Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded honorary degree in Belfast

He said he would be back and now, decades after he came to Belfast as a young bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger has returned to the city for a special honour.

Ulster University (UU) rolled out the red carpet for Schwarzenegger on Monday and conferred an honorary degree on the Hollywood-star-turned-politician.

The university said the doctorate is in recognition of his contributions to public service, environmental advocacy and the arts.

Schwarzenegger told the event his first visit to Belfast in 1966 was a "breakthrough" moment for him because it was the first time he was invited to speak in public.

The Austrian-born film star said he could not speak English at the time and "nearly fainted" when he was asked to address the crowd at a bodybuilding competition.

He managed to mutter a few words with the help of his host, and was thrilled to receive a standing ovation from the crown for his efforts.

"What happened that day in Belfast was so important to me because every single time afterwards when I won a competition I went to the microphone," he recalled.

"Each time I said more and more and more, and eventually they couldn't shut me up, I love talking so much in public."

'Tricked' into giving speech

Schwarzenegger's first visit to Northern Ireland in 1966 came as the result of an invitation from a local bodybuilding judge.

Arriving penniless, the then unknown athlete was allowed to bunk up in the judge's house in Dundonald where he was treated to an Ulster fry breakfast.

On Monday, Schwarzenegger joked that he was "tricked" into coming back to Belfast during a video call with UU's chancellor and vice-chancellor several months ago.

The film star said he was asked by the UU representatives if he still believed in free speech, to which he replied: "Of course I do."

His hosts then replied: "Good, you are going to give one on 30 March in Belfast."

"So I was tricked, I couldn't get out of it anymore," Schwarzenegger laughed.

The Terminator star was invited to meet students and athletes during the reception at UU's campus in Belfast city centre.

Some students spoke of their surprise to see Schwarzenegger in their university.

"I can't believe he's here, of all places," said Niamh.

"It's kind of random, but it's kind of crazy," said her friend Sinead.

Eoin Heaney studies film at UU.

He said having Schwarzenegger visiting is going to "do wonders" for his course and the university.

"I remember I saw Terminator 2 about a decade ago and I couldn't get over it, it was simply sublime," Heaney said.

"It was one of those first real big movies I saw because I was most acquainted with Marvel at the time and it just completely blew my mind," he said.

"I would say it's my favourite movie of his."

A group of musicians and dancers performed for Schwarzenegger at Monday's event.

Ursula Burns, a harpist from Belfast, was one of them.

She said she was "shaking like a leaf" before the performance, but added, the experience was "amazing".

"When I realised I had to carry the harp on stage and stand right beside him to play I was nervous," Burns said.

The performers were not permitted to tell people about Schwarzenegger's visit ahead of Monday, Burns said.

"I just can't wait to tell my brothers about it because we would've all watched Terminator together," she said.

Favour Okpohs, the Belfast vice president at Ulster University Students' Union, said having Schwarzenegger at UU makes her "really proud".

"One thing I'm going home with is the advice he has given - to have confidence and faith in yourself, believe in yourself, have a goal".

Another student, Robert, remembers watching Schwarzenegger's films as a child and arrived hoping to get an autograph.

"I've never met someone so big," he said.

"In my eyes, I feel like it's a big deal not just for the city, but for the country to have such a global icon come here."

An honorary doctorate is the highest honour UU can bestow and is awarded to inspirational people who have made an outstanding impact in their field.

"Few individuals have shaped global culture across sport, film and public life in the way that Dr Arnold Schwarzenegger has," said the UU's vice-chancellor Prof Paul Bartholemew. o

"He built a name for himself in professional bodybuilding and acting and he used that platform for ultimate good."

He described Schwarzenegger as a powerful advocate "for the environment, for the people of California and for the philanthropic causes he champions".

What are Arnie's links to Northern Ireland?

A 19-year-old Schwarzenegger was competing at a Mr Universe competition in London in 1966.

Although he did not get the title, finishing second, he did catch the attention of the judges, including Ivan Dunbar, a prominent figure in the bodybuilding scene in Northern Ireland at the time.

In an interview on the chat show Anderson On The Box in 1995, Dunbar said the bodybuilder had great charisma.

He gave Schwarzenegger some advice after the competition and invited him to take part in a bodybuilding show in Belfast.

When he arrived, Dunbar said he had no money and could not speak English.

"He didn't have anything except enthusiasm and talent, and he did have a talent," he said.

From there, Schwarzenegger returned to London where he trained under Charles "Wag" Bennett, who had been another of the judges at the Mr Universe competition.

Within a year Schwarzenegger won his first Mr Universe title, going on to claim it multiple times in his career.

In 1968 he moved to the US where he became one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, a Hollywood action star and governor of California.

Along the way, he earned a business degree and collected numerous honorary doctorates, including one from Stockton University in 2023 which also recognised his impact beyond sport.