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All the United States Ohio Columbus Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue

Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue

A bronze of the man in all his sinewy glory celebrates his longtime connection to the Ohio city.

Columbus, Ohio

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The statue stands tall at 8 feet.   Choosy Traveler/CC Attribution License
It shows Schwarzenegger at his muscular best.   Choosy Traveler/CC Attribution License
The plaques at the site.   Choosy Traveler/CC Attribution License
He was a young bodybuilding star when he first visited Columbus.   Choosy Traveler/CC Attribution License
It was shifted in 2014.   Choosy Traveler/CC Attribution License
The Arnold Classic is held at this venue.   Detailintheshadow/CC BY 2.0
Schwarzenegger’s signature.   TheColumbusDispatch/CC BY 2.0
The statue was originally unveiled in 2012.   Choosy Traveler CC attribution license
  tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
Photo by Drew Scofield   DrewScofield01 / Atlas Obscura User
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Arnold Schwarzenegger is most commonly linked with California, as he was the state’s "Governator" for eight years. But he also has a special connection with Columbus, Ohio, which hosts the annual Arnold Sports Festival, aka the Arnold Classic.

This association goes back to 1970, when the young bodybuilding star arrived in the city, fresh from a Mr. Universe triumph in London, to participate in the Mr. World contest. He bagged the top honor there too and developed a friendship with the event’s organizer Jim Lorimer, and expressed interest in working with him after retiring from the sport. 

This was the start of a lifelong association, where the two promoted bodybuilding events beginning with the 1976 Mr. Olympia event. In 1989, they organized the Arnold Classic, a bodybuilding and fitness competition and expo, which still takes place in Columbus every year.  

To mark Schwarzenegger’s Mr. World victory and the continued association, a 8-feet tall bronze statue of the man in all his sinewy muscular glory, was unveiled in 2012 outside the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, where the 1970 competition was conducted. When the auditorium was demolished, the statue was moved to its current location outside the Columbus Convention Center, where the Arnold Classic is now held. 

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Know Before You Go

The statue is listed on Google Maps, and is easily spotted in front of the convention center. There's some street parking in the area, which is your best bet if you're just stopping by for the statue.

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tylercole, Kavya Ram Mohan, DrewScofield01, srcogsil...

  • tylercole
  • Kavya Ram Mohan
  • DrewScofield01
  • srcogsil
  • msdiva1

Published

June 15, 2017

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Sources
  • https://choosytraveler.com/arnold-statue-columbus-ohio/
  • http://www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/
  • http://www.columbusunderground.com/bronze-arnold-statue-installed-at-veterans-memorial
  • http://www.columbusunderground.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-statue-finds-new-home-on-high-street
  • http://www.muscleandfitness.com/athletes-celebrities/news/arnold-statue-re-dedicated-columbus
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Sports_Festival
  • http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2012/02/30/the-arnold-jim-lorimer-the-man-behind-the-festival.html
  • https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/arnolds-architect-jim-lorimer.html
  • https://www.theironden.com/the-history-of-the-arnold-classic/
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/32740
Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue
474 N High St
Columbus, Ohio
United States
39.972096, -83.002251
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