Who Is Sergio Oliva Jr.? Son of a Legend Who Accused Arnold Schwarzenegger for Giving Him Wrong Bodybuilding Advice

Arnold Schwarzenegger is revered for his achievements and often sought after for advice. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Sergio Oliva Jr the son of three-time Mr. Olympia Sergio Ovila, recently shared an unusual piece of advice he received from Schwarzenegger that left him puzzled.

At the Mr. Munich competition. Schwarzenegger allegedly introduced Oliva Jr. to a new way to pose on stage- by screaming while doing it. He was a little skeptical, but Oliva Jr. took the advice regardless. Now, years later, he has taken to his Instagram and revealed how ‘wrong’ it actually was.

Arnold really messed Sergio Oliva up

The picture showcased that he is using the unique posing technique that Schwarzenegger supposedly suggested. The two-time best poser at the Arnold Classic shared that Arnie advised him to scream while flexing on stage. Looking back at the photos he jokes that it made him look like smiling on the stage instead of appearing tough.

Oliva Jr. wrote in his post caption, “@schwarzenegger told me back at the Mr. Munich competition that he had a new posing routine from America. He told me the new thing is to scream while posing. “wow that’s a new idea.” Although, he did mention in the caption that it was “#TheWrongAdvicez.”

He continued, injecting a touch of humor into his post by saying, “Side Note: That’s a scene from ‘Pumping Iron’ but also it looks like two different levels of getting something in your eyes that burns.” He a mix of surprise and skepticism in his caption, suggesting that he initially found the advice intriguing but ultimately questioned its effectiveness after looking back at these photos.

Bodybuilding poses are typically about showcasing muscle definition, symmetry, and overall physique aesthetics. The addition of screaming as a posing element challenges the traditional norms of the sport, raising eyebrows within the bodybuilding community. Well, it was a one-time thing, and he never approached this embarrassing pose again.

Regardless, Oliva Jr. has had a successful career. But it wasn’t easy, even though his father was quite a legend himself. As a matter of fact, Oliva Sr. never wanted his son to follow in his footsteps.

The Myth never wanted his son to become a bodybuilder

Sergio Oliva made history as the first Mr. Olympia who won three consecutive titles until he was defeated by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1970. Oliva Jr. now carries forward the family name, aiming to leave his mark in bodybuilding. But if The Myth had his way, that wouldn’t have been the case.

Young Sergio was always asked to prioritize academic pursuits over lifting weights. “I think every immigrant that escapes from a country never wants their child to be anything except like a doctor or a lawyer or something like that he wanted me to go to school that was his big thing but it just wasn’t for me,” said Oliva Jr.

He reasoned, why his father never wanted him to be a bodybuilder because during in the 1960s, he faced hardship and he didn’t his son to go through the same challenges. During an interview with Dennis James, Oliva Jr. revealed about his remarkable journey in bodybuilding, “I started so I didn’t even really lift a weight like because I ran track and I was on the swim team I was really skinny I was actually 145 when I decided I wanted to be a bodybuilder.” 

He unveils that at an early age he ran tracks and swimming he also got a scholarship. Despite initial success, he found a passion for bodybuilding and faced challenges due to being compared to his father. Moving from Chicago to Florida, he overcame obstacles and eventually earned his pro card. He professionally began competing in 2006.

His journey from tracks to the stage

In 2006, he competed in the Southern competition’s middleweight division and gradually finished in third place. The following year he won the 2007 Panhadles showdown in the light-heavy class and in 2008 Mr. Northwets Florida in the Heavyweight and overall categories. Moving forward to 2015, when he earned his Pro Card at the NPC nationals and achieved his best finish by winning the 2017 New York Pro.

After a disappointing 16th place at the 2018 Mr. Olympia, Oliva Jr. took a break in 2019 and came back stronger, finishing fifth at the 2020 Arnold Classic. In addition, in 2021, he placed sixth at the Arnold Classic and the Legion Sports Fest Pro. Besides bodybuilding, he has been involved in showbiz too, he appeared in SUPPS: The Movie and Bigger back in 2018.

READ MORE: “My Father Had a Good Physique but… He Died at 57”: 81-YO Bodybuilding Legend Suggests the Only Way to Inculcate Fitness in Your Children’s Life

In 2023, the 39-year-old bodybuilder revealed his plans to get ready for the 2024 Arnold Classic. After securing third place at the 202 Musclecontest California Pro, he caught everyone’s attention back with his impressive gigantic physique. Now, he is gearing up to mark his legacy at bodybuilding’s second most valuable contest. To prepare for this upcoming feat he is preparing under the six-time Mr. Olympia, Dorian Yates guidance.

What do you think of his remarkable journey in bodybuilding till now?  What do you think of his chances at the Arnold Classic and would he be in the top spot this year? Let us know in the comments section below.

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