Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno not only shared a rivalry on stage but also shared the screen for what they do best: working out.

Recently, footage surfaced on the internet from the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron, in which the two legendary rival bodybuilders were seen preparing for the 1975 Mr. Olympia. 

On June 25, the Instagram handle “arnoldsports” shared a video, captioning, “🔥 The rivalry that changed bodybuilding forever! This legendary scene from Pumping Iron captured the psychological and physical battle between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno as they prepared for the 1975 Mr. Olympia.” 

The video shows a gym scene where both bodybuilders are seen training. Schwarzenegger is performing movements like:

• Seated cable row
• Dumbbell front-lateral raise to overhead
• Plated loaded barbell landmine exercise
• Squats with barbell

While Ferrigno was seen performing exercises, such as: 

• Barbell overhead press
• Barbell bicep curls 
• Cable pushdown

The post further reads, “The raw training footage, atmosphere, and tension between the two competitors helped redefine how bodybuilding was viewed by the mainstream public, turning Pumping Iron into one of the most influential fitness documentaries ever made.”

The "Austrian Oak" was the overall winner in the 75 Mr. Olympia and 200lbs category, while the bodybuilder Ferrigno received third place. 

The intense training video has received likes and comments from fans, which are still being counted.

Fans' reaction to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno’s video

One fan was impressed by Schwarzenegger's strength and said, “Most of the time I like to do what Arnold is doing. Those front raises are beyond me, though.” Front raises help develop the anterior deltoids and improve joint mobility.

One Hulk fan wrote, “That’s how he became the first HULK.” Ferrigno played the role of the Hulk in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk from 1977 to 1982. 

Another fan remembers the old gym days and wrote a heartfelt message, “Miss the sound of those metal plates we used back in the day.”

While one fan contrasts the modern and traditional gym equipment,  and also points out raw power during weight lifting, said, “Some of these new age weight lifters wouldn’t understand. Hardly any machines, lifting with straight power💪🏾”

One Pumping Iron fan wrote, “Love 1975 Mr Olympia Pumping Iron 🔥”

According to Digital Muscle, even after 40+ years, Pumping Iron remains a cult classic movie that perfectly captured the rivalry between the two bodybuilders, which ultimately led to successful movie careers for both of them.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil