Lou Ferrigno burst into the scenes of bodybuilding in the 1970s with two IFFB Mr. Universe titles under his name. Regular at the gym with none other than the legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou boasted a chest of 59 inches on a 6’5 frame.

Most people know Ferrigno for his role as the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk series. Like Schwarzenegger, the Hulk donned many hats and became a well-known personality. Recently, a throwback picture of the actor made waves in the fitness world, reminding everybody of his muscular, chiseled physique.

Lou Ferrigno, a great bodybuilder, and actor

Earlier, an Instagram account called thearchivesofbodybuilding shared a throwback picture of the famous personality. They captioned the post: “1993 Mr Olympia contest.” The photo shows Ferrigno leaning on the balcony, flexing his arm muscles.

Read More: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs Lou Ferrigno- Decoding Physical Attributes of Two Colossal Bodybuilders

Reminiscing the good old days, one fan chimed, “Lou was great. On film, in a movie, in a photo opp at a gym…..yet o. Stage things just never came together for him against others. Strange yet true, his Hercules condition was the best, in my opinion.” Another fan remarked at the beauty of the bodybuilder calling him,“….. not just ripped but also so handsome!“

Like Schwarzenegger, Mr. Universe also changed trajectories in his career and moved into the show biz where he achieved more success. However, the incredible bodybuilder made one last attempt to foray into bodybuilding in 1992 and 1993. Acknowledging the hard work behind the comeback, one fan commented,” One of the greatest comebacks from so many yrs of retirement! # The Incredible Hulk.” Ferrigno was placed 12th and 10 in both years, respectively. This sealed his retirement from the bodybuilding world eventually.

Ferrigno could not escape from the shadows of the Austrian Oak

Although the handsome actor was touted as the next big thing in the bodybuilding scenes, he could never beat Arnie to the game. The professional bodybuilder never became Mr. Olympia, though he came second and third place in 1974 and 1975, respectively. By then, the Governor had already established himself as the best six times in a row.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s impact on the sport was so deep that everyone looked pale in comparison. The American documentary, Pumping Iron released in 1997, extensively explores the dynamic between these friends and foes during the 1975 competition. The documentary made both bodybuilders a household name during the 1970s.

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Looking back, Ferrigno laments not training hard enough to win against Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1975. Post this event, bodybuilding behemoth Arnie retired from bodybuilding coming back to win one last time in 1980. This forever ended Lou’s dream of beating Schwarzenegger. He remained the ‘insecure underdog’, failing to win against the ‘cocky veteran.’ However, Lou Ferrigno established himself as a bankable actor post the documentary. Have you watched the documentary? Share your comments.