The prestigious award Arnold Schwarzenegger has received has never been given to another bodybuilder. The Arnold Classic competition, a prominent bodybuilding contest, is named in his honor. A close friend of Schwarzenegger’s and co-founder of the event, Jim Lorimer, recently passed away.

The well-known bodybuilder paid a special tribute to his late friend on social media by posting an emotional statement to which his fellow athletes sent comments.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s heartfelt tweet garners reactions from celebrities and well-known bodybuilders.
Lorimer passed away on November 24, 2022, at the age of 96. Along with co-founding and overseeing the Arnold Classic event, Jim Lorimer held a number of other positions, including FBI agent, mayor, and national track coach.

Lorimer and Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to make bodybuilding more well-known. The two started the Arnold Classic competition in 1989 to make it happen, and it grew to be the second-most well-known bodybuilding competition. “I am devastated that I won’t sit with him again and hear his wisdom, or analyze bodybuilders with him, or just laugh and laugh,” wrote a tribute to Schwarzenegger, a lifelong friend, on Instagram.

It’s possible to consider both Lorimer and Schwarzenegger bodybuilding pioneers. During that time, Schwarzenegger was one of President George H. W. Bush’s most significant advisors. The bodybuilder remembered how his close buddy Lorimer, who served as the chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, had assisted him in making the proper choice.

Schwarzenegger’s tweet received several condolence responses from other bodybuilders and celebrities.

Jay Cutler was one of many famous bodybuilders who wrote the following:

RIP, sad news

I’m overjoyed that I got to meet him at the contest.

Jim, “R.I.P.”

“The tribute touches the bones as much as the heart and soul. Such a powerful statement that is also quite accurate. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends. RIP, Jim. Your spirit endures.

Several people wrote:

“Life is such an amazing adventure! passes swiftly! Let’s cherish and excite our loved ones right now.

“Sad to hear of your loss.

“🙏”

“Blessings”

In his post, Schwarzenegger also offered the Lorimer family his sympathies and best wishes.

The relationship between Jim Lorimer and Arnold Schwarzenegger

When Lorimer invited a young Schwarzenegger to an event in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970, the relationship between the promoter and the bodybuilding legend officially got underway.

The two quickly developed a close friendship and agreed to an unofficial agreement to popularize bodybuilding as a sport in the United States. One of the most well-known sporting events is the Arnold Classic, which Schwarzenegger and Lorimer founded in 1989.

Lorimer is credited by Schwarzenegger and many other athletes for the growth of bodybuilding and other sports in Columbus and other cities. His perseverance and passion for sports enabled him to attain significant life milestones.