I've always felt that the weird body suits and straps that are used today are, in truth, a type of cheating, and an addition to weight & power-lifting that makes it harder to fairly compare athletes when they're using different gear.
@@SpinDoctor91 Yes God hand! Franco was alpha male! Franco did move from different exercises in no special order and still looked impressive! Arnold had to work much harder than Franco in the gym! Thanks!👍😉🏋️♀️🏋️♂️💪🇮🇹
@@SpinDoctor91 Yes God hand I heard that also! Franco could hang from high bar with top of his toes! Columbu was some animal! RIP Franco you were one of a kind athlete!🏋️🏋️♂️👍🙏😇🥊🇮🇹🇮🇹 Thanks God hand!
Absolutely one of the strongest bodybuilders, and what’s even more incredible is that he was doing this around a weight of 185 lbs! I watched the world strongest man competition where he was competing with guys 300+ pounds. He had a refrigerator on his back and was actually running with it when he had a catastrophic injury. Absolutely amazing strength!
Franco Colombo was a phenomenal strongman and awesome bodybuilder. We may never see his like again. Thank you lad for sharing another brilliant mini documentary.
Thanks for sharing.... great strength and amazing physic .....I am 78 yrs old and followed Franco during his competition years...good boxer as well... cheers 😀
His passing was a lost to muscle culture. This was one Great Olympian of Golden Era. Thank Sir for sharing your expertise and your brilliant video short.
@@GoldenEraBookworm Italians are physically strong people! The Mediterranean diet that Franco had in Italy gave him strength advantage with mineral rich 🍲 food!🤔😙💪🏋️🇮🇹🇮🇹
Franco is one of the most underrated bodybuilders of all time. He was the OG giant killer. We may not have nearly of good of Arnold as we had if Franco hadn't been his training partner for all those years.
Carlos, a fantastic video of Franco’s unsurpassed strength! His grip was amazing, hands like talons, I watched him deadlift 735 for three reps without straps at about 180# bodyweight. Mind boggling!.
Franco was only 5'2 and well under 200 pounds(I know this because I spent a whole day with him in the early 80's)...he was extremely powerful. More powerful for his size than ANY Strongman today. He could bench press well over double bodyweight and deadlifts well over triple his weight. Brian Shaw(and all the others can't come close). Could you imagine Shaw deadlifting over 1250? Or benching over 830?!
Hey Tom: Franco was only 5ft 2in? I thought he was 5ft 5in! Was Franco cool dude? He was more muscular than Arnold! More athletic than him also!🏋️♀️🏋️♂️💪🇺🇲🇮🇹
Lightweight strongmen today deadlift more than triple their body weight. The strength standard for 175lb men is a 600lb deadlift. The bigger guys are routinely deadlifting over 1000lbs now. Not sure how much they can bench press as that's not an event they compete in. The bigger you are the harder it is to hit a triple bodyweight deadlift since the relationship between body weight and the amount you can lift is not linear.
@@tomscerbo1588 I was 15 years old. I was 5'5 at the time. Franco was wearing "platform shoes" that gave him another 2 inches in hight. And I was still taller than him by a good inch. Problem is most guys believe everything Joe Weider wrote in all the books and magazines. And I get why Joe did that....he was trying to dismiss the long and stupid rumors that bodybuilding stunted your hight. But yes...Franco was barely over 5 foot tall. I also have plenty of photos of Franco standing next to Danny Padilla barefoot on the Olympia stage. They were the same hight.
To dead lift 735 he must have had an exceptionall grip as his hands were not large and he used no steaps. In Olympic lifts presses 335, snatched 275 and cleaned and perked 360.
Wow, this is rare footage. Franco Colunbu looked like a human powerhouse, and lifted like a human powerhouse. He had to be one of the strongest men on earth. The weights he lifted were super phenomenal. He even bends steel in his bare hands. I remember that line in the intro of the old Superman tv show. It is like watching Superman lift weights. How did he get so muscular and strong ? I enjoyed this cool video.
