Being short sometimes discourages me from working on my figure but then I remember franco was the same height I am. That inspires me to keep going to the gym.
😂 I went to him as my chiropractor because a friend who is dating his daughter recommended him. I had no idea he was this big a deal! He told me stories about living with Arnold. Really a nice guy.
I think what I really love about Franco is that he embraced himself no matter his height. Was able to stand toe to toe with giants. That’s a true badass
Have to borrow genetics from ancient warriors from Sardinia... and haul tunafish out of the water with nets and bare hands everyday. I don't think he was a fisherman LOL but that area does actually have some notoriety in the past for strong people, and I liken it to some strains of humans that had to be strong or die back around 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.
LOL there is no such a thing dude. The shorter you are, the more weight you are supposed to be able to lift. So, instead of pound for pound you should say inch for inch, and the taller man that can lift the most, proportionally less than the shorter man, should be considered the "inch for inch" that I've just came up with...
Imo Franco is the ideal physique. He’s my favourite bodybuilder of all time. He had such a stocky looking body, such deep lats, big calves, insane chest separation and his whole body just looked so proportional. Add to the fact that he was so strong and could compete with bigger bodybuilders being so short, makes him so much cooler. And no homo he was a pretty good looking dude too.
Stocky and blocky body type, with short arms, is the "ideal" physique...? To each his own I guess but those are NOT what people would ever call attractive traits.
RIP Franco Columbu - 1941-2019 A huge loss for the bodybuilding community. His legacy will continue as a role model for the future bodybuilders generation to come.
Franco columbo was a bodybuilder long time ago they got fancy weights know etc Sergio Sergio Olivia , late 1960s and arnold Schwarzenegger bodies still one of the best beautiful bodybuilder I ever to this day
Will always remember Franco! He was my High School teacher Chiropractor back in the 90's, when my teacher told him i loved to work out and i was a fan, he sent a bunch of small workout books that he published, a personal note and signed by Franco. Sad news to hear, RIP, Will forever remember!
Thank you nick for putting this video out 2 days before my birthday! Me being standing at 5'5 and Franco Columbo being my body building idol, this video could not have came at a better time! I hope to pattern my career and body like his! Best B-Day present every!
Arnold and Franco met in Germany they were friends since Europe and then came to the US togethere in 1968 i believe. Franco even spoke German and him and Arnold would communicate in German.
and you don't mention his successful career as a Detective in L.A. at all? they even turned it into a tv show named after him, where he was played by the great Peter Falk!
Was my Bodybuilding idol when I started in 1970. Met him first at Golds Venice in 1975! Was my chiropractor for 5 years in 80s-have lots of memories... But here's one related to his strength ; I use to buy supplements from legendary nutritionist Rheo H Blair ,in a room adjacent to his office on the ceiling were 10 rows of monkey bars with maybe 12 bars per row, Rheo would invite anyone to try completing all 10 rows without stopping, he told me out of hundreds who tried only one man succeeded . I tried and got to the 8th row before falling to the floor. I asked Rheo who the man was that had that kind of grip strength and endurance to get through them all , Franco Colombu was that man!
Franco's back was INCREDIBLE. Between the thickness and the "wingspan" that Franco created when he posed, it was awe-inspiring (watch "Pumping Iron" scene when even Arnold and others were in awe while commenting on his back). Arnold is obviously the most famous bodybuilder ever, but Franco was/is also a legend.
So sorry to find out that Franco Columbu is no longer with us. He died some hours ago today 8-30-2019 at the Nuoro Central Hospital (Sardinia). Reports tell he was swimming here (i live in Sardinia too) in Costa Smeralda while some sudden illness occurred. Paramedics could not help, either. He arrived in coma at the hospital. R.i.P. little Sardinian
Franco Columbo is truly a gifted athlete. What he's accomplished and done in the world of body building and powerlifting will forever go down in history. Also I really feel for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his loss of his best friend. They were true bromates. RIP Franco Columbo Thank you for what you've done for world of bodybuilding and powerlifting.
Great video Nick on Franco Columbo a legendary bodybuilder strongman one hell of a powerlifter amazing strength for his weight class multiple championships Olympia hall-of-famer one of the original giant killers and Trailblazer of the sport and he still going strong today
Wow. Just heard the news about Franco's tragic death. As a skinny kid growing up in the 60s and 70s, Franco was one of my all time favorites. I was a big fan of the bodybuilder/strongman combo; Franco, Chuck Sipes, and Sergio Oliva were probably my top three favorites from that era (or any era). Perhaps it was fitting that he passed from this life off the coast of the same island on which his life's journey began - Sardinia. Thanks for the memories and inspiration, Franco.
Franco is one of my all time favorites. I remember when I saw the famous side chest photo for the first time. Right around then I started to take bodybuilding more seriously.
Thank you for posting this video about the little monster Franco!!! Yes I agree that those were not his best years on stage when he won the Mr. "O", and it sucks because it's plain evidence of how those contests can go... I think bodybuilding could be one of the hardest things to judge, but you could probably do a series of different years of controversy. That being said... Those other shots of Franco prove he really could blow the doors off of all those guys at the right time. Of course EVERYBODY wants to be seen at their best, and we could discuss that forever, but Franco really was hard to beat at HIS best. Good to mention the Danny Padilla thing-- in my opinion, he actually should have probably been 1st (!), then Franco, then Platz. By '81 Danny had developed enough on that perfect shape to hang with all and beat them in some areas, especially considering if they're going to later on... let Zane win for aesthetics and have these other trends to confuse us. Don't get me wrong, Zane looked amazing and was so damned balanced and symmetrical I understand the compliments, but some years he just wasn't thick/dense enough for those deep separations on other guys. However, they had enough flaws, so.... But yeah back to Franco-- he didn't look great that year and he posed wrong, etc.. but we knew what he was capable of, so afterwards he's still a big favorite of my bother's and mine. Look at him in your video at 9:05 -- I mean, that wouldn't have been beat by ANY of those guys in '81. I've always seen him as this sort of a throwback to how men might have been to survive in ancient times on those islands, pulling fish nets and fighting all the time. Research it and you'll find that Sardinia and other "forgotten" places have leftover genetics for very strong people. For their small population, some other Sardinians were quite strong. They didn't always look like Franco lol. But yeah, his natural frame, even his face looked old-world symmetrical, sort of how you would expect them to look if you dropped in on Italy 6,000 years ago before life got so easy that all genetics got a chance to pass on. Wish he got a chance to try MMA before getting so big. Like around 155 pounds.... sheesh. If he got a choke on somebody? Last but not least... can you imagine just how well he would have fit the role of "Wolverine" with the right makeup and hair? Ummmm THAT's Logan, not 6'3" (or whatever) Hugh Jackman. Would have to dub his speech though lol.... and we had no CGI back then for the rest of it.
We were there. 5th row. Danny was robbed. Go to John Hanson's podcast "Legends of Bodybuilding" for an interview with the head judge. He explains how the judging was set up to fail.
That thumbnail is gorgeous, the definition between the upper chest and the lower chest is insane, super deep cuts and amazing depth, plus the vascularity in his chest. Just crazy, one of my inspirations. Silly comment sorry lol
Franco was in an Italian restaurant in Philly back in the 70's. He was seated a few tables away from me and my family. Men had to wear a suit jacket. He came in wearing a tight black shirt. They gAve him a skin right suit jacket and he apologized to us for it being so tight on him. Very nice guy.
Great video on a fascinating bodybuilder, but as far as I remember from Arnold's autobiography they met and became friends in Europe before Arnold went to America and that he actually persuaded Weider to bring Franco over as well.
Being short sometimes discourages me from working on my figure but then I remember franco was the same height I am. That inspires me to keep going to the gym.
Those classic physiques look so much better than bubble guts we see today 💪
RIP to Franco Columbu. May your legacy live on forever!
Yeah R.I.P
Mr Olympia twice and powerlifter champion, got bunch of his books
😂 I went to him as my chiropractor because a friend who is dating his daughter recommended him. I had no idea he was this big a deal! He told me stories about living with Arnold. Really a nice guy.
ooooo thats sick, can u tell us a little summary of some stories
Wow love franco good his books
I think what I really love about Franco is that he embraced himself no matter his height. Was able to stand toe to toe with giants. That’s a true badass
His pec split was and is unparalleled to this day
Agreed. Those pecs were GODLY.
lordwout10 I have this.
lordwout10 don't forget Markus ruhl his pec split in his prime is the best
lordwout10 How do develop pecs like that?
Have to borrow genetics from ancient warriors from Sardinia... and haul tunafish out of the water with nets and bare hands everyday. I don't think he was a fisherman LOL but that area does actually have some notoriety in the past for strong people, and I liken it to some strains of humans that had to be strong or die back around 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.
