Written by Peter McGough
10 September 2013

 "HEY FRANK! I HAVE A SECRET!"

Arnold finally comes clean about the 1980 Olympia

peter-ihavea-secretTwo weeks ago we published online the story ARNOLD, FRANK & SYDNEY detailing the interplay between Arnold Schwarzenegger (making an Olympia comeback after a five year hiatus) and defending champ Frank Zane at the 1980 Mr. Olympia in Sydney, Australia. See http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php/139084-PeterMcGough-on-Arnold-Frank-amp-Sydney. This week we wrap it up as Arnold finally tells Frank why he deceived his friend about entering the contest.

BOOFEST

History records that Arnold Schwarzenegger won his seventh Mr. Olympia title on October 4, 1980 and also that for just about the first time in his career he was booed. Didn't matter to Arnold, all that mattered was that he won. End of story. Bodybuilding contests, box-office returns, elections for state Governor - all that history remembers, all that matters to Arnold, is who was number one. 

In being called third, Zane was, "Really depressed. There's a story that I left the stage and smashed my trophy. But what really happened is that I set the trophy down backstage - I really didn't want it - and it sort of just fell over and the top came off. I left the hall, went back to the hotel, drank a bottle of wine and fell asleep."

peter-ihavea-secret1In assessing his 1980 physique Zane says, "The main thing is, I think I got compared to the way I looked the year before. In Sydney I was ripped: Showing maybe even more muscle but I was smaller than '79 [Editor's note: due to the severe injury he sustained eight weeks prior to the contest: see previous story]. I felt that in 1980 I was still in really good shape, but not as good as '79 when I was outstanding. And everyone knew what I had been through and my face, which was like a death mask, showed it. All that stress...my God. I almost died and then eight weeks later I was competing. Who would do that except a fool? In retrospect the best thing I could have done was not compete in 1980 and then come back in 1981."

WHY DID HE DO IT?

In reflecting on the 1980 Olympia one has to ask, why did Arnold enter? He knew he couldn't be at his all-time peak, and was risking defeat and a denting of his reputation. Zane feels he has at least part of the answer: "I think one of the reasons is he wanted to get even with me for something I said at the previous year's Olympia. Now, let me tell you, Arnold has helped me a lot, both before 1980 and since. In 1979 he was really helpful to me. He was doing CBS commentary for the '79 Olympia and he really built me up with his on-air comments. As I came offstage with my third Sandow I was feeling really good and maybe a little cocky. As Arnold came forward to interview me, He asked, 'Frank, how does it feel to win Mr. Olympia for the third time?' And, I answered, 'Arnold if feels even better than when I beat you for [the 1968] Mr. Universe.' I know he hated me saying that. It really bugged him and I think to get back at me for that remark was part of his motivation to enter the 1980 Mr. Olympia."

Zane may not be far off the mark. In February 2006 during an interview conducted by hosts Dan Solomon and Bob Cicherillo on the popular online radio program Pro Bodybuilding Weekly the Governor said the following: "Why did I do the comeback? It was a combination of things. The first and most important thing is that I was training for the Conan movie. At the same time I thought it was a good idea to compete because these guys had been saying in interviews that today's bodybuilders are much better thanwhen Schwarzenegger was around and I think we could all beat him now. That motivated me to jump in. [Editor's note: Zane's previously quoted comment and Mike Mentzer's criticizing Arnold's volume approach to training seemed to be the main targets for what the Governor said.]

In the same interview he went on to say. "Was it the right decision? I couldn't tell you that today. It might have been the wrong motivation. The fact of the matter was I was an established bodybuilding champion who had crossed over into the entertainment field. And now I've been making money from movies so [others thought] why would I take the one title away from the guys?"

 "I always had a big ego and that also came into play. So I competed, and I barely won - I barely won. It was a hair-raising experience. I remember Bill Pearl came to me [after the prejudging] and said I was in third. So I said, 'How many points [behind]?' He said, 'Two points.' [Editor's note: in fact the official score card shows that Arnold was never behind.] So I said to myself there is a chance to make up the two points in the evening pose-off. I remember I did everything I could, no matter what it took to pose and pose and pose and look as comfortable as possible and to be as good as possible in the evening to make up those two points and actually win."

At this point Cicherillo intervened and asked: "What went through your head when Bill Peal said you were in third. I mean you've never been third. You always either won or were second, and it had been 11 years since you were second?"

Arnold responded: "I immediately accused myself of being a major idot. 'Loser Arnold. You idiot: You're going to lose this. Didn't get your act together.' It was self-punishement right away Which I'm always very good in doing - beating up on myself. Then I immediately snapped into gear and said, 'Now I just have to do everything I can do to pull this off - I have one more chance in the evening show.' And I was very fortunate that I pulled it off and that I lost enough fluid. In the afternoon I had so much fluid and then with all this posing [I lost the fluid] I got really ripped. So by the time the evening came around I was in better shape than the afternoon and won."

THE BOTTOM LINE

peter-ihavea-secret2Leaving Sydney, Zane was still a little perplexed as to why Arnold - whom he considered a friend - hadn't told him he was making a comeback when he (Zane) had asked him point-blank eight weeks before the contest. He got his answer two months after the event when he and Arnold had breakfast at The Rose Cafe in Venice.

Zane recalls that meeting. "We got around to talking about why he didn't tell me he was competing. The Carter vs. Reagan election had just taken place and Arnold said, 'If prior to the election Carter had gone to Reagan and told him exactly how he planned to win the election, Reagan would have been a fool not to take advantage of that knowledge and use it for his benefit.'" Zane pauses before continuing. "Arnold then came up with a classic line as he said, 'Frank, competition is about strategy; it's not about friendship.' That nailed it. And I got it. He was right - you can't confuse the two."

Over thirty years removed from events how does Hall-of-Famer Frank Zane look back now at what transpired at the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest? "First of all I would like everyone to know that Arnold has helped me alot. He is a friend in my book so it all balances out. Basically the lesson learned is, if you are smart, never compete against Arnold, because you won't win - you just won't win."

 

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