Arnold was a notorious prankster, often convincing Franco to wear a fright wig for photo shoots.
Franco Columbu was only 5’5” tall and won the Mr. Olympia twice, in 1976 and 1981, at a competitive bodyweight of around 180 pounds…
His muscle density and split pecs were especially jaw dropping, as displayed in this shot from the Muscle Beach weight pen…
And he was incredibly strong. His best verified powerlifting poundages were astounding:
Squat, 507 pounds
Bench press, 408 pounds
Deadlift, 595 pounds.
Arnold said that his friend Franco was stronger that he was, even though the Oak outweighed him by 50 pounds.
Franco passed away in 2019 at the age of 78 in Italy after feeling unwell. But his legendary physique and strength feats live on—not to mention his heart-felt camaraderie with Arnold.
Till next time, train hard—and smart—for BIG results.
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