“That’s the reason I enlisted in the military early”: Arnold Schwarzenegger on How He Escaped Austria to Become 7 Time Mr. Olympia
Sebastian Wright
Updated on April 03, 2026
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been an inspiration to many. Whether it is bodybuilding, acting, or being a political figure, the actor has tapped into many fields, coming out victorious in all of them. However, being from Thal, Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger had to find a way to make it to America.
America, as Arnold Schwarzenegger says, is considered to be the Mecca of bodybuilding. And the actor had to leave Austria behind to embark on the journey of becoming an icon of the bodybuilding industry. In his Netflix documentary, Arnold, he elaborates on how he escaped Austria to make a name for himself. He was determined to do whatever it took, even if it was enlisting in the military.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Journey to the Mecca of Bodybuilding
In the documentary, Arnold Schwarzenegger recalled how he would spend most of his time in his room, looking up at the posters of bodybuilding legends, including Reg Park. Since Park had a start similar to that of Schwarzenegger, he became the actor’s motivation.
“This was a place where I spent a lot of time, right here in this bed and in this room. So I would be just literally you know lying here…and dreaming. And then looking up at those characters and then sitting up. I would see Reg Park, you know with his body, and then remembering the story of him growing up in Leeds in England…and I said to myself, ‘He made it out of that? Then there’s a chance for me also to make it out of here.’”
Fully motivated, Schwarzenegger was now on the lookout for any opportunity he could find to get out of Austria, including enlisting in the military. He stated that you couldn’t get a passport, until or unless you do your military service.
“So I think that’s the reason I enlisted in the military early. In Austria everyone serves in the military. I decided to go at the age of 18. I wanted to finish my service and then move on because you could not get your passport unless you have done your military service.”
Soon, Schwarzenegger got the opportunity to be a part of a competition in Stuttgart, Germany. However, he was not allowed to leave his military training mid-way. But of course, he went anyway.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Makes Strides
Schwarzenegger gets down in Stuttgart and competes against twenty-eight men in the competition. In the end, the True Lies actor defeated every single one of his competitors and earned first place in the Junior Best Built Man competition in 1965. After that moment, Schwarzenegger could clearly see his future in the industry.
“I saw my career in front of me. I saw myself on that Mr. Universe stage, I just had to replace Reg Park’s head, put my head on it, and stand there with the trophy and flex my muscles. And I saw, the thousands of people in the auditorium, in the theatre, screaming, ‘Arnold! Arnold! Arnold!’”
Schwarzenegger was offered the position of trainer in a bodybuilding gym in Germany. However, he was supposed to be in the military for three years. But the opportunity was too good to reject. He stated,
“It was kind of really the only solution to get me out of Austria and one step closer to America. You’re not gonna go and become the greatest bodybuilder in Austria because you need to train with the best bodybuilders around you. And the Mecca of bodybuilding was America. ‘I gotta get out of here, no matter what it takes.’”
And thus, Schwarzenegger embarked on a journey that proved to be extremely fruitful. He went on to win 5 Mr. Universe titles and 7 Mr. Olympia titles, before retiring from bodybuilding.
You can watch Arnold on Netflix.
Source: Arnold
