Arnold Schwarzenegger's forgotten record-breaking career as Mr Olympia!

Most people remember Arnold Schwarzenegger as an A-list movie star, starring in the hit blockbusters Predator and the Terminator film series.

If it isn't for his famous movies in the 80s, recently Schwarzenegger has been involved in politics, governing the state of California for eight years from 2003 to 2011.

Before politics and movies, the Austrian superstar rose to prominence as the world's leading bodybuilder, winning events all over the world.

People who follow the world of strength sports will remember Schwarzenegger as an icon and an advocate for fitness over five decades.

Here's his story as a bodybuilding champion and Mr Olympia record-breaker!

Schwarzenegger began weight training after taking inspiration from Reg Park, an actor and bodybuilder best known for his performance in Hercules.

The Austrian competed in amateur physique shows in his teens but rose to prominence in the late 60s, winning the NABBA Mr. Universe in 1967 aged 19 in London.

His performances in two out of three major events made him the favorite to win the 1968 IFBB Mr. Universe, but he lost, coming second to the far smaller and leaner Frank Zane.

The loss to Zane stung Schwarzenegger, but he learned that he needed to cut down and become leaner, moving to America full-time to train and win Mr Universe.

After moving to America, the Austrian won four international tournaments in 1969 and made his Mr Olympia debut, coming second. It would be the third and last defeat in bodybuilding.

In 1970, Schwarzenegger who the NABBA Mr. Universe, AAU Mr. World, and the biggest prize in the bodybuilding world, his first Mr. Olympia title, defeating rival Sergio Oliva in two of the events.

From 1971 till his initial retirement in 1975, the Austrian only competed in the Mr. Olympia competition, winning the title six years in a row.

After his Mr. Olympia win in 1975, Schwarzenegger was part of a docudrama called 'Pumping Iron,' focusing on his final year. Appearances in other movies proved to be the break for the Austrian to get his acting career off the ground.

Whilst training for the movie Conan, Schwarzenegger made a shock return to Mr. Olympia in 1980, training for just seven weeks and announcing his return on the week of the event.

Schwarzenegger was controversially awarded the win, as fellow competitors felt his subpar muscle mass and poor conditioning should have excluded him from winning. However, his seventh Mr. Olympia was a then record number of wins.

In a 15-year Bodybuilding career, Schwarzenegger won 15 major events, including seven Mr Olympia's. His success in the sport helps him go down as one of the most incredible bodybuilders of all time.