I think it was 1978 Franco came to the UK doing a seminar tour. During one of these seminars, at Cardiff Wales. Franco performed dumbell laterals using 90lb dumbbells. I'm sure this was documented in the UK'S Bodybuilding Monthly magazine
Back in the day when a bench press didn’t involve you arching to the ceiling to give you some advantage. I’ve always wondered when that started happening
You said it. Stoeyvgoes that he got cheated in one Mr Universe competition. He was so furious he jumped from the stage on to the judges tables who ran for their lives. He never lost another Mr Universe again!
Columbo participated In one of the early strongman competitions where many contestants were twice his size. In one event, the strongmen were asked to carry a refrigerator strapped to their backs down a 30 or 40 yard track. Most competitors took small steps with that weight, but when Columbo's turn came, he began to run. Spectators could not believe what they were seeing. Unfortunately, Columbo severely injured his leg and did not finish the event..
I remember one time I struggled mightily trying to open a jar of dill pickles in a local deli. Franco came by, offered his help, and did it within a few minutes. Pure genetic freak.
Franco was a good guy. I met him at the old Gold's on 2nd street in Santa Monica 1980. Frank Zane, Danny Padilla, and the Barbarian Brothers were there too. Fun times next door to the Pussycat Theater.
Thats how athletic events should be done, completely raw. Its much better to the eye and you can estimate someone's athletic prowess much more accurately. If you need 15 minutes to get ready, a whole body armor to wear, 3 people round you to make sure you dont collapse and you end up barely lifting it and then dropping it midway, then you cant lift it.
this little guy was pound for pound just amazing, we have lost a legend here. he could have beaten arnold if he had been a little taller in my opinion he won a (controversal) mr.O with the badest form he had ever been
It's not about height ... he was fantastic but Arnold was on another level in bodybuilding... his attraction was too much for every bodybuilder... *he has become a phrase* in South Asia ... it's not about size or colour etc... he just was unique unmatchable... but Franco was in his own class the best pfp bodybuilder
@@GoldenEraBookworm Franco was alpha male! He lost contest once and judges said your too muscular Franco! Franco said isn't that the point! True story! Franco was great!🏋️♂️🏋️♂️💪💪🥊🇮🇹🇮🇹
no straps, no belts; completely raw... my goodness! Crazy strong and lean, tell me about goals in my fitness life, something like this is what I dream about
this guy is a legend. an absolute legend. sadly a lot of ppl probably never heard of him compared to Arnold. Arnold is most widely known clearly, so it's hard to find Columbo but man, was Franco an absolute beast. He was also Arnold's best friend back in the 70's. Pound for pound, the strongest man in history. This guy literally deadlifts 4x his weight. That's mind boggling. That's like Eddie Hall dead lighting 1600lb! I men he benched 400lb for 5 reps. I honestly bet he could've done more. It's just insane, because he's so short and light compared to others, it just makes no sense but it's the truth. This guy is a machine. Almost like a myth too but we have witnesses. Franco Columbo, RIP.
THE name of the channel = is Golden Era Bookworm - its a trillion % true - the truth is that golden era was for those magnificent minds who talked and sent messages to their muscles to understand and interact with harmonization of body and soul = perfect body shapes .
Replying a year later, I believe he was doing that as a joke -- notice how he smiled & sort of laughed afterwards. All of his other deadlifts (with much heavier weight) went straight up.
Franco was very strong for his size. He lifted almost 4 times his weight in the squat, almost 3 times his weight in the bench press and 4 times and above his weight in the deadlift. Obviously heavier powerlifters lift more but stop at 2 times their weight in the bench press and 3 about 3 times their weight in the squat and deadlift. I am referring to sets made of a single repetition with increased loads from time to time, like in a competition. In the video Franco does some pyramids and stops at about 6 reps of bench press with 185 kg. Unfortunately, a stain in his career is the scandalous Olympia of 1981. The fact remains that his lifts were done without using supportive clothing as powerlifters do today, the Deadlifts were done with shoes, and the Bench Press without arching the back and without bringing the barbell too low under the pecs. AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE. Joe Weider always told an extraordinary fact, Franco defended him and his wife, with some friends, from thugs outside a restaurant. Columbu knocked down several thugs before they could escape. He was also an extraordinary boxer.
