Francesco Columbu (August 7, 1941 – August 30, 2019) was an Italian actor, author, champion bodybuilder, powerlifter and World's Strongest Man competitor
Biography
Bodybuilding
Columbu was born in Ollolai, Sardinia (Italy). Starting his athletic career as a boxer, Columbu progressed into Olympic Weightlifting, powerlifting, and later bodybuilding, winning the title of Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981.[3]
From 1969 until some years later Columbu was considered to have been one of the strongest men in the world. He held a number of powerlifting world records. He performed a strongman act of breaking a hot water bottle by inflating it orally, lifting vehicles onstage while another performer changed a tire, and deadlifted over 320 kg (700 lbs). In 1977, Columbu competed in the first World's Strongest Man competition, placing fifth in overall points; a remarkable outing, considering Franco weighed much less than the other competitors. He was forced to drop from competition due to an injury. While leading the "refrigerator race", a downhill race while wearing a heavy, unwieldy refrigerator strapped to the racer's back, Franco stumbled and collapsed with a grotesquely dislocated leg, which was aired on national television. After a court settlement, he received a reported $1 million in compensation for his injury.[4]
After Arnold Schwarzenegger retired from bodybuilding competition in 1975, Franco Columbu became the next Mr. Olympia in 1976. After Schwarzenegger's comeback victory in the 1980 Mr. Olympia, Franco followed suit and won the 1981 Mr. Olympia. (They are among the only three athletes who won the title on non-consecutive years, with Jay Cutler.[5])
Columbu was a longtime friend of Schwarzenegger,[6] whom he met in Stuttgart in 1965 and against whom he competed in several international-level bodybuilding competitions. For the Mr. Olympia competitions however, he competed in the under 200 lb (90.7 kg) category, whereas Schwarzenegger was in the over 200 lb category. The IFBB has abandoned weight classes since 1980. Arnold and Franco were inseparable friends and training partners during the late 60s to mid-1970s. Columbu served as Schwarzenegger's best man at his wedding to Maria Shriver in 1986.[7] Columbu and Schwarzenegger had been encouraged to come to America by bodybuilding guru Joe Weider in 1969; Weider sponsored them with a $65/week stipend. They arrived in America and began a bricklaying and patio business called European Brick Works in 1969.[8]
After college and graduating chiropractic school in 1977, Franco earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles.
In 1988, he designed a comprehensive men's workout to flatten the stomach, narrow the waist, and eliminate love handles.[9] As a chiropractor and a weightlifter, his career parallels Karyn Marshall using chiropractic therapy to train for competitions.[10][11][12]
Colombu was naturally strong. In his book Coming On Strong, he recalled a time where he and Arnold Schwarzenegger were hanging out and Arnold saw a donkey. Being the character Arnold was, he told Franco to pick up the donkey. Franco picked it up with ease and they walked around while Arnold would yell "Look at my friend's ass."[13]
Acting career
Columbu's television appearances included the "Dead Lift" episode from the series The Streets of San Francisco (originally broadcast on 5 May 1977), in which Arnold Schwarzenegger has a prominent role (Colombu plays himself – announced as "from Trieste, Italy: Franco Columbu – in a fictitious "SFBBA Mr. San Francisco" bodybuilding contest near the end – alongside Robby Robinson, Ed Corney and other top athletes of the era – where an inexperienced and anger prone "Joseph Schmidt" – Schwarzenegger – places 2nd, then wins an arm wrestling fight in a bar), and TV commercials, most notably Vitalis ("the pump"). In the 1993 film Last Action Hero starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the words "A Franco Columbu film" appear on the opening credits of Jack Slater IV (a film within the film) as a tribute to Columbu, although he does not actually appear on screen. The "Columbu Terminator" features as a boss character in the Terminator 3 video game
Chiropractic
Dr. Columbu was a licensed Chiropractic Doctor. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1977.[16] Dr. Columbu maintained a successful Chiropractic practice in Los Angeles, California, for many years.
Death
Columbu suffered a heart attack (myocardial infarction)[failed verification] and subsequently drowned just off the coast of San Teodoro, Sardinia, Italy, on August 30, 2019. He was 78 years old.[17]
Achievements
Bodybuilding titles
1966 Mr. Europe, 4th
1968 NABBA Mr. Universe (Most Muscular)
1969 IFBB Mr. Europe (Medium)
1969 NABBA Mr. Universe (Most Muscular)
1969 NABBA Mr. Universe (Short)
1969 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short)
1970 IFBB Mr. Europe (Short & Overall)
1970 AAU Mr. World (Pro Short)
1970 IFBB Mr. World (Short)
1970 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall)
1971 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall) *Disqualified for selling bodybuilding booklets - considered as a professional*[clarification needed]
1971 IFBB Mr. World (Short & Overall)
1974 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)[9]
1975 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)[9]
1976 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight & Overall)[9]
1981 Mr. Olympia [9]
Powerlifting titles
Champion of Italy
Champion of Germany
Champion of Europe
World's Strongest Man competition
1977: World Strongest Man, finishing 5th place (after dislocating his knee)[clarification needed]
Powerlifting best lifts
Bench press 525 lbs / 238 kg
Squat 655 lbs / 297 kg
Deadlift 750 lbs / 340.2 kg (in some training sessions he was reported to have lifted over 780 lbs / 353.8 kg, all at a bodyweight of 185 lbs / 83.9 kg)[citation needed]
Boxing
Amateur Boxing Champion of Italy
presidential Il Presidente della Repubblica Italiana Ha convertito Francesco Maria Columbu Cavaliere Ufficiale Roma 25 Agosto 1988
2009: Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award
Bibliography
Columbu, Franco (September 1985). The Bodybuilder's Nutrition Book. McGraw-Hill Education.
