“Don’t Smoke, Don’t Drink”: ‘The Myth’, Who Defeated Arnold Schwarzenegger, Detailed His Energy Secret for Bodybuilding

In order to find success in sports like bodybuilding, one must have a sound body and mind. While bodybuilding requires a lot of physical strength, it is important to have a focused mindset to achieve goals. In fact, many successful bodybuilders have mastered the art of maintaining a focused mind. One of them is Sergio Oliva.

Sergio Oliva, also known as ‘The Myth’, was a dominant name in the 60s. While many might attribute the popularity of bodybuilding to legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oliva set the template. Aspiring bodybuilders still look up to his physique as a basic standard for championships. Being one of the most gifted bodybuilders, the legend achieved his goal without any enhancements.

Sergio Oliva said no to drugs in bodybuilding

Currently, performance-enhancing drugs are quite normal and popular in use for bodybuilders. Oliva, however, said no to them. In an interview, he revealed his tiring schedule while training for the championship. The legend used to work for a foundry while training for bodybuilding. This exposed him to extremely high temperatures while he also worked under strenuous conditions. Apart from that, he would also train for over 3 hours at the gym and take English classes at night.

So how did the legend find the energy to do all of this? Simple. He took care of himself and said no to substance. He revealed, “I don’t know but I did have it. It was like I looked after myself. I don’t smoke, don’t drink or do any of the other stuff. I would just work, do my sport and go dancing on Saturday night, then Sunday I would go to a movie then go home, then go to work. That was my life.”

The champion stayed in his lane, worked hard, and trained harder. He would indulge in dancing sessions every Saturday night and watch movies every Sunday.

Read More: Bodybuilding Icon Sergio Oliva Once Claimed to Have a Better Body than 7x Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger- “Everybody Was Talking About Me”

Oliva mastered the art of balancing his work, passion, and fun. Although working in a foundry was harsh, he always had something to look forward to by the end of the day. This, combined with his clean habits, gave him an upper hand in health and physique.

Sergio vs Arnie

In the late 60s, the bodybuilding world saw two champions that fought for popularity among fans. While Arnold Schwarzenegger was already established back then, Oliva was the new upcoming champion. This gave rise to a new rivalry in town. However, on seeing ‘The Myth’, Arnold already felt intimidated.

Towering at a height of 5’10”, and packing almost 240 pounds, Oliva proved to be a tough nut to crack. His build and excellent genetics made him one of the most decorated bodybuilders in history. While both contenders seemed promising, Oliva destroyed Arnold to win the Mr. Olympia title in 1969.

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