Franco like many Italians can kick major ass! WSM 1977 Franco &Ferigno bending those steel bars! None of the other strong men came close! Those Italians were strong as a Mother F##ker!🏋️🏋️💪💪🤛😮🇺🇲🇮🇹
What's even more amazing is that he's doing everything raw
YEAH!!
Raw makes a huge difference 💯💪
And his body weight
Yeah and natural. Snapperhead
I've always felt that the weird body suits and straps that are used today are, in truth, a type of cheating, and an addition to weight & power-lifting that makes it harder to fairly compare athletes when they're using different gear.
incredible arnold always said he was the strongest guy he has ever came across
Truth
He also said Franco didn't have to train as much since he could get away with it
@@SpinDoctor91 Yes God hand! Franco was alpha male! Franco did move from different exercises in no special order and still looked impressive! Arnold had to work much harder than Franco in the gym! Thanks!👍😉🏋️♀️🏋️♂️💪🇮🇹
@@tomscerbo1588 I remember Arnold saying overtraining worked better for him with Franco it was different 💯💪
@@SpinDoctor91 Yes God hand I heard that also! Franco could hang from high bar with top of his toes! Columbu was some animal! RIP Franco you were one of a kind athlete!🏋️🏋️♂️👍🙏😇🥊🇮🇹🇮🇹 Thanks God hand!
Absolutely one of the strongest bodybuilders, and what’s even more incredible is that he was doing this around a weight of 185 lbs! I watched the world strongest man competition where he was competing with guys 300+ pounds. He had a refrigerator on his back and was actually running with it when he had a catastrophic injury. Absolutely amazing strength!
He was ahead in the scoring
The heroes of old will never be forgotten.
short guys are usually better at deadlifts. Franco is real short, like 5'2" short.
Broke his ankle real bad.
HE WAS A TOP CHIROPRACTOR ALSO.
Undoubtedly one of the strongest pound for pound bodybuilders to ever step foot on the Mr Olympia stage in my opinion.
Absolutely
Yup and he could fight too! RIP Franco Columbu
@@tence_6965 yeah i almost forgot he was a boxer before he was a bodybuilder.
@@MegaMoiz he could beat any bber back then none of them messed w him
And the only under 200lb Mr Olympia so far. Think his weight was around 185. He was only 5’5”.
The true Italian Stalion.Miss you Franco
Franco Colombo was a phenomenal strongman and awesome bodybuilder. We may never see his like again. Thank you lad for sharing another brilliant mini documentary.
Thanks for sharing.... great strength and amazing physic .....I am 78 yrs old and followed Franco during his competition years...good boxer as well... cheers 😀
His passing was a lost to muscle culture. This was one Great Olympian of Golden Era. Thank Sir for sharing your expertise and your brilliant video short.
A TRUE MAN OF WISDOM AND POWER
Hadn't seen this footage before. Thanks for sharing. I spent an afternoon with him June 1977. He was so densely thick and a lot of fun!
Where did you hang with Franco?💪🏋️🇮🇹🇮🇹
Thanks for posting this Franco was awesome.
Thanks so much for this! My absolute favorite bodybuilder of all time
Old school power are the best, thank you franco you motivate me a lot
Great footage! I only got to read about them and saw still photos in the old magazines. Franco was truly as strong as he looked.
Yes he was, even off the gear too
@@GoldenEraBookworm Italians are physically strong people! The Mediterranean diet that Franco had in Italy gave him strength advantage with mineral rich 🍲 food!🤔😙💪🏋️🇮🇹🇮🇹
No straps on those deadlifts.... that's some insane grip strength.
Indeed
In old time men were made of steel
Look at his forearms when he's bending the iron bar. Insane!
Amazing stuff, thanks for the upload 👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks a lot buddy for all the work putting this channel together...
Franko looks very big. And he is just fearless human being.
Franco is one of the most underrated bodybuilders of all time. He was the OG giant killer. We may not have nearly of good of Arnold as we had if Franco hadn't been his training partner for all those years.
