Franco Columbu Italian bodybuilder, actor and boxer Date of Birth: 07.08.1941 Country: Italy

Biography of Franco Columbu

Franco Columbu was an Italian bodybuilder, actor, and boxer. Born into a poor family in Sardinia, Italy, Columbu had limited options for his future. He chose to become a shepherd, which unknowingly prepared him for his future career in sports. Running on rocky slopes, he developed endurance and exceptional strength. Columbu tested his strength in frequent fights in his village and decided to participate in a boxing tournament in a neighboring town. To his surprise, he emerged victorious and was invited by a manager to join a professional club. He eventually became the champion of Italy in boxing.

However, Columbu's life did not improve significantly with this prestigious title. He traveled to West Germany, where he heard that there were good-paying jobs on an automotive assembly line. Despite working there, he continued his boxing career and quickly gained popularity as a talented athlete. His last trainer aimed to enhance his punching power, which resulted in several spectacular knockouts. One particular incident, where he nearly killed his opponent, became a turning point in his life. Columbu made a promise to himself to never touch boxing gloves again. He quit his job and returned to Italy, but he couldn't imagine a life without sports. This led him to venture into bodybuilding.

In a short period, Columbu became the champion of Italy, won the title of "Mr. Europe," and set records in powerlifting. At the peak of his career, he bench-pressed 237 kilograms, squatted 300 kilograms, and performed deadlifts with a 340-kilogram barbell. His true triumph awaited him in the United States, the "Mecca" of bodybuilding. Columbu intensified his training and became close friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who would later become the godfather of his daughter. Training together, Columbu won the "Mr. Universe" contest. The following year, at the age of 35, he achieved a phenomenal victory at the "Mr. Olympia" show in 1976, taking the baton from his friend Schwarzenegger. In 1980, following Schwarzenegger's return to Olympia, Columbu made the decision to make a comeback and emerged victorious once again the following year, adding another "Sandow" to his sporting biography. In 1981, Columbu announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding.