According to the Strongest Man website, Columbu took three years to fully recover from the injuries he suffered that day.Ĥ.Fuel bodybuilding success with macronutrient meal prep The competition was eventually won by Bruce Wilhelm. He attributed the injury from trying to run too fast. The biggest problem is that is uncomfortable, but it’s not too much pain.”Ĭolumbu wound up placing in fifth in the competition despite the gruesome injury. When interviewed, Columbu maintained that his leg wasn’t broken saying, “I know it’s not broken… I am a chiropractor myself and I saw it was dislocated. A little over three seconds into a race that involved carrying a refrigerator on his back, Columbu stumbled to the ground with his legs appearing to buckle under the weight. In 1977, Columbu, then-24, was competing in The World’s Strongest Man on CBS.
For over 30 years, the strongest men on the planet have come together in a series of unique and amazing tests of strength to… T09:17:03.000Z The Worlds Strongest Man Classics 1977: Columbu serious leg injury! Franco Columbu injures leg during the Fridge Race back in 1977 Click here to SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/1a7GqHc Created in 1977, The World's Strongest Man™ has become the premier event in strength athletics. Columbu Was Referred to as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Squire’ Emergency services airlifted Columbu to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.ġ. Other reports says that Columbu suffered a heart attack while swimming.
La Nuova reports that Columbu drowned while swimming at the beach in the town of San Teodoro in Sardinia at around 2 p.m. In the 1980s, Columbu made appearances in the Schwarzenegger movies, “The Terminator,” “Conan the Barbarian” and “The Running Man.” While in 1974, Columbu was featured on the cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s 1974 album, “All the Girls in the World Beware!!!” Arguably Columbu’s most famous contribution to movies is a scene in the movie, “Pumping Iron,” where he lifted up a cab in order to help another motorist park his car.
The world records set by Columbu, according to his website, are bench press 525 lbs., squat 655 lbs., and dead lift 750 lbs. Columbu was inducted into the International Federation of Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2001. Columbu was also in the Guinness Book of Records in 1978 for his ability to burst a hot water bottle by blowing into in 55 seconds. In 2009, Columbu was awarded the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award. The preface of his book, “Franco Columbu’s Complete Book of Bodybuilding,” reads, “Nobody embodies the American dream better than Franco Columbu.”ĭuring his career, Columbu won Mr. Columbu had lived since the 1970s in Los Angeles. The bodybuilding legend is survived by his wife, Deborah and their daughter, Maria.Ĭolumbu’s sad passing was first reported by multiple sources in his homeland. Columbu passed away just over three weeks after his 78th birthday. Columbu, a native of the island of Sardinia in Italy, long considered one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s closest friends and confidants. Olympia who died on August 30 at the age of 78.