In my opinion...Marvin Eder was the original giant killer, but in the Golden years...no doubt it was Franco
@@GoldenEraBookworm Franco Padilla, Labrada & Gaspari! Rich a little taller than the others!💪🏋️♀️😉🇮🇹🇺🇲
The heroes of old will never be forgotten.
RIP Great Champion !
Absolute legend. I really miss the guy.
Carlos, a fantastic video of Franco’s unsurpassed strength! His grip was amazing, hands like talons, I watched him deadlift 735 for three reps without straps at about 180# bodyweight. Mind boggling!.
Amazing footage
Franco's physique exuded raw power like no one else's did.
@Golden Era Bookworm, I found your channel and 6 months ago I really enjoy your videos and you do a great Job!👍 Keep up the great work!
Thank you, please share 🙏
Thank you for this amazing video, great choice of music also.
Columbo is a legend, rip ❤️
Franco was only 5'2 and well under 200 pounds(I know this because I spent a whole day with him in the early 80's)...he was extremely powerful. More powerful for his size than ANY Strongman today. He could bench press well over double bodyweight and deadlifts well over triple his weight. Brian Shaw(and all the others can't come close). Could you imagine Shaw deadlifting over 1250? Or benching over 830?!
Exactly....man was a powerhouse
Hey Tom: Franco was only 5ft 2in? I thought he was 5ft 5in! Was Franco cool dude? He was more muscular than Arnold! More athletic than him also!🏋️♀️🏋️♂️💪🇺🇲🇮🇹
@@tomscerbo1588 He was 168 Centimeters hight.
Lightweight strongmen today deadlift more than triple their body weight. The strength standard for 175lb men is a 600lb deadlift. The bigger guys are routinely deadlifting over 1000lbs now. Not sure how much they can bench press as that's not an event they compete in. The bigger you are the harder it is to hit a triple bodyweight deadlift since the relationship between body weight and the amount you can lift is not linear.
@@tomscerbo1588 I was 15 years old. I was 5'5 at the time. Franco was wearing "platform shoes" that gave him another 2 inches in hight. And I was still taller than him by a good inch. Problem is most guys believe everything Joe Weider wrote in all the books and magazines. And I get why Joe did that....he was trying to dismiss the long and stupid rumors that bodybuilding stunted your hight.
But yes...Franco was barely over 5 foot tall. I also have plenty of photos of Franco standing next to Danny Padilla barefoot on the Olympia stage. They were the same hight.
Back then it was pure raw strength. There were No power lifting suits to give you an edge on the lifting 😲
And a boxer, Arnold said when ever kids came to him asking to show how strong he was Franco would come over and embarrass him, lol
Lol
To dead lift 735 he must have had an exceptionall grip as his hands were not large and he used no steaps.
In Olympic lifts presses 335, snatched 275 and cleaned and perked 360.
Would you ever consider doing a blueprint to how Franco built his strength ? I’ve always wondered
Yes, coming early next year. Just purchased every book he ever wrote, so it will be the next major series I will cover
Yes,shitload PEDs
Wow, this is rare footage. Franco Colunbu looked like a human powerhouse, and lifted like a human powerhouse. He had to be one of the strongest men on earth. The weights he lifted were super phenomenal. He even bends steel in his bare hands. I remember that line in the intro of the old Superman tv show. It is like watching Superman lift weights. How did he get so muscular and strong ? I enjoyed this cool video.
I think it was 1978 Franco came to the UK doing a seminar tour. During one of these seminars, at Cardiff Wales. Franco performed dumbell laterals using 90lb dumbbells. I'm sure this was documented in the UK'S Bodybuilding Monthly magazine
90? Gesh I can only do 30...currently.
Back in the day when a bench press didn’t involve you arching to the ceiling to give you some advantage. I’ve always wondered when that started happening
Yup, wide grip,no arch,super wide deadlift bar so the weights are miles away, making the bench press harder,no arch, crazy strength.
Old school, best school!
Franco Columbu, the strongest of them all! 💪🏼
Maybe pound for pound the strongest bodybuilder and a former amateur boxer and a powerlifter a dude you don't want mess with him. RIP Franco
You said it. Stoeyvgoes that he got cheated in one Mr Universe competition. He was so furious he jumped from the stage on to the judges tables who ran for their lives. He never lost another Mr Universe again!
