“Rest in Heavenly Peace”: 4 Year After His Devastating Demise, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Best Friend Makes Bodybuilding World Emotional Through a Resurfaced Video

Franco Columbu, the Italian bodybuilder and actor, was one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s closest friends. He passed away on 30th August 2019, robbing the bodybuilding world of one of the greatest gems in his native Sardinia after he was admitted for falling sick while he was swimming at the sea. 

Franco Columbu’s influence in the annals of the sport went way beyond just his strength and aesthetics. He was also an exceptional chiropractor, actor, and powerlifter. Working out with one of the legendary athletes of the golden age of bodybuilding, the Italian actor himself, too, had garnered a huge fan base through his prowess. Even after four years of his demise, the fitness community still reminisces about the legend. 

Franco Columbu’s resurfaced video is all over the Internet

A bodybuilding fan page on Instagram, @thegoldendays, shared a throwback video of the legendary athlete Franco Columbu to pay tribute to him. The video was captioned, “In loving memory of FRANCO COLUMBU. August 7, 1941 – August 30, 2019 ❤ ️🙏�…4 years have already passed, I remember well where I was when I got this tragic message…Many thanks to Albert Busek for a lovely picture, as always. And a special thanks to”.

It was a collage made by one of his fans. The upper part of the post had a black-and-white image of the legend smiling and on top of it was written, “The one and only Franco Columbu 1980 at World Gym Santa.” The lower portion had snippets of videos from his bodybuilding career compiled into a wholesome video.

Read More: Despite Different Backgrounds, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu Had an Unlikely Cardio Friendship

While in some of the snippets, Columbu was seen fooling around, he was flexing his perfectly sculpted physique in some. Snippets of videos even showed him working out with his favorite gym partner, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This made the bodybuilding world extremely emotional, forcing them to go down memory lane.

Fans reacting to the video of Franco Columbu

The entire fitness world was reminded of the significant impact Franco Columbu had in the realms and they still are in shock even after four years of his sad demise. One of them commented, “Still can’t believe it’s been 4 years. I’d forgotten his passing was pre-COVID which is even crazier.” Another, taking to his presence at the Arnold Classic, wrote, “Honored to have gotten to meet him at the Arnold Classic right before he passed. RIP”. Another fan, missing him, commented, “Hail to the Sardinian giant ! Miss ya being around 💪😏”.

A follower, cherishing his super jacked physique commented, “Will always be one of my favorite physiques of all time!” And another fan, hoping he is in a better place, wherever he is wrote, “Rest In Heavenly Peace Franco”. What do you think about the bodybuilding career of the legendary late athlete? Let us know in the comments section below!

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