Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Addresses Chiropractors At Fitness Symposium

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to a group of about 200 chiropractors in Columbus Ohio on March 7, 2009. Each year the chiropractic profession and the fitness world come together during the Arnold Fitness weekend. Governor Schwarzenegger is a long time proponent of physical fitness and a long time supporter of chiropractic.

For the past 17 years the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) has held their “Symposium on Natural Fitness” in conjunction with the “Arnold Classic” and Arnold has come to the chiropractic event to speak to the chiropractors and take pictures with every chiropractor in attendance. Arnold and his family are supporters of chiropractic and have received chiropractic care for years.

At this years event the Governor spoke to the over 350 Doctors of Chiropractic and guests about the tough economic times. He commented that in the midst of financially hard times, the chiropractic and fitness professions are both growing. He told the group, “There’s a financial crisis, there’s an unemployment crisis, there’s a housing crisis, there’s a mortgage crisis, there’s as many crisis as you can think of, except in chiropractic and in fitness, and at the Arnold Classic.” The Arnold Fitness weekend is held each year in Columbus and boasts some 17,000 athletes. This is more than the most recent Olympics which had 10,000 athletes.

At the Chiropractic Symposium, Dr. John Maltby, ICA President gave Arnold a large card signed by the chiropractors in attendance. In response he commented, “Thank you very much. You (referring to Dr. Maltby and the Chiropractors present) said that you have given me a lot of things like statues, and trophies and crystal things, but I just want to say that the most important thing that you have given me is your friendship and I really appreciate it and thank you very much.”

At the Chiropractic event, and onstage during the main Arnold Fitness weekend, Governor Schwarzenegger honored Dr. Franco Columbu who is a Doctor of Chiropractic and one of Arnold’s closest friends. Arnold told the chiropractic group that he met Franco Columbu on October 31 1965 in Germany. The Arnold Fitness website noted, “The Arnold Schwarzenegger Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Franco Columbu by Governor Schwarzenegger. Dr. Franco Columbu has won all the major bodybuilding and powerlifting titles in the world, including Mr. Olympia twice. He is also a doctor of chiropractic and an expert in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology. Columbu has starred in and produced numerous feature films.”

With Arnold at his side, the International Chiropractors Association also presented Dr. Columbu with the “Crystal Award” signifying a lifetime of service to the chiropractic profession and the health and fitness of people around the word. Arnold himself is a previous recipient of this award.