I believe Nick's strength and power is among the list of uncrowned mr. Olympia's
Agreed.
I like all His video's I know that!
one of the strongest pound for pound bodybuilder
I’d say he is
easily, benching almost 3x his bodyweight. How many people in the world can do that?
Ronnie Coleman too
LOL there is no such a thing dude. The shorter you are, the more weight you are supposed to be able to lift.
So, instead of pound for pound you should say inch for inch, and the taller man that can lift the most, proportionally less than the shorter man, should be considered the "inch for inch" that I've just came up with...
Franco Ronnie and Johnnie Branch definitely some of the strongest.
Imo Franco is the ideal physique. He’s my favourite bodybuilder of all time. He had such a stocky looking body, such deep lats, big calves, insane chest separation and his whole body just looked so proportional. Add to the fact that he was so strong and could compete with bigger bodybuilders being so short, makes him so much cooler. And no homo he was a pretty good looking dude too.
Definetely agree!
Stocky and blocky body type, with short arms, is the "ideal" physique...? To each his own I guess but those are NOT what people would ever call attractive traits.
How tall was he ?
Has his name always been spelled like that, ColumbU I could have sworn it was spelt ColumbO. I've never seen the last name spelt that way before .
@@ingridayarza 1
525 bench press. That wasn't like benching in powerlifting now with the extreme arch and zero ROM, that was a real bench
Franco Columbu italian pride.🇮🇹💪🏻
RIP Franco Columbu - 1941-2019 A huge loss for the bodybuilding community. His legacy will continue as a role model for the future bodybuilders generation to come.
That chest separation is outstanding!!
Nicola Grieco Markus ruhl is better
That aesthetic striation in his chest is actually a scar from Ricketts he suffered as a child funnily enough
Franco columbo was a bodybuilder long time ago they got fancy weights know etc Sergio Sergio Olivia , late 1960s and arnold Schwarzenegger bodies still one of the best beautiful bodybuilder I ever to this day
Will always remember Franco! He was my High School teacher Chiropractor back in the 90's, when my teacher told him i loved to work out and i was a fan, he sent a bunch of small workout books that he published, a personal note and signed by Franco. Sad news to hear, RIP, Will forever remember!
these videos are better than most documentaries about bodybuilding
Hillary Clinton's Clit generation iron 2 was a steaming pile of shit
No argument from me...on both statements.
Cool name
He was a Chuck Norris of fitness.
Wym?
Chuck Norris is the chuck Norris of fitness
Who was Bruce Lee of fitness.
Chuck Norris was legendary in action movies actor and karate champion, franco columbo was legendary bodybuilder and powerlifter
The guy was absolutely dense, so much muscle on his frame with insane strength. Still can't believe he popped a hot water bottle with his mouth!!
Didar Uddin that was a trick..
Thank you nick for putting this video out 2 days before my birthday!
Me being standing at 5'5 and Franco Columbo being my body building idol, this video could not have came at a better time!
I hope to pattern my career and body like his! Best B-Day present every!
Arnold and Franco met in Germany they were friends since Europe and then came to the US togethere in 1968 i believe. Franco even spoke German and him and Arnold would communicate in German.
You can hear Arnold talk to Franco in german in pumping iron
richtig genau!
and you don't mention his successful career as a Detective in L.A. at all? they even turned it into a tv show named after him, where he was played by the great Peter Falk!
Sandro S , bravo!!! 😀👍
I truly did laugh out loud
Just love looking into classic bodybuilders especially Franco Columbu and Lou Ferrigno
R.I.P. Franco Columbu
He had Aesthetics and functional athleticism. He was a Skilled boxer as well. Great video!
Was my Bodybuilding idol when I started in 1970. Met him first at Golds Venice in 1975! Was my chiropractor for 5 years in 80s-have lots of memories... But here's one related to his strength ; I use to buy supplements from legendary nutritionist Rheo H Blair ,in a room adjacent to his office on the ceiling were 10 rows of monkey bars with maybe 12 bars per row, Rheo would invite anyone to try completing all 10 rows without stopping, he told me out of hundreds who tried only one man succeeded . I tried and got to the 8th row before falling to the floor. I asked Rheo who the man was that had that kind of grip strength and endurance to get through them all , Franco Colombu was that man!
Franco's back was INCREDIBLE. Between the thickness and the "wingspan" that Franco created when he posed, it was awe-inspiring (watch "Pumping Iron" scene when even Arnold and others were in awe while commenting on his back). Arnold is obviously the most famous bodybuilder ever, but Franco was/is also a legend.
