In a video posted on his YouTube page on Nov. 13, 2023, Hooper tried the seven-time Mr. Olympia winner’s iconic back and biceps workout. Needless to say, the high-volume style of training gave the Canadian strongman an even deeper appreciation for Schwarzenegger’s accomplishments.

Always up for a challenge, Hooper tested his upper-body strength and stamina via a series of back and biceps exercises that left his muscles thoroughly taxed. Paying homage to arguably the most popular bodybuilder ever to live, it didn’t take long for the talented strongman to understand the differences between how athletes from each sport benefit from their specific training modalities.

Hooper kicked off the session with four back exercises before finishing up with several curl variations. The workout begins about 40 seconds into the video.

Wide-Grip Pull-Up

Tipping the scales at about 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, Hooper recruited his lats to lift his sizable frame to the top of the assisted pull-up machine. Going with a wide grip led to enhanced lat engagement and allowed the Ontario native to better utilize his rhomboids and trapezius muscles.

After completing his second set, Hooper took a look at some of Schwarzenegger’s best lifts, which included a 498-pound (226-kilogram) bench press and a 709.9-pound (322-kilogram) deadlift. Despite not being overly impressed by those numbers, Hooper acknowledged that bodybuilders have a distinct advantage in one key area.

“Upper body strength is disproportionally good in bodybuilders because their muscle mass is so high up there,” he explained. “I don’t know what that is. Maybe strongmen should do a lot more upper body accessory work than we do because bodybuilders are so strong comparatively.

Following that brief rest period, Hooper wrapped up the first portion of the workout by completing three more sets of wide-grip pull-ups.

T-Bar Row

Next, Hooper went with a variation of one of Schwarzenegger’s favorite exercises: the T-bar row. Starting with three 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plates, the big man explosively pulled and squeezed each rep, noting that his upper-body strength isn’t on the same level as his lower body.

“Like 80 percent of everything we do is quad, hamstring, glute,” Hooper said about strongmen. “Leg drive, if you’ve got that, you’re going to do very well.”

Subsequent sets of T-bar rows included heavier loads, which forced the Canadian athlete to use his core and legs to maintain stability throughout the movement.

Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

Hooper then went over to the dumbbell section to perform single-arm rows. A classic back exercise that’s great for building thickness, he made quick work of 130-pound (59-kilogram) dumbbells for his first two sets. However, just because it looked easy doesn’t mean Hooper enjoyed this part of the workout.

“I think this might be my least favorite exercise,” he explained. “The difficulty is a lot in your core, not a lot in the actual pulling. So it’s like a core workout with an arbitrary dumbbell movement.”

Still, Hooper pushed (or in this case, pulled) on to finish two more sets with the same weight, making sure to maintain a neutral spine as he completed the heavy dumbbell rows.

Close-Grip Lat Pulldown

The final back exercise of the workout put Hooper’s lats to the ultimate test. Having already accepted the reality that he would be “sore as hell” the next day, he mustered up the energy to complete four sets of close-grip lat pulldowns. Hooper leaned back slightly during the movement, pulling the handle down to just above chest level.

Once he finished on the cable machine, he moved on to the second half of his session.

[Related: The Best Arm Workouts for Beginners, With Dumbbells, and More]

Biceps Circuit

With about 20 minutes left to train, Hooper wrapped his biceps in blood restriction cuffs, which have been shown to help increase hypertrophy. (1) Although he performed fewer working sets than Schwarzenegger’s protocol, Hooper still achieved an excellent muscle-building stimulus.

Aiming to hit his biceps from multiple angles, the reigning WSM completed four rounds of a four-part circuit that included the following exercises:

• Standing Barbell Curl — Used a 70-pound (31.8-kilogram) curl bar
• Barbell Preacher Curl — Used the same 70-pound (31.8-kilogram) curl bar
• Alternating Dumbbell Curl — Used 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) dumbbells
• Concentration Curl — Used 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) dumbbells

By the time he cranked out his final rep, an exasperated and vascular version of Hooper seemed happy with the pump he achieved during the expedited biceps session.

Schwarzenegger-Style Back and Biceps Workout

Here’s a complete breakdown of the Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired back and biceps workout Hooper performed.

