Bodybuilding for all the icons that it has given the world is often disregarded as a sport when the level of discipline and dedication it demands is unparalleled. This is why when Arnold Schwarzenegger lost at the hands of Frank Zane in 1968, it rose the competitive quotient between the two. However, the years of bodybuilding are long behind both the legends, with Schwarzenegger even salvaging two successful careers since then. At 21 and 26, Schwarzenegger and Zane had a Mr. Olympia title separating them. And at 75 and 81, respectively, it is the very thread that connects them.

The Austrian Oak decided early on to make his life a learning experience. However, he was not the only one, as Frank Zane did the same. Both Schwarzenegger and Zane are a gold mine of workout tips and nutritional facts, among others. And the two still continue to promote the well-being of the mind and body on a regular basis to their massive social media following.

Much like how Arnold Schwarzenegger has his Arnold’s Pump Club and newsletters, where he sometimes gives life advice, Frank Zane has his Instagram. And you best believe that he is the best fitness influencer in town. At 81, Zane is well past the stage where he works his body to the bone just to flex for magazines. This is why you can often find him giving fruitful advice like “Focus on the quality of your sets instead of the weight and number of reps” on his Instagram.

The bodybuilder, much like the Austrian Oak, also started lifting at the young age of 14. However, it was not until he went to college that he actually started training. Throughout his bodybuilding career, Schwarzenegger may have won several golds, but the one he lost to Frank Zane always stayed with him. However, the two icons did not let the rivalry get the best of them.

Are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane friends?

‘What happens at the Mr. World stage, stays at the Mr.World stage,’ or something along these lines was probably said between the two bodybuilders. The two went on to form a pretty good bond. So much so that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane lived with each other in California.

While the shared apartment arrangement did not go on for long, it gave the two legends a lifetime of memories. This is often reflected when they jump at the opportunity of speaking highly of each other in interviews.

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