Johannesburg - After talking about his body-building career, Terminator star and a former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, shared a few secret nuggets about his illustrious and successful career on Friday.
The multimillionaire film star is in South Africa to host the Arnold Classic Africa, a three-day health and fitness sports festival taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Schwarzenegger has been visiting South Africa since 1967 where he met his body-building idol, Reg Park, who lived in Pretoria. Park, who died in 2007, was one of the world’s greatest body-building personalities
“I had a big vision when I was 20 years old and I won my first Mr Universe contests. And that was to promote body-building and fitness all over the world,” he said.
The father of five said that after conquering the world of film and politics he is excited to be back in South Africa to promote his first love - health and fitness.
“I always was a believer that if you don’t have a clear vision you cannot succeed at anything. I feel sorry and so bad for people who don’t have a vision,” he added.
The Arnold Classic Africa is a spectacular multi-sport festival showcasing 48 sports codes that includes a three-day Health and Fitness Trade Expo with more than 11 000 athletes participating in the event. The festival is a first for Africa and South Africa is hosting it. It has also been held in the US and in some countries in Europe and South America. His long-time training partner and business associate - Jim Lorimer, 88 - was also at the conference. They have promised to partner with the Gauteng government for the next 40 years.
“Never listen to the naysayers. Nelson Mandela said it always looks impossible until it is done,” said Schwarzenegger, broaching another of his nuggets for success.
“When I was running for governor, they said it was impossible. People have to start small. From mayor to city council, I told them I don’t have time for the small stuff, I want to get to the highest office I can run as a person who was not born in the US. Two months later I was governor,” said the 68-year-old.
“When I went into the movies they said a guy with an Austrian accent would never become a leading man. They said I was too muscular. Now the in-thing is Dustin Hoffman, who weighs 700 pounds. I became the highest-paid actor in the history of motion pictures. “
“Work your ass off. Don’t look for short cuts. There are 24 hours a day. Sleep six hours and work for 18 hours,” he added jokingly.
Lastly, Schwarzenegger said what he has learned in his journey is: “Don’t just think about yourself. Turn me into we. In the end, we are not going to be judged by how much we made. We will be judged by how much we give.”
The inaugural Arnold Classic Africa hosted several strength-based contests, including amateur body-building, arm wrestling, power-lifting, weightlifting and a strongman competition.
The event also covered traditional disciplines such as acrobatic gymnastics, archery, badminton, baseball, beach volleyball, fencing, weightlifting and wrestling. There’s a unique twist to the event as it also showcases lesser-known codes such as cross fit, dance sport, ring ball, pole fitness and rope-skipping.
The Arnold Classic was first launched in the US as a professional body-building competition in 1989.
Sunday Independent