Arnold Schwarzenegger shared about chasing his American Dream with renowned comedian Theo Von on the This Past Weekend podcast.

Schwarzenegger discussed one of the most pivotal moments: after winning the Mr. Universe title, he was invited by Reg Park, his idol, to London. But Schwarzenegger was fixated on going to the U.S., as he believed bodybuilding was fundamentally an American sport. And, he didn't have to wait long.

"I all of a sudden got this invitation from Joe Weider, who was the publisher of the muscle magazines," Arnold said.

"He published like four big muscle magazines — Flex, Strength and Health, and Fitness — all of this. And he also had an equipment company, the food supplement company."

The bodybuilding federation was spearheaded by Weider's brother Ben, and finally, the Austrian Oak reached this destination in 1968.

His move to America was one of the best things to happen in Arnie's life, as he won seven Olympia titles back-to-back and eventually made his first crossover into Hollywood.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Found His American Family Through Bodybuilding

Arnold definitely did not feel like a stranger in the city, and one probably does not when they are part of the "very sweet" community.

He was picked up at the airport by bodybuilding photographer Adriella and writer Dick Tyler, who took him straight to an apartment rented for him by Joe Weider.

"From then on, I got all the help in the world," Arnold told Theo. "That's when I really realized the generosity of the American people."

Schwarzenegger arrived in the States during festival season, and it was Thanksgiving right after. "There was this whole thing about giving me pillows and giving me blankets and giving me dishes and silverware," he recalled. People who had never met him before came through.

"Just because of bodybuilding and joining a club, you become kind of part of that family," Schwarzenegger said.

The legendary bodybuilding icon felt at home in America, and eventually made the country proud, too!

Is there a community you belong to that will always feel like a family?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil