What were Arnold's stats?

[bilat]

What about his bodyfat % in that pic?

 

[WarriorPL]

BF is clearly near 5-6%.... just like todays Mr Olympia standards.

 

[guldukat]

I certainly don't think Arnold had 22 inch arms. I think he had maybe 19's or 20's.

Yeah. I agree with you, as is seemingly often the case

Arthur Jones measured Arnold's arms in the early 70's. Art was fanatic about very precise measurements, and people who claimed 20" arms or more were always humbled.

Art said Arnold's arms, with a "slight pump," measured about 19.75" each. So it's possible at his top competition weight of 237 and roughly 5% bodyfat, Arnold had legit 20" arms, cold (as this was a couple of years after Art measured him, and Arnold was at his very best in '74).

As for the picture, someone else nailed it: it's from Terminator, when he walks up on punks played by Brian Thompson, himself a jacked mofo as the psycho in "Cobra," Bill "game over, man!" Paxton, and some other guy.

I can believe Arnold had a 53" chest in competition shape and a 34" waist, probably give an inch on each or so. But I don't buy that 58" crap for one SECOND...guys his height, much stronger, and a lot fatter at shows like the WSM rarely claim such a measurement even when they're like 350! I don't care if you've got a gigantic rib cage; accurate, documented measurements have shown over and over that a 20" differential between waist and chest measures was incredible in the 70s for almost any bodybuilder. And Arnold didn't have the biggest differential then--Sergio Oliva did. Freddy Poole did before him.

28" thighs are possible...in '74, his legs actually looked pretty damn good. They're definitely better than Levrone's in the past couple of years, which is sorta weird, since Kevin used to have some of the most separated, freaky legs on the pro circuit.

Calves, I have no idea. I've never even gotten a straight story on whether or not he had silicone in there.

Oh, and as far as the '80 Olympia was concerned, I was friends with Mike...yes, he definitely thought that. I could see that Arnold might win given the strength of his "showy" muscles, but he was far from the most complete, muscular guy onstage that time out. His forearms, hamstrings, and triceps were all pretty substandard. Mentzer probably was in the best condition of the big guys.

Btw, Mike told me his cold arm measurement was about 18 and 3/4" in peak contest shape, at 225 and 4% bodyfat or so. I figure he might've been able to achieve close to 20" if he was in offseason shape. His brother, Ray, definitely did, with almost 21" arms at a fairly lean 260 in the mid-eighties.

 

[gmanlax7]

whatever size they were , arnolds arms look rediculously big in one of the first scenes in 'pumping iron' when he is lifting at the crowded gym and posing in the mirror

 

[TheOak84]

i know right, i dont think arnold was lying, i know a guy with 20 in arms who is 6 feet tall, they rnt that big.. as opposed to a 5'6' guy with 20 in arms,

his biggest stat ever were in 1974:

height: 6'1 1/2
weight: 235
arms: 22.5 in
chest: 57 (i believe it was up to 59 at one point)
waist: 33
Thighs: 28.5 in
calves: 20 in

in 1975 before he started filmin Pumping Iron, he made a movie and had to drop down to 210 THEN get back up to 235.. pretty demanding.. but still, he did it..

i think Arnold was the greatest, the best proportion, symmetry
and just the way his muscles looked... i like it all.. plus, a small ass waist with thick obliques and serratus..

tell me, who has that now, who is Pro... i think they should go back to the old school style physiques, and disquallify freaky ass dude, even though it kinda kool to look at...

 

[Debaser]

I dunno, I think he is lying about the arms and chest. 22.5"? Be honest guys, he looked great but didn't have very much weight (relatively speaking) for a 6'2" frame. That guy I posted about earlier, Kevin Tolbert, was 5'9" 250 (natural! incredible genetics) lean (though I don't think 5% lean) and had 20 1/2" arms. Even if Arnold had genetic disposition to grow big arms, comeon, 2 inches more when he's 5" taller and weighs less? Maybe same weight off season?

 

[louden_swain]

I have also heard various stories about Arnold and bench pressing. I think in his prime he was able to bench about 450lbs, which was a huge weight at the time.

Franco on the other hand was out of everyones league in terms of bench pressing. He still is today. In Francos prime, he was bench pressing about 535lbs at 180lbs. That is amazing!!!

It would be interesting to see some of the facts. I wonder what Frank Zane was pushing in his prime. . . .365lbs??

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Let's be honest here, show me a 19inch arm on a 6'2 guy that looks like Arnolds in his peak shape. Show me a guy with an arm thats only 19inches that looks like that, and has muscle everywhere (not some guy who trains arms only).

When Jones measured his arm it was when Arnold was in the off season. Arnold was known to go down to 190-210 in the off season.

But again, who cares about this? Everyones arguing about it, but I don't see anyone with a body like that, or winning any Olympia titles. He was the greatest of all time, not only for his incredible body, but also his iron will, determination, charisma, and desire. He was more hungry than any of them. He didn't bitch about things. When he came to America and they told him he was too soft, and lost shows, he changed quickly. When they said his calf muscles were too small, he did anything he could to bring them up (let's not even talk silicone or anything silly like that.) Thats what he did, whatever it took. That is why he has accomplished so many things in his life. He has a driving force that you will rarely find, if ever.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

I'm not exactly sure, I would have to look it up, but I think his max bench was a tad bit over 500lbs. This was when he was a powerlifter of course.

Yes, Franco was amazing. Very strong. My friend is built a lot like him, 5'6 180 but looks incredible. I don't know how he manages to look that thick at only 180. He can bench 405 for reps easy. I'm jealous!

 

[Fatty4You]

whatever size they were , arnolds arms look rediculously big in one of the first scenes in 'pumping iron' when he is lifting at the crowded gym and posing in the mirror

I agree. Those are some freaky beautiful peaks on his biceps. I would happy having arms that looked like that regardless of whether or not they aree 22 or 19 inches.

I think arnold has one of the most beautiful bodies of any bodybuilder then or now. Although, i have looked at Mike metzer's pictures and he looked in pretty damn good shape!

I love the mass monsters of today, but i have to say the guys of arnold's era were just more pleasing to look at.

-Fatty