Exclusive Interview with Jim Lorimer: Talent, Trophies & Terminators!

Get ready; the nation's biggest and best fitness expo/bodybuilding event is fast approaching! The 2015 Arnold Fitness EXPO will again feature more than 800 booths of the latest in sports equipment, apparel and nutrition and a stage that hosts unique, non-stop competitions and entertainment that combine to make the Arnold Fitness EXPO the heart of the Arnold Sports Festival. TheArnoldFans is always in attendance and we hope we see you there! Jim Lorimer, Schwarzenegger's good friend and co-founder, is always there too so to get you pumped up for the big bodybuilding event, Jim gives TheArnoldFans.com an exclusive interview!

TheArnoldFans: Jim, how are you doing today?

JIM LORIMER: We’re doing great, Randy. Good to hear from you.

TheArnoldFans: You and Arnold have such a long history together as business partners, and friends.  Can you please share with all the Arnold fans out there your tale on how you lured Arnold to the Arnold Classic, and how it was formed? 

JL: Well, there really wasn’t much luring, at all. In 1970, we were running the world weight lifting championships and Mr. World contest here in Columbus, Ohio. I had ABC’s World of Sports televising the event, so I knew I had to get some very top bodybuilders involved. So I called Sergio Oliva and I called Arnold. I got Arnold [on the phone] in the Gold’s Gym in California there. He said - really interested, 'I want to be there, but I’m in the middle of my work out. Would you call me back?’ And I said I would, so I called him back and we agreed. He came over in 1970 and he won the contest, beating Sergio Oliva for the first time. That was the beginning of our partnership, because at the end of the contest, we had sold out Veteran’s Memorial and he said - ‘This is the best competition I’ve ever been in! When I’m done competing in this sport, I’m going into promotion of this sport, I’m going to come back to Columbus Ohio, and ask you to be my partner.’ As a matter of fact, five years later after he won I guess six Olympia’s in row, he came back to Columbus and said - ‘I told you five years ago I now want to go into the promotion of [weight lifting] sports, raise the image of the sport, professionalize it for young athletes.’ We had a handshake in 1975 and on that handshake, for now, it’s been almost 40 years while we have been partners and running what has become the Arnold Sports Festival, which is the largest multi-sport event anywhere in the world. Involving over 50 events and 18,000 athletes on the first weekend of March in Columbus. 

TheArnoldFans: Very impressive! All that just based on a handshake. Very good. I remember also hearing that the Classic will no longer be held at Vets Memorial. Have you found a new location? 

JL: Oh yes! We’re just going to move it over to the [Greater Columbus] Convention Center where a lot of the events. We have a beautiful hall there that holds, actually, more people than the Veterans Memorial held. That’s going to be a smooth transition - actually, the Arnold Classic this year will be closer than before to all the action of the Arnold Sports Festival in that great convention center. Also this year, we are expanding out to the Ohio Expo Center, which is just ten minutes from the convention center, and there we are going to be moving many of these events. So we’re going to have 8,000 athletes at the Ohio Expo Center, and 10,000 athletes in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. So it’s going to be a great multi-location purpose with a lot of activity and a lot of fun. Something there for everybody; a sport for everybody. But of course we very much focus on bodybuilding and fitness events, which I know that your listeners really enjoy. 

TheArnoldFans: Yes, and we’re really happy to hear that you’re growing so big all over the world. Are you strictly involved with the Columbus Ohio Classic, or are you heavily involved on the world wide Arnold’s Sports Festivals? 

JL: Well, that’s a very good question, Randy, because we have been expanding our team here. As expanding the Arnold’s Sports Festival concept, this year we’ll be in Madrid for the third year, which is our European event. Again, that is held in September, and we’ve been in Brazil now for 2 years now. In Rio, that event each year, and next year we’re spreading to, we’re going to be in Kuala Lumpur, or Beijing. It’s gonna be Asia at one of those two locations next year. in 2016, we’re doing to be in Durban South Africa, so by 2016, the Arnold’s Sports Festival will be on all six continents.

TheArnoldFans: Wow! Brilliant. You know, I’ve been coming to the Arnold Classic since 1993 and I remember, there were a couple of years when crowds would attend the Men's Finals, were treated to trailers of Arnold’s movies before anyone else got to see them. Do you think the future Classics might ever revisit this and show exclusive footage of Arnold trailers for those who attend?

JL: Well, Arnold just concluded filming the fifth Terminator. He’s been doing the film down in New Orleans and I think your suggestion is very good because we have done that in the past. There's potential that we might do it. I'll definitely have to mention to Arnold your recommendation in this regard and we know Arnold listens very closely to the fans that you assemble. 

TheArnoldFans: Right! That would be great if you can, and I have another suggestion, too. You know the Classic is really good with the merchandise. T-shirts, buttons, souvenir programs and something, that kind of thing, and I have a suggestion that I personally would love. I know all the other fans too would love a small miniature replica of the double-bicep statue, the trophy. Maybe you guys can reproduce those on a 12 inch scale, just to make as like a souvenir kind of thing to bring home. 

JL: Well, that’s very interesting because we are, again, we have created a new statue this year, which we’re going to have duplicated, that is intended to be in three sizes and given to the champions over at the amateur events. Your recommendation is maybe we have a small statue of Arnold, which the public might purchase. Is that what you’re saying?

TheArnoldFans: Yes, exactly right. Cheap, affordable, you know, something $100 or less. Either plastic or resin, or something. I just think that’d be fantastic, the ultimate item to purchase and bring home from the Classic.

JL: Well, I like your suggestion, and I will discuss that with Arnold. 

TheArnoldFans: Great! And what are your top favorite Arnold movies?

JL: Well, because I always love the Terminator movies, they’ve always been my favorite.

TheArnoldFans: Nice! I’m so happy there’s a new one coming.

JL: (chuckles) That’s right. This should be a good one!

For more information and to purchase your tickers to the Arnold Sports Festival, visit arnoldsportsfestival.com. You can also HEAR our Jim Lorimer interview on our podcast, Arnold Radio News!

Thanks, Jim! We'll see you soon in Columbus, Ohio!