In the time I spent with these two legends, Ali and Schwarzenneger, I learned the secret to what makes a great champion. Ali and Schwarzenneger uniquely invoke this secret. It’s elegant in its simplicity and one of the most profound lessons I have ever learned. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not seem to be comparable to Muhammad Ali on the surface. But look closer. Both Ali and Schwarzenegger came from nowhere to win titles. Both men were great physical specimens, but later became known for their wit, humanity and crowd-pleasing nature...not merely for their brawn. And, of course, both men became known as two of the greatest icons of their time. They did it largely because they were both able to overcome stereotypes and false perceptions. They are champions, Titans of their generation, for one simple reason: It never occurred to them that they weren’t champions. These two men had an unprecedented awareness, a power within them, which expressed a winner. And, it was merely a matter of time before the rest of the world recognized them as champions. This is a black and white photo essay of Muhammad Ali and Arnold Schwarzenegger during their early years, training for their titles.

In the time I spent with these two legends, Ali and Schwarzenneger, I learned the secret to what makes a great champion. Ali and Schwarzenneger uniquely invoke this secret. It’s elegant in its simplicity and one of the most profound lessons I have ever learned. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not seem to be comparable to Muhammad Ali on the surface. But look closer. Both Ali and Schwarzenegger came from nowhere to win titles. Both men were great physical specimens, but later became known for their wit, humanity and crowd-pleasing nature...not merely for their brawn. And, of course, both men became known as two of the greatest icons of their time. They did it largely because they were both able to overcome stereotypes and false perceptions. They are champions, Titans of their generation, for one simple reason: It never occurred to them that they weren’t champions. These two men had an unprecedented awareness, a power within them, which expressed a winner. And, it was merely a matter of time before the rest of the world recognized them as champions. This is a black and white photo essay of Muhammad Ali and Arnold Schwarzenegger during their early years, training for their titles.