His jaw strength was impressive also!👍
@@GoldenEraBookworm Italian intimidation!😂🏋️♂️🇮🇹
This guy was a hero of mine. RIP Franco
This man was scary strong. Imagine he was using the enhancements that they have today. And he was a good boxer too. What a beast. RIP to a true legend
Yep definitely one of the GREATS💪💪💪 Time flies can’t believe hes gone🫤🫤🫤🫤
Franco benching 400lbs and he is 5ft 5inched 200lbs with no one helping him take from the rack… that’s crazy!!!
He was one of his Kind 💪🏻 Miss Him ❤️
Franco was strong as an ox.💪😎🔥
Arnold and Franco my favourites
Pound for pound the strongest Mr. Olympia champ ever. For his size he was and Is unmatched. Truly a master of the iron!
This is unreal! Doing this at his weight and constitution. Amazing!🎉 A true legend.
To his family and his friends sorry for your lost a great bodybuilder and author and doctor and actor R.I.P.
guyz gettin a workout loadin platez for franco 💪🏽
unico ,ai giorni nostri con le moderne attrezzature e competenze alimentari ,sarebbe imbattibile GRANDE FRANCO
Arnie said he was not human. Just awesome strength.
Franco. And. Arnold. Started. Their. Careers
Together!!! Franco. Was
A. Pocket. Superman!!!
5'5".. Lil. Giant!!!
Columbo participated In one of the early strongman competitions where many contestants were twice his size. In one event, the strongmen were asked to carry a refrigerator strapped to their backs down a 30 or 40 yard track. Most competitors took small steps with that weight, but when Columbo's turn came, he began to run. Spectators could not believe what they were seeing. Unfortunately, Columbo severely injured his leg and did not finish the event..
I remember one time I struggled mightily trying to open a jar of dill pickles in a local deli. Franco came by, offered his help, and did it within a few minutes. Pure genetic freak.
DR.FRANCO COLUMBU WAS AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE .👏 🏆🏆🥇
Simply incredible
I have the original wild physique book. Excellent resource to own
One thing missing is video of Franco blowing up an old fashioned rubber hot water bottle, and making it explode!
I have it too plus other rare footage, I'll upload it soon
Yep i remember watching that💪💪💪💪
He was my idol. We are the same height.
Rest In Peace, Franco.
Franco was a good guy. I met him at the old Gold's on 2nd street in Santa Monica 1980. Frank Zane, Danny Padilla, and the Barbarian Brothers were there too. Fun times next door to the Pussycat Theater.
Benching more than twice your bodyweight for 5 reps is insane.
what a legend he was one of the most atheltic olympian's in history in my opinion.
MY favourite legends,🔥❤️
My favorite strong man of all time!
2:10 great spotting lol
Right. No Belts, no straps, no body suit, NO KNEE WRAPS,.
No spotter or lift off or help off the bench rack.
He was a Beast.
At a bodyweight of 185 - 190 lbs Franco was and still is one of the strongest bodybuilders to ever live . He's definitely one of my top favorites
Thats how athletic events should be done, completely raw. Its much better to the eye and you can estimate someone's athletic prowess much more accurately. If you need 15 minutes to get ready, a whole body armor to wear, 3 people round you to make sure you dont collapse and you end up barely lifting it and then dropping it midway, then you cant lift it.
pound for pound...
strongest human ever lived
this little guy was pound for pound just amazing, we have lost a legend here. he could have beaten arnold if he had been a little taller in my opinion he won a (controversal) mr.O with the badest form he had ever been
It's not about height ... he was fantastic but Arnold was on another level in bodybuilding... his attraction was too much for every bodybuilder... *he has become a phrase* in South Asia ... it's not about size or colour etc... he just was unique unmatchable... but Franco was in his own class the best pfp bodybuilder
@@theenlightenedone1283 Yes The Enlightened! Franco &Arnold were great for each other! Pumping Iron catapulted both of them to stardom!🏋️♂️🏋️💪😚
They had an amazing friendship and think franco helped Arnold to be what he was as he could push Arnold
not little, shorter yes but not little. Arnold called him franco the Bat
He won two (controversial) Olympias, '76 and '81. He also won the lightweight category several times.
