In 1988 I sat down in my German class as a brand new student, eager to learn my heritage’s tongue. The teacher was a bookish looking school marm type and she came to the front of the class and just kept saying “kreide, kreide, kreide” until it dawned on us she was holding chalk. So, kreide must be chalk, we all said, “kreide, chalk,” and after that she began speaking English to us and introduced herself as Frau Sauer. Why am I boring you with this story? Well, dear readers, she used to live in Austria in the same town as one Arnold Schwarzenegger! She said he was timid and scrawny, and she used to give away candy and chocolates to the local children. Arnie was always last to get candy. The lesson was clear, anyone could become something amazing, if they simply strove for more and kept at it. We all knew who Arnold Schwarzenegger was, in 1988 he was damned near a god to us!
Way before he became the action icon we all respected in the 80s and on, he started out as an Internationally Competitive body builder. If you aren’t familiar with Pumping Iron, that’s quite alright, it was filmed in 1975 after all. But if you are familiar with the film, and the two stars’ rise to fame through unbelievable feats of fortitude, you haven’t seen Pumping Iron like this! With this digital download, you get rare footage and interviews few have seen before.
Everyone starts somewhere, and this is where it all started for Arnie!
Also, on the off-chance Arnie is reading this, Frau Sauer says “Wie gehts?’
Do you have any stories about perseverance you want to share with us or just your favorite on-screen (or other places) Arnie moments? Tweet at us with #PumpingIron and you’ll be entered to win a digital download of Pumping Iron!
This post is sponsored by Lionsgate.