• Wide-Grip Pull-Up — 5 x 8-12
• T-Bar Row — 5 x 8-12
• Single-Arm Dumbbell Row — 4 x 8-12
• Close-Grip Lat Pulldown — 4 x 8-12
• Standing Barbell Curl — 4 x 8-12
• Barbell Preacher Curl — 4 x 8-12
• Alternating Dumbbell Curl — 4 x 8-12
• Concentration Curl — 4 x 8-12

While you shouldn’t expect to see Mitchell Hooper enter a bodybuilding show anytime soon, the fact he’s willing to try different styles of training and share his honest feedback shows why he’s one of the more well-respected and popular strength athletes today. Already a world-class strongman, anything he does to improve in other areas will only make him a more fierce competitor moving forward.

Featured Image: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube

References

1. Wortman RJ, Brown SM, Savage-Elliott I, Finley ZJ, Mulcahey MK. Blood Flow Restriction Training for Athletes: A Systematic Review. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jun;49(7):1938-1944. doi: 10.1177/0363546520964454. Epub 2020 Nov 16. PMID: 33196300.

The post Mitchell Hooper Tackles Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Brutal Back and Biceps Workout appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On August 8, 2023, Schwarzenegger posted a video to his YouTube channel where he trained with Coleman at the hallowed Gold’s Gym in Venice, CA. The title of “2 Goats Walk Into a Gym” is more than fitting.

Schwarzenegger and Coleman’s training session wasn’t very long overall, but it still seemed effective and intense for their goals.

The pair began by working in some seated lateral machine raises, trading sets intermittently. Coleman would regularly push for at least another rep with each of his sets after being urged by Schwarzenegger. With each successive set, Schwarzenegger would match Coleman, praising his size and strength in the process.

The second exercise was a seated shoulder press to work the front deltoid muscles. Both Coleman and Schwarzenegger completed three successful sets each before moving on to requisite triceps training using a dip machine. It was here that Coleman remarked on the rarity of the moment featuring two Mr. Olympia greats teaming up.

“Fifteen [Mr.] Olympias [titles] in the house,” Coleman said. “This don’t ever happen.”

Coleman and Schwarzenegger closed their workout by doing machine preacher curls for their biceps muscles. Each man finished four sets each. Here is a complete overview of their workout:

Schwarzenegger and Coleman’s Gold’s Gym Workout

• Lateral Raise Machine — Three sets of 15-20 reps
• Seated Overhead Press Machine — Three sets of 15-20 reps
• Triceps Dip Machine — Three sets of 15-20 reps
• Machine Preacher Curl — Three sets of 15-20 reps

Schwarzenegger and Coleman concluded the workout by doing a signature “hand clasp” seen in the classic Schwarzenegger film, “Predator.”

Following the conclusion of their careers, Coleman and Schwarzenegger have followed very different paths as legendary former bodybuilders. Yet, they still found a way to intersect here. In Coleman’s own apt words: This don’t ever happen.

Featured image: Arnold Schwarzenegger on YouTube

The post Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman Train Together at Gold’s Gym appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On May 24, 2023, Schwarzenegger appeared in a video partnering with Men’s Health. The clip features the fitness legend dispensing a short arm workout, shoulder workout, and some of his favorite training secrets.

While working out at the famous Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, CA, Schwarzenegger broke down an arms and shoulders routine typical of what he does every day.

“This is what I do every morning. I come in here [Gold’s Gym] and do 25 to 30 sets in a half an hour,” Schwarzenegger said. “In the old days we did 30 sets for shoulders. Now I do 15 sets.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger | Arm and Shoulder Workout May 2023

Here is an overview of both of Schwarzenegger’s arm and shoulder workouts:

Arm Workout

• Machine Preacher Curl: One set of 30 reps, four sets of 10-12 reps
• Machine Dip: One set of 30 reps, four sets of 10-12 reps

Shoulder Workout

• Machine Overhead Press: Five sets of 10-12 reps
• Machine Lateral Raise: Five sets of 10-12 reps
• Machine Rear Delt Fly: Five sets of 10-12 reps

Schwarzenegger explained he ends every set with a five-second hold on the last rep.

