“Once in My Life, I Would Love to Say I Was Mr. Olympia”: Despite Achieving Unparalleled Success, Lou Ferrigno Holds a Regret of a Lifetime, Interview 2017

Lou Ferrigno is one of the biggest bodybuilders in the history of bodybuilding. Ferrigno is one of the legends to have never accomplished the Mr. Olympia title. However, he has shown his strength and quality physique in the short but impactful pro career he had in bodybuilding. He won both Mr. America and Mr. Universe in 1973, which led to his direct entry into the 1974 Mr. Olympia.

He made an impactful debut and stood as runner-up to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite his good chances, he had to quit bodybuilding after 1975 because of financial reasons. However, something big awaited Ferrigno in 1977 when his life turned 360 degrees on the track of success. Although even after all the success, regret lies in the mind of the Incredible Hulk.

A regret that stays with Lou Ferrigno

Lou Ferrigno was one of the finest bodybuilders in the history of the sport. The 6’5″ tall and massively built, Ferrigno had every single opportunity to win the biggest bodybuilding title if he had competed for more. However, changing destiny isn’t that easy. Ferrigno had to quit bodybuilding in 1976, as he had no other choice. 

In 2019, when an interviewer asked him if he wanted to change his past? And instead of accepting ‘The Incredible Hulk’ in 1977, would he like to compete in Mr. Olympia 1977? Ferrigno replied, “I have always wanted to be Mr. Olympia. I would say I wanna make the same decision because I just love the Hulk with television because as a time for bodybuilding competition first priority like $1000 whatever. So the Hulk comes once in a lifetime.”

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He continued, “It was tough because you can’t have both, but today when you talk about Lou Ferrigno and Arnold were still the two biggest names but I respect what other guys that won Mr. Olympia, for once in my life I would love to say I was Mr. Olympia but I couldn’t have that opportunity but that’s nature’s way.”

What changed in 1977 for Ferrigno?

1977 was the year that changed the life of Lou Ferrigno forever. It had multiple aspects in that one year. Firstly, Ferrigno appeared in one of the most famous docudramas based on bodybuilding called Pumping Iron. He featured in it with Arnold Schwarzenegger with the motive of showing the world what bodybuilding actually is. It became a massive thing and Ferrigno got out of the crisis.

Moreover, to follow up, Ferrigno had two options, and both were leading him to another level of success. One was to get back and compete in Mr. Olympia, and the other was to take the role in ‘The Incredible Hulk’ as Hulk. Ferrigno chose the latter one and became one of the most popular characters of that time and forever. 

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Lou Ferrigno might consider this as a regret because he wanted to win the Mr. Olympia title badly. We could feel that with the comeback he made in 1992 to Mr. Olympia after finishing the project Hulk in 1990. But he knows he could have only done one of those two things and is pretty happy about what he chose.