Franco is my favorite golden era body builder. As a fellow small person (5"4") he's awesome and inspirational.
Brings back lots of memories seeing Franco. He along with Arnold and Frank Zane were some of my favorites! Great video!
So sorry to find out that Franco Columbu is no longer with us. He died some hours ago today 8-30-2019 at the Nuoro Central Hospital (Sardinia). Reports tell he was swimming here (i live in Sardinia too) in Costa Smeralda while some sudden illness occurred. Paramedics could not help, either. He arrived in coma at the hospital. R.i.P. little Sardinian
Yeah he had a heart attack whilst swimming RIP Franco
liked before watching
Franco Columbo is truly a gifted athlete. What he's accomplished and done in the world of body building and powerlifting will forever go down in history. Also I really feel for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his loss of his best friend. They were true bromates. RIP Franco Columbo Thank you for what you've done for world of bodybuilding and powerlifting.
Franko my personal favorite classic Bodybuilder.
For his compact size looked freakish for back then
I remember watching Franco blow up the hot water bottle. That was some crazy shit!
Great video Nick on Franco Columbo a legendary bodybuilder strongman one hell of a powerlifter amazing strength for his weight class multiple championships Olympia hall-of-famer one of the original giant killers and Trailblazer of the sport and he still going strong today
One of my favourite bodybuilders, rest in peace
What an amazing guy he was..in many areas..powerlifter, bodybuilder, strongman, boxer..
Shit man, seeing those zane photos tho. The king of aesthetics
thats danny padilla not Zane
Amazing quality and effort on all your videos. I am really appreciating all the history of these physique athletes
Nick's Lightweight and Oldschool Olympias
Wow. Just heard the news about Franco's tragic death. As a skinny kid growing up in the 60s and 70s, Franco was one of my all time favorites. I was a big fan of the bodybuilder/strongman combo; Franco, Chuck Sipes, and Sergio Oliva were probably my top three favorites from that era (or any era). Perhaps it was fitting that he passed from this life off the coast of the same island on which his life's journey began - Sardinia. Thanks for the memories and inspiration, Franco.
I think Franco is one of the most underrated Olympia competitors of the classic era. His chest and lower lay density were incredible
Franco is one of my all time favorites. I remember when I saw the famous side chest photo for the first time. Right around then I started to take bodybuilding more seriously.
Actually Arnold and Franco were friends in Europe and Arnold was key in persuading Joe Weider to bring Franco to the US
Ahh the rarest pokemon on NSP channel is the elusive 11 minute video
70s BB still best ever , just so CLASSIC. Now they look like walking pharmacies.
Better Physique's back then!
I love golden era of bodybuilders. Current bodybuilders too big. Fake muscles
RIP FRANCO an inspiration to many of us
7 plate dead lift, no belt.
If there was a bodybuilding Mount Rushmore.. Franco'd be on it.... RIP Franco and God bless
Wheres Vince McMahon at?!
Thank you for posting this video about the little monster Franco!!! Yes I agree that those were not his best years on stage when he won the Mr. "O", and it sucks because it's plain evidence of how those contests can go... I think bodybuilding could be one of the hardest things to judge, but you could probably do a series of different years of controversy.
That being said... Those other shots of Franco prove he really could blow the doors off of all those guys at the right time. Of course EVERYBODY wants to be seen at their best, and we could discuss that forever, but Franco really was hard to beat at HIS best.
Good to mention the Danny Padilla thing-- in my opinion, he actually should have probably been 1st (!), then Franco, then Platz. By '81 Danny had developed enough on that perfect shape to hang with all and beat them in some areas, especially considering if they're going to later on... let Zane win for aesthetics and have these other trends to confuse us.
Don't get me wrong, Zane looked amazing and was so damned balanced and symmetrical I understand the compliments, but some years he just wasn't thick/dense enough for those deep separations on other guys. However, they had enough flaws, so....
But yeah back to Franco-- he didn't look great that year and he posed wrong, etc.. but we knew what he was capable of, so afterwards he's still a big favorite of my bother's and mine.
Look at him in your video at 9:05 -- I mean, that wouldn't have been beat by ANY of those guys in '81.