As for Schwarzenegger’s advice on a proper approach to training, he maintained it’s about consistent dedication and all the benefits that it can provide. Provided an athlete stays committed to their routine, Schwarzenegger says they’ll eventually see results. He told an anecdote about his peak fitness days to use as proof.

“When you train it is not just that your body gets pumped up and gets stimulated with blood but it’s also your mind and you have a much more positive kind of outlook on the day and on life when you’ve had a pump behind you,” Schwarzenegger started. “I was in good shape [in the 1980s]. I worked out two hours a day. Because after having had several heart surgeries and then having had surgeries on my shoulders and knees and all those kind of things, it’s important to protect my body and do therapy training at the same time. 

In other words, Schwarzenegger said not to overthink it and keep chugging along in the gym, no matter your adversity.

“If you want to go to the gym every day and do your bike ride, train every day, then you roll out of bed and you don’t think,” Schwarzenegger said. “The important thing is don’t think, just do.”

Featured image: Men’s Health on YouTube

The post Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares His Recent Killer Arm and Shoulder Workout  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

In the aftermath of the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Schwarzenegger took part in a YouTube interview with Nick’s Strength and Power, where the legend shared some of his thoughts on the contest and the current state of the sport. Among the more notable tidbits was Schwarzenegger putting the Men’s Open division in the crosshairs, which he believes has lost sight of what professional bodybuilding should be all about.

One of Schwarzenegger’s primary critiques about the Men’s Open division is that it’s pushed bodybuilding in the wrong direction. He compared the current flagship division of the Olympia back to his heyday in the late 20th century and noted that victory used to be centered around shredded physiques and refined body proportions.

To the legend, size shouldn’t mean everything.

“I think it is crazy, in a way, to have a Classic Physique category. Simply because that should be the Mr. Olympia. Because, what is it that we’re celebrating?” Schwarzenegger said. “… In classic days, we looked for proportion, and now we don’t give an [expletive] about it anymore? Is that what we’re saying?”

Part of Schwarzenegger’s rationale is that he believes the current Classic Physique division captures the true spirit of bodybuilding. By contrast, he didn’t seem to appreciate the general aim of the competitors in the modern Men’s Open category.

“I think it’s odd they had to literally create a Classic Physique competition to give to the person who has the best quality body, the most well-balanced body, a trophy because he couldn’t compete where the monsters were competing,” Schwarzenegger said. “That’s actually wrong. Like I’ve said, bigger is not always better.”

Not by coincidence, Schwarzenegger is a big fan of reigning four-time Classic Physique champion (2019-2022) Chris Bumstead, as he appears to believe he emulates the ideal physique.

“I always feel like the insiders have their own favorites, and then there are the viewers, the spectators, the fans … and he’s [Bumstead] the most popular if you think about that,” Schwarzenegger said. “He’s the most popular bodybuilder right now. What does that say? That says that everyone out there says, ‘That’s the kind of body I want’.“

In looking ahead to the March 2023 Arnold Classic, Schwarzenegger maintained he’d like to see Bumstead make his first competitive appearance at the contest because he thinks the superstar would put on a show.

“I think he [Bumstead] could win [at the Arnold Classic]. There are no two ways about that,” Schwarzenegger said. “I told that to Chris. Chris, as you know, is a big fan of the Arnold Classic. He comes there, and he’s very, very kind to all the fans. He does autographs and all this stuff. I hope that he competes because I think he has a great chance of winning that.” 

Ever a steward of the sport, Schwarzenegger seems concerned about where bodybuilding is heading in the future. Perhaps, down the line, his wishes to see the Classic Physique division highlighted front and center could be fulfilled. At the very least, his desire to see Bumstead continue to excel, maybe even at the 2023 Arnold Classic, might have a strong chance of shining through.

