendly competitions and shared workout routines paved the way for great success in their lives.

Meanwhile, Bennett, who was a judge in a competition in 1966, recognized Schwarzenegger's greatness and offered him training to develop his techniques to be a great bodybuilder. The training focused on maximizing muscle growth through progressive overload and proper nutrition.

Schwarzenegger was influenced by Vince Gironda - a professional bodybuilder - also known as the "Iron Guru". He had unique training methods and diet advice like an "8x8" workout and specialized movements for muscle definition, which was put into Schwarzenegger's routines.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's success in the bodybuilding community was largely acknowledged due to the lessons and training he had from these coaches and mentors.