The "Arnold Mania" began in 1977 when the movie Pumping Iron launched a worldwide resurgence in the appeal of weight training. With no promotion of any type, the movie was a success and quickly became the highest grossing documentary to date, due to the charismatic performance of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnold Schwarzenegger single-handedly redefined movies, muscles and the public´s perception of the bodybuilder. A muscular body was now looked upon as a work of art. The garish novelty which a muscular man once represented was replaced by intellect and aesthetics. Muscle no longer connoted vanity and narcissism. It symbolized discipline, focus, and self improvement. In other words, it perfectly matched the ideals of the time.

Arnold´s fame crossed all boundaries. To the bodybuilding community, he exemplified the unobtainable goal. His massive size, along with outstanding symmetry, set a new standard. He also obliterated the misnomer of the bodybuilder as "all brawn and no brain." Arnold was sharp, witty and magnetic. He proved the American dream could indeed be a reality. Bodybuilding had found a new spokesman -- one who will, in all probability, never be equaled.

To learn more about Arnold, please visit any one of these sites below:

• http://www.schwarzenegger.com
• http://gov.ca.gov/
• About Arnold
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