IGX

Franco Columbu is the former Mr. Olympia who died on August 30 at the age of 78. Columbu, a native of the island of Sardinia in Italy, won Mr. Olympia the year after Arnold Schwarzenegger retired from bodybuilding. Columbu was long considered one of Schwarzenegger’s closest friends and confidants. Columbu passed away just over three weeks after his 78th birthday. The bodybuilding legend is survived by his wife, Deborah and their daughter, Maria.

https://heavy.com/sports/2019/08/franco-columbo-dead/

Former bodybuilding champion and actor Franco Columbu, 78 years old, originally from Ollolai (Nuoro), but who has always lived in Los Angeles, in the United States, died in the early afternoon after he suffered an illness while bathing in the waters of San Teodoro, on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia.

World-renowned bodybuilder and friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Columbu was on vacation in Sardinia. The tragedy took place around 2 pm. Columbu was immediately rescued and transported with the helicopter to the Olbia hospital, where he died as soon as he arrived in the emergency room. The resuscitation maneuvers of the 118 staff were useless, both on the ground and on board the helicopter, for the former bodybuilder there was nothing to do.

http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews ... 3344e.html

You’ve heard me say that I don’t like when people call me a self-made man. You’ve even heard me say that you’re part of the reason I could never accept that label.

But I wanted you to know why. From the minute we met in Munich, you were my partner in crime. We pushed each other, we competed with each other, and we laughed at every moment along the way.

When I finally got to America, I was alone. I’d left my family, my country, my whole life behind. So when I asked Joe Weider to bring you to train with me, it was because I knew I wasn’t the same without my best friend. I could thrive without money, without my parents, but I couldn’t thrive without you.

I am devastated today. But I am also so, so grateful for the 54 years of friendship and joy we shared. The pumps, the chess games, the construction work, the meals, the pranks, the life lessons - we did it all together. We grew and we learned and we loved. My life was more fun, more colorful, and more complete because of you.

I will always miss you. But I’ll also know that a part of you lives on in me, in Debbie, in Maria, and in the millions of people you inspired every day you lived. And I will be there for Maria and Debbie, so you can rest now with no worries.

I love you Franco. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. You were my best friend.

Love always,

Arnold

https://www.instagram.com/schwarzenegger/?hl=en

Hard to see these guys pass from this world. A stark reminder of my own mortality.

RIP

vern wrote: ↑Sat Aug 31, 2019 3:41 am

I see you are a man of taste.