Franco and Arnold first met in 1965, in Stuttgart, where both were participants in a bodybuilding show. And, what began, was a tale of lifelong friendship and camaraderie. An account on Instagram paid homage to the unbreakable friendship of Columbu and Schwarzenegger by bringing to light some lesser-known pictures.
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Unearthed photos of Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger tell their tale
Both Franco and Arnold have left for the world a bright example of what it looks like to be the best in the sport. Both of them have been hailed for their aesthetics, eventually getting crowned as Mr. Olympia. Arnold was crowned with the title 7 times while Franco had it twice (1976 and 1981). Yet, there was one major difference between the two buddies, more visible in these Instagram photos. This difference was in their height.
The photos seemed quite old and showcased The Austrian Oak and The Sardinian Strongman lounging beside a pool. Arnie was seen lifting Franco over his shoulders in one image as the duo posed and smiled.
There were also a few other individuals in the images. Overall, it looked like they were having a sort of holiday.
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Retracing the life of the legend Franco Columbu
There are no two ways to go about it; Franco was a legend. He has been credited to bring the sport of bodybuilding to the forefront along with Arnold. In terms of height, he was but 1.65 m yet, his achievements are loud. Columbu won multiple accolades. Among them are Mr. Olympia twice, and Mr. Universe (1970).
He was also one of the first bodybuilders to win Mr. Olympia with an under 200lb weight. And he was also well-known for his strength and was placed 5th in the first season of World’s Strongest man. Even in the gym, his lifts were insane. He was rumored to have a benchpress of 525 lb. and a deadlift of 750lb.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger pays tribute to 'best friend' Franco Columbu, who dies aged 78 https://t.co/YWiM8x0Z6G
— The Guardian (@guardian) September 1, 2019
Franco also had achievements in Hollywood. He and Arnold had been co-stars in films like Terminator, Conan the Barbarian, and Predator. Columbo was also the best man at Arnold’s wedding and a godfather to Christina Schwarzenegger.
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Sadly, in 2019 Franco passed away after drowning in an accident in Italy. This led to grave mourning in the bodybuilding world. He was a great man, a great friend, and a legend in his own right.
