“I Was Joe Weider’s Number Two Bodybuilder”: Frank Zane Was Overshadowed by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Others Until 1977 Mr. Olympia

Frank Zane earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University in 1977. He also broke all shackles and won a coveted title the same year. Zane’s rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger is well documented, but the latter had the upper hand over the former. It all changed in 1977 after Arnold’s retirement, with one key piece of advice from Joe Weider. 

Zane doesn’t regret not winning the elusive Mr. Olympia title sooner. This is because The Chemist had identified his lackings in comparison to others like Arnold during that time. He said, “For a long time I was Joe Weider’s No. 2 bodybuilder”, where he could see the difference between others who took first place and him. However, Zane sought the advice of Weider to help improve and Weider pointed him in the right direction. 

Training with heavy weights struck Gold for Frank Zane

Joe Weider advised Zane to train with heavy weights, in order to build the muscular size required to win an International Title. His advice didn’t go unnoticed. But Zane was also quick to evaluate himself in comparison to others and persevered long enough until 1976 when The Austrian Oak retired. Zane had the proper musculature by then and was ready for a shot at the Mr. Olympia title, but fortune had other plans. 

Franco Columbo, a short, thick, and muscular bodybuilder from Italy won the title in 1976. This was the beginning of yet another famous rivalry involving Frank Zane, the Zane–Columbo rivalry. Franco Columbo was a long-time training partner of Arnold, and he too had his eye on the title for quite some time. But with Arnold being in the prime of his life during the 70s, there was very little that others could have achieved. Arnold retired in 1976, and this opened up the door for Zane and Columbo. 

Although Columbo won the title in 1976, Zane found his Holy Grail the following year. Zane was a tough competitor who believed in determination, persistence, and a never-give-up attitude. 

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He knew the trick to beating others was wearing them out and outlasting them. He said, “If you stick around long enough, and remain persistent enough, the people ahead of you will move on”.

Frank Zane and his key to persistence to outlast his opponents

Frank Zane had previously beaten The Terminator actor at Miami Beach and became one of only a handful of people to beat Arnold in a bodybuilding contest. Although Arnold dominated Frank after that and throughout most of the 70s, Zane still managed to carve his own niche in the great Bodybuilding Hall of Fame. He did so by waiting it out on others and building a long and sustainable career for himself. 

Could he go back in time and beat Franco Columbo at the 1976 Mr. Olympia and earn his long-awaited title then? Either way, Frank Zane isn’t bothered by that. He said about Columbo beating him, “I finished second, but that was a blessing in disguise because so many people told me I should have won”.

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Frank is happy to have had a career full of learning, which he now imparts to the newer generation of bodybuilders. The legacy of his three consecutive (1977-79) Mr. Olympia titles is well and truly alive.