Franco Columbus is surely one of the most famous bodybuilders on a global level.
Even if some people don't know his name at all, they have nevertheless been able to appreciate his monumental physique in blockbuster films such as Conan the Barbarian, Terminator Or Running Man.
A loyal friend, of’Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu also made a name for himself in several sporting disciplines: boxing, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting and bodybuilding.
A man with multiple sports:
Franco Columbu is a person brimming with energy, who loves to give his all in everything he undertakes. Born in Sardinia, Italy, on August 7, 1941, Franco Columbu entered the world of sports through boxing. Training regularly, Franco Columbu eventually earned the title of Italian Amateur Boxing Champion.
In 1965, his path crossed with that of the young Arnold Schwarzenegger in Munich at the first international competition, the Austrian Jr. Weightlifting Championship. From this meeting a strong friendship was born between the two men, who would even find themselves competing together in the same competitions later on. In order to preserve their friendship and not alter the challenge of the competitions, Franco and Arnold will never train together.
In 1969, the two friends were approached by the legendary father of bodybuilding, Joe Weider, to join him in California. Each left their respective country for the American continent. Upon arriving in America, Joe Weider sponsored the two young men, giving them a bonus of $80 per week. This bonus being insufficient to live on, Franco and Arnold decided to create their first brickmaking company, called European Brick Works.
America also represents Franco Columbus's entry into  powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting and bodybuilding, where he would excel in each discipline.
He will participate in numerous weightlifting competitions.
Since 1969, at the level of In powerlifting, Franco Columbus is considered the strongest man in the world., due to his exceptional performances in the "strongest man" competitions. We see him lifting various vehicles. Â Â
In bodybuilding, he won numerous titles.
His track record :
- 4th Mr. Europe IFBB 1966
- 2nd Mr. Universe NABBA 1968, short stature category, and 1st prize for most muscular
- 1st Mr. Europe IFBB 1969
- 2nd IFBB World Mr. 1969, short size category
- 1st Mr. Universe NABBA 1969, small size category and all categories,
and the prize for the most muscular - 1st IFBB Mr. Universe 1969, small size category and all categories
- 1st IFBB Mr. Europe 1970, small size category and all categories
- 2nd Mr. Universe NABBA 1970, short stature category
- 1st IFBB World Mr. 1970, small size category and all categories
- 1st Mr. World AUU 1970, small size category and all categories
- 1st IFBB World Mr. 1970, small size category and all categories
- 1st IFBB World Mr. 1971
- 5th Mr. Olympia 1972,
- 1st Mr. Olympia 1973, in lightweight and 2nd in the overall ranking
- 1st Mr. Olympia 1975, lightweight
- 1st Mr. Olympia 1976, in lightweight and all categories
- 1st Mr. Olympia 1981, in lightweight and all categories
His physique at the service of cinema:
Outside of competitions and training, FRanco Columbu willingly lends his well-defined, muscular physique to the big screen. Franco Columbu then embarked on a successful film career. We can see him in the following films:
- 1976 Stay Hungry
- 1977 Pumping Iron
- 1980 The Hustler of Muscle Beach
- 1980 The Comeback
- 1982 Conan the Barbarian
- 1984 The Terminator Future
- 1984 Getting Physical
- 1986 Don Rickles: Rickles on the Loose
- 1987 The Running Man
- 1987 Last Man Standing
- 1988 Big Top Pee-wee
- 1993 The Rhythm of Silence
- 1994 Beretta's Island Franco Armando Beretta
- 1995 Taken Alive
- 1997 Double cross on Costa's Island
- 1998 Hollywood Salutes Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Cinematheque Tribute
- 2002 Raw Iron: The Making of Pumping Iron
- 2003 Ancient Warriors
- 2008 Why We Train
- 2010 Muscle Beach then and Now
- 2011 Dreamland La Terra dei Sogni
Franco Columbus He also filmed numerous commercials.
A full life, after his bodybuilding career:
After being a boxer and bodybuilder, screenwriter, actor, and writer, Columbus continues to fill his life with projects. Today, He is a qualified chiropractor, He provides training advice on his official website or directly by phone. He designs various training concepts to help the average American lose love handles or reduce the size of their stomach.
Franco Columbu was small compared to his opponents in bodybuilding. He was only 1.65m tall. But by transferring his boxing skills to bodybuilding, he managed to establish himself and become one of the Essential bodybuilders of the 1970s, entering into the legend of the sport.
It was thanks to the movie Conan the Barbarian that I started to love bodybuilding. Now my sons are passionate about it. And one of them makes a living from it. Thank you, Franc and Arnold!