Arnold Schwarzenegger shares advice and connects with fans at Arnold Sports Festival
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in Columbus, and he addressed hundreds of fans at the Arnold Sports Festival today, giving them tips on how they can be the best version of themselves.
It was a busy day at the expo, but one event people didn’t want to miss out on was the panel with Arnold and former NFL football player Rob Gronkowski.
“The biggest thing for me is always seeing Arnold. I've come here a few times and never seen him. So to be as close as I was today, that was really awesome,” said Alan Hornstein, who has been coming to the Arnold Sports Festival since 2003.
Fans had the chance to ask Arnold questions, some asked for advice while others took the opportunity to ask the former governor of California about his political ambitions.
“I would’ve run for president. I have the talent to do that, I have the personality to do that, I have the vision to do that, I have the determination to do that. I love America enough that I would give anything to serve this country,” said Schwarzenegger.
It’s one thing to hear from Arnold, but it’s another thing to compete in front of him on the big stage. Tonight was the prejudging for the Arnold Classic Men’s Open. Hundreds of people filled the Battelle Grand room at the convention center, but before that took place, the finals for the Women’s Fitness International happened. One competitor, Andrea Glass, took the stage for the first time.
“It was amazing. It was my first time at the Arnold competing, and the crowd is amazing. The stage is amazing,” she said.
Andrea and her husband, Reuben, met at a gym years ago. They’re both International Fitness and Bodybuilding pros from California.
“She did phenomenal, and it just inspired me to do more or be better and allow me to also see that my wife, my daughter's mom, is up there excelling,” said Reuben.
The first time Andrea came to Columbus for the Arnold was in 2022, but at that time, she was just here as a spectator.
“I was already, and I've been pro, but I had only competed a couple of times at that point. I was very early in my pro career. So I said, the next time I come to this show, I want to be competing. I didn't know how long that would be or if it would even be true. And so it did come true,” said Andrea.
The first full day may be over, but the Arnold isn’t yet. For a full list of events taking place Saturday and Sunday, click here.