Name: Francesco “Franco” Columbu
Nickname: The Sardinian Samson
Birth date: 8/7/1941
Height: 5’4″
Competition Weight: 194 lbs
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Bio:
Franco Columbu was born and raised in Sardinia, Italy. As a young man, he participated in local boxing competitions and gravitated towards weightlifting, powerlifting, and other sports involving serious strength training. When he discovered bodybuilding in his mid-twenties he became serious about focusing in on that as a career; he won two Mr. Olympia titles, in 1976 and 1981, and one Mr. Universe title, in 1968.
Columbu was a close friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the two moved to America together to train under Joe Weider. Throughout the 1970s they operated a bricklaying business together called European Brick Works.
Columbu received his chiropractic license from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1977. He retired from weightlifting in 1981.