FRANCO COLUMBU , The greatest and strongest bodybuilder I have ever met has passed… He taught me many things that I have applied throughout my life – We will NEVER HAVE A MAN LIKE THIS AGAIN – thank you for the memories Franco pic.twitter.com/vJgzlI4Jyk

— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) 30 August 2019

Originally a boxer, Columbu won the Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981, and competed in the inaugural edition of the World’s Strongest Man in 1977, where he placed fifth. He also had an acting career and authored numerous books on bodybuilding and nutrition. Columbu was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2001, and received the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.