Arnold Schwarzenegger had a difficult childhood growing up with an abusive father in Austria. He took up bodybuilding at age 15 and found success winning several titles. He immigrated to the United States in 1968 where he mentored under Joe Weider and went on to win Mr. Universe at age 20 and 6 Mr. Olympia titles. Schwarzenegger has since become heavily involved in charity work through organizations like the Special Olympics and Inner City Games Foundation.

1. The Man Behind the Muscle

2. • Born on July 30, 1947 to an alcoholic father who was a
police chief and at one time a member of the Nazi Party.
• Gustav, Arnold’s father, used to abuse Arnold and his
brother, often pitting them against each other for his own
amusement.
• Arnold escaped his misery by watching movies.
• His favorite movies were old Hercules movies, in which
the star was Reg Parker.
• He began lifting weights at the age of 15 as a result.
• He joined the army and went AWOL to compete in a body
building competition, which earned him a brief prison
sentence.

3. • Arnold immigrated to the United States in 1968 because
he had always felt something magical would happen to
him in this country.
• Upon arriving in America, he found a friend and mentor in
Joe Weider, the founder of the International Federation of
Body Builders or the IFBB.
• At 20 years old, Arnold became the youngest Mr.
Universe ever.

4. • Arnold Schwarzenegger went on to win an
unprecedented 5 Mr. Universe titles AND 6 Mr. Olympia
titles.
• In total, he won 13 different bodybuilding titles.
• In Columbus, OH in 1989, the Annual Arnold
Schwarzenegger Classic began and has now become
one of the most honored competitions to compete in, due
to it being by invitation only.

5. • Arnold has served as the International Weight Training
Coach for the Special Olympics since 1979.
• He is involved with the Executive Commission of the LA
Inner City Games, which is a program designed to help
keep children off of the street and off of drugs.
• He helped to form the Inner City Games Foundation

6. • www.thebiographychannel.com
• www.biography.com
• www.bodybuilding.com