Top Show !
Arnold's secret was having Franco as a training partner.
The Sardinian samson! They just don't make 'em like that anymore!
Nope...Franco was Beast Level and Beyond
@@GoldenEraBookworm Franco was alpha male! He lost contest once and judges said your too muscular Franco! Franco said isn't that the point! True story! Franco was great!🏋️♂️🏋️♂️💪💪🥊🇮🇹🇮🇹
no straps, no belts; completely raw... my goodness! Crazy strong and lean, tell me about goals in my fitness life, something like this is what I dream about
this guy is a legend. an absolute legend. sadly a lot of ppl probably never heard of him compared to Arnold. Arnold is most widely known clearly, so it's hard to find Columbo but man, was Franco an absolute beast. He was also Arnold's best friend back in the 70's. Pound for pound, the strongest man in history. This guy literally deadlifts 4x his weight. That's mind boggling. That's like Eddie Hall dead lighting 1600lb! I men he benched 400lb for 5 reps. I honestly bet he could've done more. It's just insane, because he's so short and light compared to others, it just makes no sense but it's the truth. This guy is a machine. Almost like a myth too but we have witnesses. Franco Columbo, RIP.
PERFECT BENCH PRESS FORM, NO BS ARCHING
No huge arch on his bench press, no fairy slippers and straps for his deadlift. He's not even wearing a belt. A legend.
Incredible he did all those lifts raw with no equipment
The fucking man right there!
Franco should be in the WSM hall of fame… Has anyone been that strong pound for pound?
He was definitely stronger than Arnold. He did it with ease.
Grande, Franco!!!💪💪💪
Those was the days. RIP wish you was still around
THE name of the channel = is Golden Era Bookworm - its a trillion % true - the truth is that golden era was for those magnificent minds who talked and sent messages to their muscles to understand and interact with harmonization of body and soul = perfect body shapes .
The first deadlift Franco did @ 2:24 wagging his body from side to side looked dangerous, he could have screwed up his back, lucky..
Replying a year later, I believe he was doing that as a joke -- notice how he smiled & sort of laughed afterwards. All of his other deadlifts (with much heavier weight) went straight up.
It's always the little guys that are the strongest 💪💪💪❤️
3:04 these were all the disks they found in the room
raw, that's how it's done
The man was strong.R.I.P Franco the italian Superman.
Franco , orgoglio della Sardegna ,, ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Beast
A great man
Spotters, you had one job. ONE job.
Lol 😆 🤣 😂
Franco was amazing 👍🏿
Beautiful muscularity and massive strength!!
Considering his body weight and the weight he lifted he has always been the strongest
R.I.P. Superman! 🙏👍
Franco was very strong for his size.
He lifted almost 4 times his weight in the squat, almost 3 times his weight in the bench press and 4 times and above his weight in the deadlift.
Obviously heavier powerlifters lift more but stop at 2 times their weight in the bench press and 3 about 3 times their weight in the squat and deadlift.
I am referring to sets made of a single repetition with increased loads from time to time, like in a competition. In the video Franco does some pyramids and stops at about 6 reps of bench press with 185 kg.
Unfortunately, a stain in his career is the scandalous Olympia of 1981.
The fact remains that his lifts were done without using supportive clothing as powerlifters do today, the Deadlifts were done with shoes, and the Bench Press without arching the back and without bringing the barbell too low under the pecs. AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE.
Joe Weider always told an extraordinary fact, Franco defended him and his wife, with some friends, from thugs outside a restaurant. Columbu knocked down several thugs before they could escape.
He was also an extraordinary boxer.
Franco like many Italians can kick major ass! WSM 1977 Franco &Ferigno bending those steel bars! None of the other strong men came close! Those Italians were strong as a Mother F##ker!🏋️🏋️💪💪🤛😮🇺🇲🇮🇹
This guy could have been a champion