Growing up in a village in Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger began playing soccer in his teenage years. A strong push also came from his family.

His father, a former military officer, was very strict and wanted his son to play soccer. However, Schwarzenegger suddenly developed a love for bodybuilding and showed the world how true dedication and passion can help you overcome any hurdle.

During his appearance on The Howard Stern Show on June 13, the Austrian Oak admitted that everyone is meant for something. Some people can build a massive physique but lack strength, while others can be very strong and have good proportions but lack structure.

Schwarzenegger continued by saying, So, it really depends. You know, I was very fortunate that I was meant for that sport. You know, I was not meant for soccer. I played soccer, and I skied, but I was never good enough to become a champion or anything like that. So bodybuilding was the sport for me.”

Although Schwarzenegger may not like soccer, it was soccer that sparked his interest in bodybuilding.

Schwarzenegger’s soccer coach took him to the gym for soccer-specific training. However, at that time, he fell in love with the barbell, and the rest is history.

For that love, the teen bodybuilder worked hard. He admitted to training secretly in his home kitchen so that no one in his family would see him.

Not only that, but he also ran away from his Army camp to participate in a bodybuilding competition.

All this shows how passionate Schwarzenegger was about bodybuilding, and that's why, later in his life, he earned 7 Mr. Olympia titles and set a legacy that will be praised and followed by every other fitness enthusiast forever.

Although Schwarzenegger left soccer long ago, it has not left the bodybuilder; he admitted he learned about football through his kids.

Arnold Schwarzenegger learned about football through his son

Schwarzenegger left soccer for bodybuilding in his teenage years. However, he discovered a love for it all because of his children.

Talking about people, the 2024 Super Bowl commercial for State Farm features a bodybuilding legend who learned about American football because of his children.

He said, “It was all more kind of their deal because I don't come from the football background. I come from the soccer background.

So I would say that the majority of things that I learned about football was through my kids because they would have their friends over and they would be talking about, Oh, this is a foul And I'd say, Why was it a foul? And they would explain to me the rules.”

He also admitted that his sons, Christopher Schwarzenegger and Patrick Schwarzenegger, have experience.

The bodybuilding legend also said, “We had football events at home. They brought their friends over. We had the 5,000 pounds of pizza that we'd serve. It was always a big deal”.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil