Who here met Arnold Schwarzenegger?

[NorwegianMuscle]

One year I was at the Arnold Classic in Ohio with an IFBB pro that was from Poland but spoke the same language as Arnold. I didn't know they knew each other. We were walking around at the expo and I heard someone calling out my friends name. I looked back and I could see Arnold surrounded by a crowd waving his hand in the air and yelling to us. I stopped my buddy and I told him that Arnold was yelling for him saying his name over and over. He turned back and Arnold headed straight to him. They shook hands and started speaking Austrian to each other. I didn't understand a word. Arnold then invited us both to eat with him at a center close to the expo. I don't remember what the center was. We walked in and saw Arnold and Joe Wielder at a table in the middle of the entire room surrounded by Secret Service. We walked up to the table and they stopped us. Arnold yelled out that we were there for him. They let us pass. We had a nice dinner sitting with them while my friend talked to Arnold the whole time. I don't know what they said because they were talking in there language. I was so taken back I didn't speak to Arnold that much. I was scared to embarrass myself but just enjoyed I had time to meet him personally.

He said a few jokes and was trying to be humorous. I also realized he was very short because I took him to be taller from his movies. That took my by surprise.

 

[Samson250]

They say never meet your hero’s and I believe that. Especially someone like Arnold who’s been a father figure of mine since I was 6yo and all by myself in this world.

It’s also why I only met Jay and never Ronnie! I mean who cares if #2 disappoints you right? Lol

 

[joos23]

I've shook hands, got his autograph etc

 

[alfresco]

Many times. Watched him train and he trained me. Long story.

 

[Jefe]

Short? I thought he was 6’1’’ ?

 

[01dragonslayer]

One year I was at the Arnold Classic in Ohio with an IFBB pro that was from Poland but spoke the same language as Arnold. I didn't know they knew each other. We were walking around at the expo and I heard someone calling out my friends name. I looked back and I could see Arnold surrounded by a crowd waving his hand in the air and yelling to us. I stopped my buddy and I told him that Arnold was yelling for him saying his name over and over. He turned back and Arnold headed straight to him. They shook hands and started speaking Austrian to each other. I didn't understand a word. Arnold then invited us both to eat with him at a center close to the expo. I don't remember what the center was. We walked in and saw Arnold and Joe Wielder at a table in the middle of the entire room surrounded by Secret Service. We walked up to the table and they stopped us. Arnold yelled out that we were there for him. They let us pass. We had a nice dinner sitting with them while my friend talked to Arnold the whole time. I don't know what they said because they were talking in there language. I was so taken back I didn't speak to Arnold that much. I was scared to embarrass myself but just enjoyed I had time to meet him personally.

He said a few jokes and was trying to be humorous. I also realized he was very short because I took him to be taller from his movies. That took my by surprise.

Quite a story brotha. I would have felt so awkward sitting at that table with two legends.

 

[Durro]

My coworker asked me the other day was I team Arnold, team Stallone or team Van Damme? I said Arnold! Absolutely! I am the Fred Astaire of karate!
I didn’t even know that existed.

 

[SouthernMuscle]

He said a few jokes and was trying to be humorous. I also realized he was very short because I took him to be taller from his movies. That took my by surprise.

He’s very short??

 

[Alan1]

Heh, who knew the rabbit hole that opens when looking up Arnold's height online. Seems like he's ~6'2" on the high end with lots of folks saying no way and saying as 'short' as 5'10".

 

[blackjack]

He said a few jokes and was trying to be humorous. I also realized he was very short because I took him to be taller from his movies. That took my by surprise.

Very short compared to?

I shook the mans hand a few years ago at a political fundraiser. I am 6'3'' and he didn't seem much shorter than me at all.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

Met him several times. Still see him at Golds occasionally in the morning. Not very short at all (unless you are 6'3 or something).
I'm 6'1 and i'd say he's maybe 6'0. But agree, the movies make him to be 6'2ish.

 

[SouthernMuscle]

Met him several times. Still see him at Golds occasionally in the morning. Not very short at all (unless you are 6'3 or something).
I'm 6'1 and i'd say he's maybe 6'0. But agree, the movies make him to be 6'2ish.

I mean, if he’s 77 now, I can see him losing at least a half inch from his prime just due to disc compression/loss of fluid. Probably more at his age tbh

 

[Samson250]

Met him several times. Still see him at Golds occasionally in the morning. Not very short at all (unless you are 6'3 or something).
I'm 6'1 and i'd say he's maybe 6'0. But agree, the movies make him to be 6'2ish.

Do people approach him the entire time he’s in there?

 

[FrancisK]

The guy was like a role model, not even for the bodybuilding just for all he accomplished in life. But honestly after reading his silly book and the self serving political crap he has desperately tried to inject himself into I have lost a massive amount of respect for him.....just the shameless self promotion pandering of it.

Met him once had a conversation with him a long while back when I was younger, it almost seemed like he was annoyed I wasn't fawning all over him. I treat men equally regardless of status and he seemed to not like that.

 

[NorwegianMuscle]

He’s very short??

Yes under 6ft. I'm 6ft and he was much shorter than me.

 

[NorwegianMuscle]

Do people approach him the entire time he’s in there?

Yes they surround him when he's out and about. He was surrounded by a crowd in the same aisle I was walking in. I haven't see him every time I went to the Arnold. I've seen him on stage a lot and in a booth. Sometimes not at all. I think he tends to sneak off when ever he can. He was on a microphone for a competition at the expo. I was there again with my buddy from Poland. Arnold walked behind stage past the curtains so my buddy walked around the stage to see him. Arnold was gone like a ghost lol

 

[NorwegianMuscle]

Met him several times. Still see him at Golds occasionally in the morning. Not very short at all (unless you are 6'3 or something).
I'm 6'1 and i'd say he's maybe 6'0. But agree, the movies make him to be 6'2ish.

Unless he was a body double at the expo. Im 6ft and he was shorter than me. I always did take him for 6'2.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

Do people approach him the entire time he’s in there?

He’s got a little posse with him. A couple of his friends and golds regulars. They know how to handle the random fans who walk up mid-set and try and chit chat. If you’re on a machine next to him, he’ll say good morning and converse but they usually don’t let people interrupt their routine.

 

[NorwegianMuscle]

He’s got a little posse with him. A couple of his friends and golds regulars. They know how to handle the random fans who walk up mid-set and try and chit chat. If you’re on a machine next to him, he’ll say good morning and converse but they usually don’t let people interrupt their routine.

Does he have secret service or security at the gym? He was surrounded by guys in black suits at the table we were eating at.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

Does he have secret service or security at the gym? He was surrounded by guys in black suits at the table we were eating at.

None. Him and maybe 2-3 who are there lifting with him.

But again, this isn’t an expo with 10000s of randos around. This is golds Venice at like 630am lol