Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Austria in the post-war Europe. He had a very hard life and a harsh upbringing because of his disciplinarian father. Opportunities were scarce, and the young Schwarzenegger wanted to immigrate to America as he was attracted by the land of the free and the home of the brave.
However, to achieve his dreams, he first had to go through military school, which was super harsh. Nevertheless, the former governor of California never lost his faith and kept pursuing his dreams. Eventually, he made it to America, and the rest as they say is history. He was attracted by the United States while growing up in Austria and was quite fascinated by the culture and opportunities that this country provided.
The Harrowing Tale of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Journey to America
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most hardworking and respected figures in America, whose journey from becoming a famous bodybuilder to ascending to the heights of superstardom as the leading actor in showbiz is inspiring.
Schwarzenegger is making headlines as he recently released his three-part Netflix documentary Arnold, and in each episode, the actor narrates different aspects of his personal and professional life. The actor revealed how he began his career and what inspired him to leave Austria to follow his dream run in America.
In the first episode of his docuseries, The Terminator actor recalls his experience watching the film that changed his life and encouraged his bodybuilding journey. Before becoming one of the highest-grossing stars in Hollywood, Schwarzenegger ventured into a bodybuilding career, and he had this fire in his belly to become the best in his field.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Claims His Idol Reg Park Inspired Him To Become a Bodybuilder
The True Lies movie star recalls seeing the poster for the 1961 movie Hercules starring bodybuilding legend Reg Park, who had won multiple Mr. Universe competitions in his career. Arnold Schwarzenegger claimed that seeing his film and seeing him on American magazine covers inspired him to pursue a bodybuilding career, and Park became his idol.
The Predator actor recounts,
“As I was getting older, and the more I read stuff; about the outside world, outside of Austria, the more I started feeling like, I don’t think that I was, brought up in the right place, there is something off here. Maybe I don’t belong to Austria, or maybe I belong to America; Why is that? And that’s what convinced me that one day I have to be over there. I am in the wrong place; I gotta get out of here.”
The 75-year-old star also revealed that to escape Austria, he first joined the military force, claiming that everyone in the country was supposed to do so because no one was allowed to get a passport without serving in the military. He explained,
“I wanted to finish my service and then move on because you could not get your passport unless you have done your military service.”
The former Governor of California shared that it was not an easy path because while he was in the middle of his military training, he received a golden opportunity to compete in a bodybuilding competition in Stuttgart, Germany. He said,
“I saw my career in front of me. I saw myself on Mr. Universe’s stage. I just had to replace Reg Park’s head and put my head on it, and stand there with the trophy, flexing my muscles. I saw thousands of people in the auditorium, in the theatre, screaming, ‘Arnold! Arnold! Arnold!’”
Arnold Schwarzenegger is perhaps one of the most successful action superstars in the entertainment industry who has not only built a juggernaut in bodybuilding but made himself a top-tier star in showbiz.
Arnold is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Screen Rant
