Not many people know that before becoming one of the world’s most iconic multi-sport events, the Arnold Sports Festival was just an idea sparked by a friendship.

So let's take a look at the origin story of the sports meet that originated in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989, and gradually spread to several other countries, including the UK

Arnold Sports Festival: History and Impact

• The Beginning:

Throughout the 70s and 80s, Arnold Schwarzenegger was already a legend, dominating both his bodybuilding and acting careers. He won six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles (7 total) and is the one who popularized bodybuilding in the mainstream world.

It was during this time that Arnold met Jim Lorimer, a former FBI agent, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee for Women’s Athletics, and a sports promoter in Columbus, Ohio. Lorimer invited Schwarzenegger to compete in the 1970 Mr. World contest in Columbus and personally arranged a flight so he could attend.

Schwarzenegger won the contest and promised Lorimer that the two would promote events together after his retirement. Little did they know that their simple promise would redefine the world of sport.

• The Birth of Arnold Classic

Arnold retired from bodybuilding in 1975, and from 1976 to 1986, he and Lorimer promoted six Mr. Olympia contests. The success of these events gave them the idea of creating their own contest, instead of promoting someone else. So, finally, in 1989, the duo organized their first bodybuilding competition, The Arnold Classic. 

The idea behind AC was to introduce people unfamiliar with the sport to bodybuilding and enjoy it. So, they spent a lot of time explaining everything to the audience.

Rich Gaspari was the first Arnold Classic winner, and Tonya Knight won the women’s division. The event was widely popular; it aired on NBC and was even featured as a sketch on Saturday Night Live.

• The Expansion into Arnold Fitness Expo

By the early 90s, the Arnold Classic started to evolve beyond bodybuilding. In 1993, it was renamed the Arnold Fitness Expo as it was the first time it expanded to different sports and fitness activities, and a year later, it became a three-day festival.

The event included everything from martial arts and dancing to fencing, wrestling, strongman, table tennis, and more. Instead of just watching from the stands, here fans could meet their favorite athletes and buy the latest merchandise.

In the beginning, only a handful of vendors were part of the event. Speaking to the Columbus Dispatch in 2012, Jim Lorimer said,

“We were in the basement at Veterans Memorial the first few years, and people kept coming up to us and saying they had products to market…So we started a small exposition, maybe six vendors the first year — and it took off.” 

In the first year, 200 exhibitors sold supplements, clothes, and equipment, with approximately 15,000 attendees. Today, the expo features 1,000 individual booths and is an important yearly event for many sellers.

• The Introduction of The Arnold Strongman Classic

In 2002, the introduction of the Arnold Strongman Classic brought a new level of global prestige to the festival. It was designed differently from the traditional strongman contests, focusing on explosive strength, and featured different strength contests.

• Over the Years

Today, the Arnold Sports Festival hosts tens of thousands of athletes participating in dozens of sports. The Arnold Sports Festival wasn’t just a U.S. event anymore; it has become a global brand, with festivals organized all over the world.

• 2011: The Arnold Classic Europe.
• 2013: The Arnold Classic South America
• 2014: The Arnold Classic Australia
• 2015: The Arnold Classic Africa
• 2016: The Arnold Classic Asia
• 2021: Arnold Sports Festival United Kingdom

The economic impact of the festival became known in 2019 when ASF generated an estimated $53 million.

Over the years, the ASF has faced many challenges, from organizational issues to political setbacks. Still, its core mission of promoting sports and fitness remains constant. Through it all, the festival has continued to be one of the most prestigious events in the sporting world.

While Schwarzenegger has many feathers in his illustrious cap, the ASF remains his most enduring legacy.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Souvik Roy