Featured image: @cbum on Instagram

The post Arnold Schwarzenegger Believes Classic Physique Should Be Main Event of Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 10, 2022, Schwarzenegger revealed that his charity, After-School All-Stars, raised over $5 million during the weekend of Oct. 7-9, 2022. Part of the proceeds came from personal training sessions led by Schwarzenegger, who charged individuals $150,000 per workout. Other segments of the funds came from Schwarzenegger auctioning off clothes, memorabilia, and even a ride in his tank. Schwarzenegger conducted the training sessions at the famous Gold’s Gym in Venice, CA.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger)

[Related: The 5 Worst Exercise Machines, and 5 Machine Problems to Watch Out For]

In a post on his Instagram, Schwarzenegger expressed appreciation for his donors and how they’ll help those in need.

“We raised over five million dollars last night for [After-School All-Stars],” Schwarzenegger wrote. “Thank you to all of our donors. I started this program with a vision of keeping kids safe and growing between 3-6 p.m., but we couldn’t serve 100,000 kids in 60 cities without you.”

In a video shared by TMZ from part of the charity event, Schwarzenegger broke down why he thinks after-school programs, in general, are vital to helping youth.

“Kids are like a muscle,” Schwarzenegger explained. “If you train and use it every day, it will grow. The kids grow really well if we attend to them, help them, push them, support them, and be there for them. That’s the bottom line.”

According to the fitness luminary, with houses across the country working to pay bills and put food on the table, someone has to fill in the gaps for children.

“I think there’s a huge vacuum in America right now, where kids aren’t getting enough attention,” Schwarzenegger says in the clip. “More than 70 percent of kids come from households with both of the parents working — that means there is no one there after 3 o’clock when they get out of school. That’s why we have to fill that vacuum. That’s what after-school programs are all about.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Represent (@represent)

[Related: How to Do the Inverted Row — Benefits, Variations, and More]

Established in 1992 by Schwarzenegger, After-School All-Stars is a national non-profit that aims to offer comprehensive after-school programs for children of low-income backgrounds. Currently, the organization serves nearly 100,000 kids across more than 400 schools in 13 states all over the United States.

Pushing forward a cause like this is nothing out of the ordinary for Schwarzenegger. In 2020, per Rolling Stone, the three-time Mr. Olympia donated $1 million to frontline and healthcare workers during the early throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, in late 2021, around the American holiday season, the Terminator star donated 25 homes to military veterans in the state of California

For Schwarzenegger — a fitness and acting jack-of-all-trades — it seems philanthropy is an essential way of giving back after his success.

Featured image: @schwarzenegger on Instagram

The post Arnold Schwarzenegger Auctions $150,000 Personal Training Sessions for Charity appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

In a formal statement released on Sept. 22, 2022, Executive Director of the Arnold Sports Festival, Brian Flowers, noted that Schwarzenegger wouldn’t be in attendance at this year’s edition because of financial issues behind the scenes. 

“While Gov. Schwarzenegger very much wished to attend, we were informed that financial obligations to a variety of people had not been met and requested assurances that the financial commitments to all competitors be satisfied by having monies put it in escrow for them,” Flowers wrote. “As a result of the Promoter’s failure to do so and the fact we were never able to reach an agreement with the Promoter regarding details of the appearance, Gov. Schwarzenegger will not appear in-person.”

The ASFUK Instagram page released its own statement. It clarified that fans who have special event tickets to the Festival would be contacted at an undisclosed time:

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by The Arnold Sports Festival UK (@arnoldsportsuk)

[Related: The Best Landmine Workouts for More Muscle and Better Conditioning]

With the hiccup between Schwarzenegger’s non-attendance and promoters, the other significant change to the ASFUK is that the Festival will have a new name, “Experience With Sports Festival UK,” moving forward. Whether this change would take place immediately for the 2022 edition or go into effect in 2023 was not disclosed. 

“We are looking forward to growing the Experience With Sports Festival UK, and we are eager to bring you on this journey with us,” the ASFUK Instagram page wrote. 

2022 will mark the second straight occasion that Schwarzenegger does not attend the Festival. He missed the inaugural edition after concerns with COVID-19. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by The Arnold Sports Festival UK (@arnoldsportsuk)

[Related: The Best HIIT Workouts with Bodyweight, with Kettlebells, and More]

The 2022 ASFUK features various tentpole contests involving sports like powerlifting, CrossFit, and bodybuilding. The status of the latter segment — the 2022 Arnold Classic UK — was addressed by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League in a statement released on Sept. 22, 2022.

The organization, led by President Jim Manion, guaranteed that “all IFBB Pro League athletes who place at the 2022 ASF will be paid.” The 2022 Arnold Classic UK features nine divisions from the Men’s Open and 212 to Women’s Physique and Bikini. 

At the time of this writing, the 2022 ASFUK is proceeding as planned. In the event of any new developments or updates, Breaking Muscle will adjust this information accordingly. 

Featured image: @arnoldsportsuk on Instagram

The post Arnold Schwarzenegger Won’t Attend Arnold Sports Festival UK appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

His wife noted that Pearl had recently overcome a serious bacterial infection, following a lawn mower accident that occurred in April. He was simultaneously battling Parkinson’s Disease, diagnosed in 2016, which his wife believes may have caused his death. (An official cause of death wasn’t announced.)

[Related: Bodybuilding Legend Jay Cutler Discusses Training Commitment In Retirement, Shares Volume Back Workout]

While serving with the United States Navy in the early 1950s, Pearl began strength training at Leo Stern’s Gym in San Diego. Stern would encourage Pearl to give competitive bodybuilding a try. After Pearl won the 1953 Mr. California, Mr. America, and Mr. Universe Amateur titles, the rest was history.

With a unique mass and strength, Pearl was a bodybuilding mainstay in the mid-20th century. For an intermittent part over almost two decades between 1952-1971, Pearl competed in 11 bodybuilding competitions, winning nine of them. In that time, Pearl won contests ranging from the 1952 Mr. San Diego to four Mr. Universe Pro contests, three overall titles and one in the Tall category (1956, 1961, 1967, 1971).

After enjoying his fruitful career, in 1978, Pearl stepped away from bodybuilding as an active competitor at the age of 48. To this day, only Edward Kawak (1982-1985, 1993) and Eddy Ellwood (1997-2001) have ever won more Mr. Universe competitions. Pearl is tied with fellow bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger (1968-1970) at three victories. 

Following Pearl’s bodybuilding career, he was a mentor, trainer, and training partner to nine Mr. America winners and 14 Mr. Universe champions. Among the more notable might be 1982 Mr. Olympia Chris Dickerson.

Eventually, Pearl became a successful fitness author, penning notable popular picks such as Keys To The INNER Universe (1979) and Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women (1986). According to the caption of the post on Pearl’s Facebook page, Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women has sold over 850,000 copies to date.

[Related: 7-Time 212 Olympia Champion, Flex Lewis, Retires From Competitive Bodybuilding]

In 2003, in conjunction with co-author Kim Scott, Pearl penned his autobiography entitled Beyond The Universe: The Bill Pearl Story. For his tremendous impact on bodybuilding. Pearl was awarded the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

Here’s part of what Pearl’s wife had to say about her late husband’s passing on Facebook:

“All day yesterday, he [Bill Pearl] was fretting about his Facebook page and had me post a couple of things he had prepared,” Judy Pearl wrote. “He loved to share stories of other people’s triumphs and accomplishments.” 

Featured Image: Bill Pearl on Facebook

The post Mr. Universe and Bodybuilding Icon Bill Pearl Passes Away at 91 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Or at least show that he appreciates his roots and knows where he comes from. 

In a recent post to his Instagram, Baena paid homage to his legendary father by striking the Austrian’s famed ¾ back pose. With a simple but effective caption of “going for it,” Baena certainly seems to understand what grandiose images and memories he invokes by simply positioning his body in that manner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Joseph Baena (@joebaena)

[Related: Everything You Need to Know About How to Burn Fat]

Baena’s Path at a Glance

In February 2022, Men’s Health detailed Baena’s unique fitness journey and how he trains to maintain his growing physique. Baena says his training consists of a six-day schedule with two-hour sessions while working in short cardio in the mornings. 

Though his dad is a bodybuilding icon who he can ask for advice at any time, Baena notes in the article that he wanted to carve out a path by himself when he was younger. He wanted to figure “it” out on his own — meaning a promising and fulfilling life without the direct help of one of the most famous people in the world. Baena’s mindset was apparently like this from the jump.

“Even though I could call him [Arnold Schwarzenegger] anytime, I was too proud,” Baena says to Men’s Health when he first started paying attention to his physique. “I went straight to the book. I wanted to figure it out myself.” 

Over time, Baena told Men’s Health that he soon found a rhythm and specific routine that works for his personal fitness goals. 

“I was able to acquire a bodybuilding mentality, that I could shape my body however I want.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Joseph Baena (@joebaena)

[Related: The Best Sled Workouts for Muscle, Strength, Fat Loss, and Recovery]

What the Future Holds

At the time of this writing, while he continues to train hard, Baena hasn’t revealed any pending plans to compete on a formal bodybuilding stage. According to IMDB, he is a working actor with six credits. In that respect, it looks like Baena is emulating his father’s famous Hollywood footsteps. Even still, despite the similarities, Baena continues to focus on staking out a place for himself in the world with his efforts alone. 

With enough dedication, perhaps one day, he’ll get to have his Terminator highlight. 

“My dad is old-school; he doesn’t believe in handouts,” Baena said to Men’s Health. He believes hard work pays off, and so do I. I love the word ‘honor’, and I’m very prideful in the sense that if I use my dad’s contacts or ask him for favors, I wonder what honor is that going to bring me?”

Featured image: @joebaena on Instagram

The post Joseph Baena, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son, Pays Homage to Father With Vintage Pose appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 8, 2022, 93-kilogram athlete Kevin Cantrell completed a raw 227.5-kilogram (501.5-pound) deadlift. Cantrell’s official weight for the competition was 85.28 kilograms (188 pounds) which means he lifted 2.66 times his body weight. The athlete donned just a lifting belt for the feat. 

Cantrell’s achievement drew the attention of famous bodybuilder/actor/former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who reposted the athlete’s deadlift on his Instagram with the caption, “You inspire me, Kevin!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger)

[Related: How to Do the Deadlift For Strength And Muscle]

With his stellar performance in the books, here are Cantrell’s complete stats from the contest: 

Kevin Cantrell (93KG) | 2022 Special Olympics USA Games 

• Bench Press — 75 kilograms (165.5 pounds)
• Deadlift —227.5 kilograms (501.5 pounds)
• Total — 302.5 kilograms (667 pounds)

Notably, the Special Olympics USA Games offers variations of formats. Cantrell represented his native state of Ohio in the push-pull configuration. That means the athlete didn’t log a squat and only performed the bench press and deadlift. 

Schwarzenegger’s Advocacy

A major proponent of equal, fair competition for neurodiverse athletes, Schwarzenegger has worked with the Special Olympics organization as a vocal ambassador for years. His former late mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the organization on August 2, 1968. 

In 2017, according to the Washington Post, Schwarzenegger publicly tore down an Internet troll who made an offensive comment about the Special Olympics. After Schwarzenegger made a Facebook post congratulating athletes who competed in the 2017 Special Olympics World Games, the anonymous person replied to the Austrian and derided the merits of the Special Olympics.

That got on Schwarzenegger’s nerves. 

“As evil and stupid as this comment is, I’m not going to delete it or ban you (yet) because it’s a teachable moment,” Schwarzenegger wrote in response. He continued in a full teardown of why the commenter’s message was wrong:

You have two possible paths ahead. Right now, I guarantee you that these athletes have more courage, compassion, brains, and skill — actually more of every positive human quality than you.

So take their path — you could learn from them, and try to challenge yourself, to give back, to add something to the world. Or you can stay on your path, and keep being a sad pitiful jealous Internet troll who adds nothing to the world but mocks anyone who does out of small-minded jealousy.

I know that all you really want is attention, so let me be clear. If you choose to keep going this way, no one will ever remember you.

Celebrating Cantrell’s tremendous feat seems to align with Schwarzenegger’s background and work with neurodiverse athletes and athletes with disabilities. This likely won’t be the last time Schwarzenegger sees fit to highlight an athlete competing with the Special Olympics organization. 

Featured image: @schwarzenegger on Instagram

The post Kevin Cantrell (93KG) Joins 500-Pound Deadlift Club, Draws Praise From Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared first on Breaking Muscle.