Ahead of the annual Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed what Columbus means to him and what makes the festival so exciting.
Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Arnold Sports Festival
You’ve been bringing the Arnold Sports Festival to Columbus since 1989. Tell us about what led to choosing Columbus originally.
It is true that the Arnold Sports Festival started in 1989, but my history with Columbus did not start there. This is my 50th year hosting an event here.
In 1970, I competed in the Mr. World competition in Columbus, hosted by Jim Lorimer, my future business partner. The show was one of the best bodybuilding competitions I had ever competed in, so I told Jim that I wanted to go into business together when I retired from bodybuilding officially.
So that is exactly what we did and we started with promoting the Mr. Olympia contest together in 1976 right here in Columbus, and we did Mr. Olympia and Mr. World contests every year until we founded the Arnold Sports Festival.
Arnold Statue in Columbus
What has changed about Columbus over the years, and what has also remained constant from what you’ve experienced?
In terms of what has changed, I think Columbus gets more and more vibrant every year, and what has remained constant, is the city’s love for the Arnold Classic.
You’ve said before that “there’s no place like Columbus.” What makes this city special to you?
Of course it is where I got my start as a bodybuilding promoter, and is now the home to the Arnold Sports Festival, but the reality is the reason there is nowhere like Columbus is because of the way the city rises up to help put on the Arnold Sports Festivals - from the doctors and nurses to law enforcement and firefighters to just the regular citizen volunteers, everyone comes together.
Schwarzenegger's Columbus favorite, Schmidt's.
What are a few of your favorite restaurants to visit when you're in Columbus? Any that you would recommend to visitors?
I love Schmidt’s. I don’t think there have been many trips to Columbus where I don’t go to Schmidt’s.
What’s one of your favorite things about the Arnold Sports Festival that you think people might be surprised to learn about?
It is more than just a bodybuilding festival. There are all sorts of sports from martial arts, cheerleading, powerlifting. I love watching the ballroom dancing!
