FRANCO COLUMBU 2x Mr. Olympia DEAD AT 78

TMZ ^ | 08/30/2019 | STAFF

[Kid Shelleen]

Franco Columbu, a former Mr. Olympia and one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's closest friends, has died.

Franco died Friday, with reports out of Italy saying the legendary bodybuilder lost his life in an incident at sea in his native Sardinia.

Arnold said goodbye to Franco with a heartfelt message ... writing, "I love you Franco. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. You were my best friend."

[kaehurowing]

I read his book on weightlifting.

[Calvin Locke]

Did it deliver?

[Jonty30]

Best back and upper chest in the history of bodybuilding.

[04-Bravo]

I’ll watch “Pumping Iron” tonight in his honor.

[kaehurowing]

Don’t remember, it was so many years ago, thinking about it I’m not sure he wrote it or it was just a book written by someone else with photos showing him doing the exercises.

[TomGuy]

Just heard on radio news that Valerie Harper (Rhoda) has died. IIRC, she had brain cancer.

[Kid Shelleen]

Heavy has a much better article about him.

The preface of his book, “Franco Columbu’s Complete Book of Bodybuilding,” reads, “Nobody embodies the American dream better than Franco Columbu.”

https://heavy.com/sports/2019/08/franco-columbo-dead/

[EEGator]

I remember when he blew his knee out running with a refrigerator on an early World's Strongest Man

[northislander]

Is Franco Columbo dead?

[Mr. Jeeves]

“Vi-TAHL-ees! The PUMP!” :)

[crosdaddy]

I remember watching that also, RIP Franco

[suthener]

Steroids will kill you. It happens every time. They will kill Arnold eventually.

[Kid Shelleen]

Pumping Iron is a classic.. It brought a cult sport out into the mainstream. I will never forget the scenes of Arnold and Lou Ferrigno eating massive amounts of food.

[EEGator]

He was 78 years old, and it doesn’t say how he died.
Aside from an accident at sea.

[EEGator]

Wine and fried chicken. The Breakfast of Champions!

[EEGator]

Bill Burr on Arnold: (language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldIwEG9xQ-M

[Oshkalaboomboom]

I remember an interview where he said that the human body was designed to last about 130 years but if you have a cup of coffee you lose 15 minutes, if you have a cigarette you lose 30 minutes, etc. He basically said that lifestyle would determine how long and how well you lived. 78 isn’t that long. He must not have followed his own advice. Still, he was a great guy and I’ll miss him.

[Gamecock]

All of them have Izzy Mandelbaum to thank!

[SaveFerris]

All aboard the pain train!