Arnold Schwarzenegger can add another achievement to his name. The Hollywood icon, politician, and bodybuilder just received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Ulster, with the institution recognizing his work in public service, environmental advocacy, and the arts. It was a special moment for Schwarzenegger, who credits an experience in Belfast as one of the breakthrough moments of his life and career.
Schwarzenegger was welcomed at the university by faculty and students, wearing a red academic robe as he was handed an honorary degree. He addressed the audience and shared that Belfast was an important place for him, with him first visiting the Northern Ireland city in 1966 in a bodybuilding competition. In a speech, Schwarzenegger revealed that he couldn’t speak English at the time, and “nearly fainted” when he was asked to address the crowd, reports the BBC.
“What happened that day in Belfast was so important to me because every single time afterwards when I won a competition, I went to the microphone,” he said.
© AFP via Getty Images“Each time I said more and more and more, and eventually they couldn’t shut me up, I love talking so much in public.”
Schwarzenegger revealed that on his first trip to Belfast, he had no money and stayed over at a judge’s house, where he was treated to an Ulster fry, a traditional Northern Irish breakfast dish made up of bacon, sausages, eggs, and local foods like soda bread and potato farls.
Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding legacy is thriving
© FilmMagicArnold Schwarzenegger was a big reason why bodybuilding blossomed as a sport, with him representing one of the biggest icons of the era. His son, Joseph Baena, is following in his footsteps and recently won his first bodybuilding competition in California.
Baena shared the good news on his social media, writing “Mission accomplished!”
In the days since, he’s shared behind-the-scenes moments, a video of his full routine onstage, workout and cooking videos, and some thanks for his friends and training partners. “We did this whole prep together and did it the old-fashioned way! No coach, just friends pushing each other past our limits and keeping one another accountable. We grew, laughed and learned a ton together. That’s what it’s all about,” he wrote.
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