Arnold Schwarzenegger got drop kicked while watching athletes perform in Africa

Alex Hollings
Apr 29, 2020 3:50 PM PDT
1 minute read
Sports photo

SUMMARY

On Saturday, Arnold Schwarzenegger was going about his business, recording a Snapchat video on the sidelines of the Arnold Classic Africa, when a man emerged from the crowd and attacked the former California governor with a jumping, two-footed dro…

On Saturday, Arnold Schwarzenegger was going about his business, recording a Snapchat video on the sidelines of the Arnold Classic Africa, when a man emerged from the crowd and attacked the former California governor with a jumping, two-footed drop kick to the back.

While your average 71-year-old would probably suffer a broken hip or worse if they found themselves taking that sort of kick from a random stranger out of the crowd at a public event, for the Terminator, it was hardly a concern.


Schwarzenegger posted this image of him visiting with a friend on Twitter less than a day after the attack, showing it'll take more than a random crazy person to hurt the Terminator.

(Arnold Schwarzenegger via Twitter)

"Thanks for your concerns, but there is nothing to worry about. I thought I was just jostled by the crowd, which happens a lot," Schwarzenegger tweeted. "I only realized I was kicked when I saw the video like all of you. I'm just glad the idiot didn't interrupt my Snapchat."

Video of the attack clearly shows Schwarzenegger engaging with fans and recording a video with his phone as an unidentified assailant approached from behind and quickly sprung into the double-foot kick. Schwarzenegger was clearly knocked off balance by the kick, but in perhaps the most impressive testament to the man's continued fitness, the actor kept his feet as he stumbled forward. In the end, the attacker found himself in a pile on the floor, while the seven-time Mr. Olympia quickly regained both his balance and his sense of humor.

And if you have to share the video (I get it), pick a blurry one without whatever he was yelling so he doesn’t get the spotlight. By the way... block or charge?pic.twitter.com/TEmFRCZPEA

twitter.com

In a follow-on tweet, Schwarzenegger referenced the popular "block or charge" memes originated by former NBA star Rex Chapman. Chapman was inspired to create the meme when he saw a video of a dolphin diving out of the water and into a stand-up paddle boarder.

"I saw it and thought, 'that's a charge,'" Chapman explained earlier this year. "People thought it was really funny, I guess."

Schwarzenegger was clearly among them, writing "By the way ... block or charge?" on Twitter. He went on to call on the thousands of people sharing the video to use versions that don't include the man shouting in the aftermath of the attack, saying, "if you have to share the video (I get it), pick a blurry one without whatever he was yelling so he doesn't get the spotlight."

It seems that the attacker was shouting, "Help me! I need a Lamborghini!" repeatedly as he was dragged away.

Update: A lot of you have asked, but I’m not pressing charges. I hope this was a wake-up call, and he gets his life on the right track. But I’m moving on and I’d rather focus on the thousands of great athletes I met at @ArnoldSports Africa.

twitter.com

Despite Schwarzenegger's good spirits following the attack, MMA fighter and Green Beret Tim Kennedy took to Twitter to voice his frustrations with Schwarzenegger's security detail.

"This is infuriating. I have spent a bit of time with Governor Schwarzenegger. He is an incredible human," Kennedy wrote on Twitter. "Unforgivable lapse by his protective detail."

Nonetheless, Schwarzenegger has stated that he has no intentions of pressing charges against that man that he considers a "mischievous fan." He also made it clear that he doesn't want the attack to become to focal point of the event.

"We have 90 sports here in South Africa at the @ArnoldSports, and 24,000 athletes of all ages and abilities inspiring all of us to get off the couch. Let's put this spotlight on them."

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