Arnold Schwarzenegger came to America in 1968. Within a few years, Arnie conquered the world of bodybuilding. However, the seven-time Mr. Olympia confessed he could have never done it without his best friend, Franco Columbu. Columbu and Schwarzenegger met in Germany during a bodybuilding/powerlifting meet. The friendship they formed that day continued till Columbu’s tragic demise in 2019.
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Today, the Austrian Oak talks about his late best friend at every opportunity. While Schwarzenegger is thankful he had a friend like the Italian, he also mentions that no one in the gym could push him harder to improve than Franco Columbu. However, four years after losing his best friend, Schwarzenegger might have found a worthy training partner in another Mr. Olympia winner.
When Arnold ‘Austrian Oak’ Schwarzenegger trained with The King
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On August 3, the 76-year-old fitness icon posted a video on Instagram. However, no one expected eight-time Mr. Olympia and bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman to appear in it. Through the video, Arnie revealed that The King had visited the iconic Gold’s Gym, where Schwarzenegger regularly trains. While Coleman trains at another iconic location, the Metroflex Gym, he couldn’t resist working out with the Austrian Oak while in California.
The video began with the 76-year-old icon preparing to perform a set of overhead shoulder presses. Coleman stood beside Arnie, ready to motivate his Mr. Olympia predecessor with his signature catchphrases. However, before starting the set, Arnie took the time to recognize Coleman’s greatness. “Franco is smiling down from heaven and he is saying, ‘Finally! Arnold found a good replacement for me,’” he told Coleman.
However, the eight-time champion was humble in accepting Schwarzenegger’s praise. “Let’s show Franco how it’s done,” said the bodybuilding legend as Arnie began his set. “I know Franco was looking down on @ronniecoleman8 pushing me today and smiling,” Arnie wrote in the caption. He also highlighted the importance of having a training partner.
The joy of training with a like-minded partner
This wasn’t the first time the seven-time Mr. Olympia wrote about the importance of a training partner. In a recent edition of his daily newsletter Arnold’s Pump Club, the 76-year-old asked his readers to try and find a training partner. Schwarzenegger assured his readers that training with a partner had several benefits. He mentioned Franco Columbu in the newsletter as well.
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Arnie wrote that no one helped him improve more than Columbu. The pair pushed one another to lift heavier and scrutinized one another’s strengths and weaknesses. On the days he didn’t feel 100%, Columbu would motivate him. The fitness icon hoped every gymgoer could experience the joy of training with a partner. “Be a training partner to someone,” Arnie wrote.
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While they belong to different eras of bodybuilding, Arnie comparing Coleman to Columbu showed how much respect he has for The King.
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