I've always seen him as this sort of a throwback to how men might have been to survive in ancient times on those islands, pulling fish nets and fighting all the time. Research it and you'll find that Sardinia and other "forgotten" places have leftover genetics for very strong people. For their small population, some other Sardinians were quite strong. They didn't always look like Franco lol. But yeah, his natural frame, even his face looked old-world symmetrical, sort of how you would expect them to look if you dropped in on Italy 6,000 years ago before life got so easy that all genetics got a chance to pass on. Wish he got a chance to try MMA before getting so big. Like around 155 pounds.... sheesh. If he got a choke on somebody?
Last but not least... can you imagine just how well he would have fit the role of "Wolverine" with the right makeup and hair? Ummmm THAT's Logan, not 6'3" (or whatever) Hugh Jackman. Would have to dub his speech though lol.... and we had no CGI back then for the rest of it.
Thank u dude so much I've been waiting for this
because of his power lifting, he had that rugged hard granite look that you don't see very often in body building competitions.
RIP Franco, you were an amazing inspiration.
He was in the terminator as well, he plays the terminator in the flashback that sneaks in the bunker and kills everyone.
Nick posts video, I click, I like, then watch it lol. Hasn't failed me yet.
An amazing individual who has always been in Arnold's shadow...there will probably never be another like him to accomplish what he did!
The first thing I think of when I hear the name Franco Columbu, is the upper chest ^^
In the group pic from The World's Strongest Man competition Ken Patera looked like Big Bird.
RIP ole Hoss🙏🏽always remain in our hearts.
Just loved Franco and his compact super hard body.
A miniature Dorian of his time.
I think franco looked insanely good in the 70's, one of my favorites from the classic era.
padilla and platz looked fantastic in '81
We were there. 5th row. Danny was robbed. Go to John Hanson's podcast "Legends of Bodybuilding" for an interview with the head judge. He explains how the judging was set up to fail.
Gary Colvin I wasn't even born. Wow
Nick's Franco and Columbo! A great bodybuilder no doubt. One of my favs.
R.I.P FRANCESCO COLUMBO ❤️❤️❤️ see you again brother 💪
Franco is my ideal... thanks for the video 🙏
Really appreciate the weight conversions Nick!
hes a legend period especially for us 5 footers respect Franco the original giant killer
Thanks! Very good video!
He played that terminator in Terminator 1, at the end, who infiltrates and shoots around.
As a short mutherfucker myself this dude and Lee Priest really help inspire me😭💪🏼....
Love all your videos but really enjoyed and appreciated this one!!!! Keep the videos coming bro
Franco is my fav bodybuilder ever. Great Vid
That thumbnail is gorgeous, the definition between the upper chest and the lower chest is insane, super deep cuts and amazing depth, plus the vascularity in his chest. Just crazy, one of my inspirations. Silly comment sorry lol
Thanks Nick ! I always wondered when you’ll come out with a video in Franco.
Franco was in an Italian restaurant in Philly back in the 70's. He was seated a few tables away from me and my family. Men had to wear a suit jacket. He came in wearing a tight black shirt. They gAve him a skin right suit jacket and he apologized to us for it being so tight on him. Very nice guy.
Very cool Nick, Franco is amazing. Thanks,
A very enjoyable video review; thanks Nick
Excellent video on Franco Nick, really like the pic with you and Franco. Pretty cool
Awesome Franco is great bodybuilder. As always great job with the video
Love Franco! Awesome dude!
Great video. Franco ranks high in my list of favourite bodybuilders.
R.I.P Franco, A sad day today to hear that Franco passed away in an accident in his home town in Italy
Wow... great video. Love Franco! That back!
Great tribute to the legend, he also made a few of his own movies I think out of the US? I am 62 and remember watching the original WSM
Omg...never realized his name ended in a 'u'...only took 35 yrs...thanks to Nicks vid!!
Yes franco was totally awesome one of my favorites of all time
Great video. Thanks!
Nicks strength and friendships
enjoyed it bro seriously? LOVED IT MAHN 🔥🔥👌😍
Dense af musculature from heavy lifting and hard training. Very rare today.
They had such strong jaws
Frank Zane, in those side by side photos is absolute perfection.....his lines are out of this world.
Nick you are the best man.
man with a incredible strength..
WOW Danny Padilla look insane on that stage.
thank you for information, Nick
Great video on a fascinating bodybuilder, but as far as I remember from Arnold's autobiography they met and became friends in Europe before Arnold went to America and that he actually persuaded Weider to bring Franco over as well.
Legend
One of the best chests in bodybuilding imo
If you can find Franco's book it is well worth the read. He stands apart in his greatness.
Franco's strength and muscularity are extraordinary. Greatest bodybuilder that ever lived!