Arnold Schwarzenegger & Steiner Meet – Story by Randall J. Strossen
Matthias Steiner came to the Arnold Sports Festival hoping to meet California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the IronMind Invitational provided the perfect setting.
Olympic gold medalist Matthias Steiner said that Governor Schwarzenegger was his hero and the possibility of Arnold being in Beijing fueled both his final preparation and his dramatic performance on the lifting platform. Showing just how seriously he took Steiner’s Olympic victory, this afternoon Governor Schwarzenegger chatted with Steiner before the lifting started on the main stage of the Exposition Hall of Greater Columbus Convention Center; he sat ringside throughout the entire exhibition, and then came on the stage to chat some more with Steiner and his German Olympic teammates.
Steiner told IronMind that Governor Schwarzenegger explained how he had originally trained as a weightlifter because that was the system in Austria, and only later did he train as a bodybuilder; and that the man who has made the name Arnold known the world over was quick to extoll the many benefits of weightlifting.
Signaling the importance of the event, German television had sent multiple crews to cover the anticipated meeting between the two men, creating a media frenzy around a weightlifter never seen before the Arnold Sports Festival and rivaling anything seen abroad.
Arnold Weightlifting Championship attracted the entire of 213 men and 48 women. Best male liftier became Patrick Mendes, BW 125,94kg, snatch 160kg, clean and jerk 195kg, total of 355kg, 367,8 points. Best female liftier became Bass Kendal, BW 85,05, 85+110=195kg, 209,0p.
