1972: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs Sergio Oliva
The rivalry between Schwarzenegger and Oliva was well documented. Oliva had defeated Schwarzenegger in the 1969 Olympia competition while The Austrian Oak came back the next year to taste sweet victory in the 1970. Out of the running in 1971 due to a suspension, Oliva was poised to come back in 1972 to challenge Schwarzenegger’s title. To this day many believed that Oliva came in superior shape to his Austrian foe and should have claimed victory. Oliva was monstrously large while maintaining the ripped physique he was lacking in his 1970 face off with the Austrian. However it proved that the judges favored Schwarzenegger and victory slipped through Oliva’s grasp. The competition was undoubtedly close much like this years event and would go down as one of the most hotly contested Olympias in history. But it wasn’t the most controversial competition the Austrian would be involved in.
