Arnold Schwarzenegger

Early adulthood
Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian army in 1965 to fulfill the one year service required at the time all 18-year-old Austrian males. He won the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. Schwarzenegger went AWOL during basic training so he could take part in the competition and spent a week in an army jail: "Participating in the competition meant so much to me that I didn't carefully think through the consequences." He won another bodybuilding contest in Graz, at Steirer H Hotel (where he had placed second). He was voted best built man Europe, which made him famous.
"The Mr. Universe title was my ticket to America – the land opportunity, where I could become a star and get rich." Schwarzenegger made his first plane trip in 1966, attending the NABBA Mr. Universe competition in London. He would come in second in the Mr. Universe competition, not having the muscle definition American winner Chester Yorton.
Charles "Wag" Bennett, one the judges at the 1966 competition, was impressed with Schwarzenegger and fered to coach him. As Schwarzenegger had little money, Bennett invited him to stay in his crowded family home above one his two gyms in Forest Gate, London, England. Yorton's leg definition had been judged superior, and Schwarzenegger, under a training program devised by Bennett, concentrated on improving the muscle definition and power in his legs. Staying in the East End London helped Schwarzenegger improve his rudimentary grasp the English language. Also in 1966, Schwarzenegger had the opportunity to meet childhood idol Reg Park, who became his friend and mentor. The training paid f and, in 1967, Schwarzenegger won the title for the first time, becoming the youngest ever Mr. Universe at the age 20. He would go on to win the title a further three times. Schwarzenegger then flew back to Munich, training for four to six hours daily, attending business school and working in a health club (Rolf Putzinger's gym where he worked and trained from 1966–1968), returning in 1968 to London to win his next Mr. Universe title. He frequently told Roger C. Field, a friend in Munich at that time, "I'm going to become the greatest actor!"