Inside Franco Columbu’s Strength and Journey Through Bodybuilding

Franco Columbu, the legendary bodybuilder, stands as a towering testament to the idea that aesthetics and power can coexist.

During his time, many had doubted his potential because of his 5’5” height, but he proved them wrong by earning 2 overall Mr. Olympia titles in 1976 and 1981.

So, let’s see the achievements he earned through his strength and bodybuilding journey.

Franco Columbu, the Boxer

Columbu’s athletic career began long before he was 16, when he earned the Mr. Olympia title. Columbu once said, “I was always skinny. Until I was 11, I got b*** up a lot. Then one day, I started b****** people up. Nobody could touch me.”

During his boxing career, he won many fights and eventually became the Amateur Featherweight Boxing Champion of Italy in the early 1960s. However, at a young age, he moved to Germany for work, where he met Arnold Schwarzenegger, and from there his weightlifting life began.

Franco Columbu’s Weightlifting Achievements

According to Barbell in weightlifting, “Columbu claimed these bests: press 325 lbs. (147.4 kg.), snatch 270 lbs. (122.4 kg.), clean and jerk 400 lbs. (181 kg.). If done in one meet, they’d total 995 lbs”.

Columbu Showing Intense Strength in the World of Powerlifting

After weightlifting, Arnold’s best friend demonstrated his immense strength in powerlifting. Columbu’s first verified contest was in 1965, and according to the article, at that time he showed power by doing:

• 300 lbs bench press
• 180 lbs overhead press
• 230 lbs cheat curl.

At the age of 26, in 1967, Columbu created history by setting 3 German records at the German championships, which include:

• 441 lbs squats
• 507 lbs deadlift
• 375 lbs bench press.

Next year in 1968, he created new history in the middleweight division with:

• 507 lbs squats
• 408 lbs bench press
• 595 lbs deadlift.

His 1968 deadlift of 595 lbs was the heaviest in his weight class at the time. According to the article, “The much heavier Arnold Schwarzenegger won the heavyweight class with a lighter squat and a total of 1598 lbs. (725 kg). That was the final powerlifting meet for both best friends, and Columbu’s total may have been the world’s best for his weight class.

Franco is also credited with deadlifting 683 lbs. (310 kg.) as an exhibition at the 1969 Mr. Europe bodybuilding contest, in which he competed (he won his class; Arnold Schwarzenegger won the overall).”

Franco Columbu, the Powerlifter

In 1977, Columbu competed in the 1st World’s Strongest Man, which featured 10 unusual strength challenges, such as squatting with a caged woman and bending bars.

The event featured 8 competitors from different fields. Despite being the smallest competitor at 182 lbs and 5’5”, Columbu delivered an impressive performance and tied for 2nd in some events. He earned 4th place overall.

Apart from that, some of Columbu’s bodybuilding titles include:

• 1966: Mr. Europe, 4th
• 1968: NABBA Mr. Universe (Most Muscular)
• 1969: IFBB Mr. Europe (Medium)
• 1969: NABBA Mr. Universe (Most Muscular)
• 1969: NABBA Mr. Universe (Short)
• 1969: IFBB Mr. Universe (Short)
• 1970: IFBB Mr. Europe (Short & Overall)
• 1970: AAU Mr. World (Pro Short)
• 1970: IFBB Mr. World (Short)
• 1970: IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall)
• 1971: IFBB Mr. Universe (Short & Overall)
• 1971: IFBB Mr. World (Short & Overall)
• 1974 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)
• 1975 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight)
• 1976 Mr. Olympia (Lightweight & Overall)
• 1981 Mr. Olympia.

His Mr. Olympia titles placed him among the top short-statured champions.