August 7, 1941 -
Ollolai, Sardinia, Italy
Mr. Olympia
1976, 1981
Born
in Sardinia, Columbu first engaged in the sport of boxing. He met Arnold
Schwarzenegger in Munich in 1965 and was henceforth forever stamped as
Schwarzenegger’s sidekick. In 1969, he followed the Oak to California
and they became bodybuilding’s main duo, but all friendship ceased whenever
they were vying for the same title, although Columbu never beat Schwarzenegger. Columbu
won the 1970 IFBB Mr. Europe and IFBB Mr. Universe titles, the 1971 IFBB Mr.
World, and later took the lightweight class at the 1974 and 1975 IFBB Mr.
Olympia before winning the overall in 1976. In
1977, Columbu broke his left leg while grappling with a refrigerator during the
World’s Strongest Man contest. However, this Sardinian refused to be
canned – with phenomenal fortitude, he began a rehab program using his skills
as a chiropractor and, after Schwarzenegger’s 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia comeback
victory in Sydney, Columbu made his own comeback by taking the 1981 IFBB Mr.
Olympia title. It
would be his final competition. Columbu zoomed fast-forward along the
pioneer’s path that Jack Delinger braved for shorter men in the 1940s. Known
for his incredible deadlift ability and for the horizontal crease in his pecs,
Columbu transferred the knockout punch he perfected in his boxing days in Italy
to the dais of muscle and became a bodybuilder who, by anybody’s standards,
looked strong. Columbu
has appeared in movies, written some training books, has his own website, and is
CEO of Eclipse Entertainment Group Inc.
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