Biography
Bodybuilding
Columbu was born in Ollolai, Sardinia (Italy). Starting his athletic career as a boxer, Columbu progressed into Olympic Weightlifting, powerlifting, and later bodybuilding, winning the title of Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981.[3]
From 1969 until some years later Columbu was considered to have been one of the strongest men in the world. He held a number of powerlifting world records. He performed a strongman act of breaking a hot water bottle by inflating it orally, lifting vehicles onstage while another performer changed a tire, and deadlifted over 320 kg (700 lbs). In 1977, Columbu competed in the first World's Strongest Man competition, placing fifth in overall points; a remarkable outing, considering Franco weighed much less than the other competitors. He was forced to drop from competition due to an injury. While leading the "refrigerator race", a downhill race while wearing a heavy, unwieldy refrigerator strapped to the racer's back, Franco stumbled and collapsed with a grotesquely dislocated leg, which was aired on national television. After a court settlement, he received a reported $1 million in compensation for his injury.[4]
After Arnold Schwarzenegger retired from bodybuilding competition in 1975, Franco Columbu became the next Mr. Olympia in 1976. After Schwarzenegger's comeback victory in the 1980 Mr. Olympia, Franco followed suit and won the 1981 Mr. Olympia. (They are among the only three athletes who won the title on non-consecutive years, with Jay Cutler.[5])
Columbu was a longtime friend of Schwarzenegger,[6] whom he met in Stuttgart in 1965 and against whom he competed in several international-level bodybuilding competitions. For the Mr. Olympia competitions however, he competed in the under 200 lb (90.7 kg) category, whereas Schwarzenegger was in the over 200 lb category. The IFBB has abandoned weight classes since 1980. Arnold and Franco were inseparable friends and training partners during the late 60s to mid-1970s. Columbu served as Schwarzenegger's best man at his wedding to Maria Shriver in 1986.[7] Columbu and Schwarzenegger had been encouraged to come to America by bodybuilding guru Joe Weider in 1969; Weider sponsored them with a $65/week stipend. They arrived in America and began a bricklaying and patio business called European Brick Works in 1969.[8]
After college and graduating chiropractic school in 1977, Franco earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles.
In 1988, he designed a comprehensive men's workout to flatten the stomach, narrow the waist, and eliminate love handles.[9] As a chiropractor and a weightlifter, his career parallels Karyn Marshall using chiropractic therapy to train for competitions.[10][11][12]
Colombu was naturally strong. In his book Coming On Strong, he recalled a time where he and Arnold Schwarzenegger were hanging out and Arnold saw a donkey. Being the character Arnold was, he told Franco to pick up the donkey. Franco picked it up with ease and they walked around while Arnold would yell "Look at my friend's ass."[13]
Acting career
Columbu's television appearances included the "Dead Lift" episode from the series The Streets of San Francisco (originally broadcast on 5 May 1977), in which Arnold Schwarzenegger has a prominent role (Colombu plays himself – announced as "from Trieste, Italy: Franco Columbu – in a fictitious "SFBBA Mr. San Francisco" bodybuilding contest near the end – alongside Robby Robinson, Ed Corney and other top athletes of the era – where an inexperienced and anger prone "Joseph Schmidt" – Schwarzenegger – places 2nd, then wins an arm wrestling fight in a bar), and TV commercials, most notably Vitalis ("the pump"). In the 1993 film Last Action Hero starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the words "A Franco Columbu film" appear on the opening credits of Jack Slater IV (a film within the film) as a tribute to Columbu, although he does not actually appear on screen. The "Columbu Terminator" features as a boss character in the Terminator 3 video game
Chiropractic
Dr. Columbu was a licensed Chiropractic Doctor. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1977.[16] Dr. Columbu maintained a successful Chiropractic practice in Los Angeles, California, for many years.
Death
Columbu suffered a heart attack (myocardial infarction)[failed verification] and subsequently drowned just off the coast of San Teodoro, Sardinia, Italy, on August 30, 2019. He was 78 years old.[17]
Achievements
Bodybuilding titles
1966 Mr. Europe, 4th
1968 NABBA Mr. Universe (Most Muscular)
1969 IFBB Mr. Europe (Medium)
1969 NABBA Mr. Universe (Most Muscular)
1969 NABBA Mr. Universe (Short)
1969 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short)
1970 IFBB Mr. Europe (Short & Overall)
1970 AAU Mr. World (Pro Short)
1970 IFBB Mr. World (Short)
1970 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall)
1971 IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall) *Disqualified for selling bodybuilding booklets - considered as a professional*[clarification needed]
1971 IFBB Mr. World (Short & Overall)
1974 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)[9]
1975 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)[9]
1976 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight & Overall)[9]
1981 Mr. Olympia [9]
Powerlifting titles
Champion of Italy
Champion of Germany
Champion of Europe
World's Strongest Man competition
1977: World Strongest Man, finishing 5th place (after dislocating his knee)[clarification needed]
Powerlifting best lifts
Bench press 525 lbs / 238 kg
Squat 655 lbs / 297 kg
Deadlift 750 lbs / 340.2 kg (in some training sessions he was reported to have lifted over 780 lbs / 353.8 kg, all at a bodyweight of 185 lbs / 83.9 kg)[citation needed]
Boxing
Amateur Boxing Champion of Italy
presidential Il Presidente della Repubblica Italiana Ha convertito Francesco Maria Columbu Cavaliere Ufficiale Roma 25 Agosto 1988
2009: Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award
Bibliography
Columbu, Franco (September 1985). The Bodybuilder's Nutrition Book. McGraw-Hill Education.
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