Arnold Schwarzenegger
With professional bodybuilding's continued progression, as evidenced through the respective domination of champions' Larry Scott and Sergio Oliva, the sport had apparently found a man who would remain king for many years into the future.Sergio, however, felt ultra-confident that no man would come close to taking the title he had won three years consecutively. He didn't count on an improved Arnold, and in 1970 lost his Olympia Sandow statuette to the Oak. However, Sergio strongly felt the title was his and has argued his case ever since. "I beat him that year (in 1969)," says Sergio, "and in 1970 Arnold looked no different, but he won.
He knows and the whole world knows that I was the better bodybuilder."
A Tribute Fit For A King: Arnold Schwarzenegger!
A tribute for the 'The Oak', Arnold Schwarzenegger, 7 time Mr. Olympia. If you want to know about him then this is it. Hoping for redemption at the 1971 Olympia (held in Paris, France - the first time it had been run outside of New York), Sergio trained like a madman and unthinkably added even more muscle to his dense frame. But it was not to be: though he filed his application in July (with the contest being held in September), Sergio was later disqualified after competing in the NABBA Pro Universe a week before the Olympia.Says Sergio: "After the '69 Olympia they said I was banned from the IFBB for competing in a non-IFBB contest. They never told me about the ban so I naturally went along to the '71 (Olympia) to compete. That is when it all happened." With Sergio out, Arnold won his second Olympia title unopposed.Though thought to be smaller in certain areas (notably throughout his legs and back) compared to Sergio, Arnold, it could be argued, had made steady improvements and looked equally impressive, making the early '70s Arnold/Sergio rivalry one of the biggest in all of bodybuilding history.
1970-75 Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Determined to exact his revenge against the man who "robbed" him in 1970, Sergio contested the 1972 Olympia and was almost true to his word. In a controversial decision Arnold again won the title. Arnold's win in '72 has always been in question as Sergio was at his best, while the Austrian was slightly off.
Today Sergio maintains that he should have won both the '70 and '72 Olympia titles. "So I prepared myself and went to Germany (in 1972) at 245 pounds, cut like a ribbon," says Sergio. "You don't fool people. You can pull a trick in the magazines, but up on the stage, uh, uh. And in Essen Germany, oh my God, forget it. They loved me."The Essen, Germany Olympia was also notable for its inclusion of five of the greatest bodybuilders to have ever competed: Arnold, Sergio, Serge Nubret (3rd) Frank Zane (4th) and Franco Columbu (5th). By virtue of its numbers it was the largest Olympia to date.By 1973 Arnold had secured his hold on professional bodybuilding, as attested by his dominant victory at that year's Olympia. With Sergio having retired from the IFBB game Arnold accepted the challenge of less dominant adversaries and by '74 was almost assured victory should he arrive in the supreme conditioning and with the remarkable size he had become known for.In '74, two weight classes (under-200 pound and over-200 pound) were introduced for the first time and, naturally, Arnold, at a reported 235 pounds, made his home in the heavier division. That year a new giant in the form of Lou Ferrigno challenged him, but the hulking contender had to settle for second, as Arnold's refinement, increasing muscle maturity and overall size were really just too formidable for anyone at that point.1975 proved a turning point for Arnold. With the entertainment arena beckoning and with the man himself having achieved more than any other bodybuilder, ever, he chose to retire, but still had one final Olympia title to win. With Pretoria, South Africa being the location for that year's Mr. Olympia the current champion worked himself into arguably the best shape of his bodybuilding career and convincingly won the title against perennial contenders Franco Columbu, Serge Nubret, Lou Ferrigno and Frank Zane.
Arnold Had Secured His Hold
On Professional Bodybuilding.
With confirmation as the greatest bodybuilder to have ever competed, having won its biggest prize an unprecedented six times, Arnold left the sport at the top of his game. But he never forgot his roots as attested by his comments regarding what the Mr. Olympia title, and the man who founded it, meant to him:
"In the week before the Olympia, everyone got personal attention from Joe Weider, which made everyone feel like a winner. He was like a coach who never chose one (athlete) over another. He felt like we were all his children and we felt he was the father figure. Without him, there would have been no Olympia, none of the excitement, and I would never have had- besides all the other help (he gave me) - the great pleasure and entertainment that I had in bodybuilding."
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