Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has expertly terminated an internet troll who mocked athletes at the Special Olympics World Games.
The former governor of California is a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics and has been acting as an ambassador for the 2017 event in his native Austria.
Schwarzenegger shared a video of an awards ceremony where he presented athletes – including Ireland’s Cyril Walker – with their medals to his Facebook page on Thursday.
The video - posted with the tagline “So inspired by the athletes I'm meeting at Special Olympics World Games 2017 in Austria” - received a predictably favourable reaction, however one user took it upon himself to post that the Special Olympics “make no sense.”
“The Olympics are for the best athletes in the entire world to compete against each other to determine who is best,” the user wrote - before using an offensive term for people with disabilities and claiming the games were “doing the opposite.”
Schwarzenegger’s response was both cutting and to the point.
“As evil and stupid as this comment is, I’m not going to delete it or ban you (yet) because it’s a teachable moment,” he said.
“You have two possible paths ahead. Right now, I guarantee you that these athletes have more courage, compassion, brains and skill ”• actually more of every positive human quality than you.
“So take their path ”• you could learn from them, and try to challenge yourself, to give back, to add something to the world. Or you can stay on your path, and keep being a sad pitiful jealous Internet troll who adds nothing to the world but mocks anyone who does out of small-minded jealousy.
“I know that all you really want is attention, so let me be clear. If you choose to keep going this way, no one will ever remember you.”
The exchange has since been deleted, however the Predator, Terminator and Total Recall star has been praised by many users for his response in the hours since.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's reply to a soulless troll re: the Special Olympics is a quote for the ages. pic.twitter.com/CbF4hU2hH7
— Stephanie Palermo (@tigresaa) March 25, 2017
Team Ireland arrived home from the games to a hero’s welcome this afternoon after picking up eight medals.
The twenty six athletes that made the trip amounted to Ireland’s biggest ever representation at a world winter games.
