As a multiple-time Mr. Olympia victor, Arnold Schwarzenegger carved out one of the most notable physiques globally—and at the zenith of his bodybuilding days, his powerlifts were quite commendable as well. Speaking recently on The Pat McAfee Show, Schwarzenegger disclosed his personal bests on the major three:
“My ultimate bench press was 525, my ultimate deadlift was 710, and my ultimate squat was 610,” he remarked. “These were my lifts back then, but I have to admit they don’t hold a candle to what some of the modern builders and lifters achieve, I must tell you, because these days we have individuals squatting 700, 800 pounds and others bench pressing 600 pounds.”
“They have indeed excelled dramatically, but as you know time advances, people consistently improve, their musculature is more robust now, and they have more heft, with greater delineation and such,” he elaborated. “It’s a different time. Yet, I took great pride in my former lifts, and they contributed significantly to my accelerated growth.”
Although his current lifting regimen isn’t as heavy, Schwarzenegger continues to be a regular in the gym and trains frequently, six times weekly. “I head to the gym daily, mount my bike, journey to Gold’s Gym, exert for 45 minutes and then pedal back home,” he stated. “That’s an everyday ritual… Bear in mind: if you halt, you deteriorate. It’s as straightforward as that.”
Presently at 76, Schwarzenegger has come to terms with the realization that his body will not match his former aesthetic during the late ’70s and early ’80s. “It’s disappointing,” he conveyed to Howard Stern back in October, though he appended: “However, it still surpasses the bulk of physiques out there.”
Philip Ellis serves as the News Editor at Men’s Health, with a focus on fitness, pop culture, sexual and relational matters, along with LGBTQ+ topics. His writing is also featured in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller, and MTV. He is the writer behind the book Love & Other Scams.
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