Sergio Oliva the MYTH

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:06 PM

The Myth, better than Arnold , maybe, too bad he was banned by the ifbb because he competed in a non ifbb sactioned event. the weiders were just afraid he would beat Arnold.

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:08 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:14 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:16 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:19 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:20 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:24 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:27 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:28 PM

**Ocnorb36** · 07-23-2002, 08:29 PM

that's a tough one ibiza69---cuts in his legs size/cut of calves looks just slightly inferior to "The Oak"---but man what a show down that would have been-----both wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ahead of their time---

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:29 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by Ocnorb36
that's a tough one ibiza69---cuts in his legs size/cut of calves looks just slightly inferior to "The Oak"---but man what a show down that would have been-----both wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ahead of their time---

you ain't seen nothin' yet bro

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:36 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:38 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:41 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:46 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:49 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:52 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:53 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 08:56 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 09:02 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 09:06 PM

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 09:11 PM

**Umberto** · 07-23-2002, 09:16 PM

He was AWESOME, ahead of his time

I believe he was better than Lee Haney, and could have easily been mr. olympia even in the 80's

**ibiza69** · 07-23-2002, 09:16 PM

recent sergio oliva pic

**cube** · 07-23-2002, 10:42 PM

sergio is amazing. i don't think anyone will ever come close to matching his upperbody size and tiny waist. was it the 69 olympia where no one else even bothered to compete against him because he was so far ahead of his time?. he dwarfed all the guys who came before him. i bet his triceps and forearms could stand up against any pro today. thanks for posting these pics ibiza69, sergio is a god.

**ibiza69** · 07-24-2002, 04:51 AM

yes sergio is awsome, definetly one of the greats, him, arnold and dorian are my three favorite BB's of all time. And yes 1969 was the year that all pro bodybuilders boycotted the mr. olympia contest because they had no chance against him. At the 1972 Mr. Olympia in essen germany oliva was screwed out of the Sandow when he placed second to Arnold. After that he was banned from the ifbb because he allegidly competed in a non ifbb sactioned event; it was not until 1984 that he competed again in the ifbb at that years Mr. olympia.

Sergio oliva history

A brief history of Sergio Oliva that appeared in the May 1995 issue of Iron Man magazine follows:

"A native of Cuba, Sergio Oliva was born in Havana on July 4, 1941, and became serious about sports, he frankly admits, as a means to escape from his country and its political system. Since fleeing in a boat through shark-infested waters to a foreign country was not his style, he decided instead to become an international-caliber athlete and seek political asylum while competing abroad.

That's exactly what he did in 1960, when he was a member of the Cuban weightlifting team at the Pan-American Games in Kingston, Jamaica. After emigrating to the United States, he lived in Miami briefly, then settled in Chicago. Blessed with a remarkable physique to go with his Herculean strength -- he's totaled almost 1,300 pounds in the three Olympic lifts -- he soon switched his allegiance to bodybuilding, and the rest is history. So massive and unbelievable proportioned that someone nicknamed him "the Myth," he tipped the sport of bodybuilding on its ear. In quick succession, he became the first black athlete to win the IFBB Mr. America, Mr. World, Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia titles. In fact, he won the Olympia three times, in '67, '68 and '69, and many bodybuilding experts feel he should have won in '72, in Essen, Germany, when Arnold Schwarzenegger scored a controversial victory. Sergio's last bodybuilding competition was in 1985, but he still trains seriously, gives seminars and looks only slightly less mythical than in his glory days.

Now 53, he still lives in Chicago, where he's a member of the Chicago Police Department and a single parent raising son Sergio Jr., 10, and daughter Julia, six. This year he will complete his 19th year with the police department. His rank is patrolman, and yes, he has to have every part of his uniform specially made except for the shoes.

**ECKO 747** · 07-24-2002, 05:16 AM

Personly I think Sergio and Lou Ferrigno looked way better then Arnold...
Both were bigger, some what better prortioned and symetrical then Arnold... The only thing is that Arnold had the support of weider brothers (who by the way pimped the industry back then and continiue do so today.. exploting bodybuilders worldwide)... But that just my 2 cents worth.

**The French Curler** · 07-24-2002, 03:32 PM

Sergio was incredible, if you saw him next to Arnold it was funny because they had the same build! Only thing I don't like is the way Sergio's biceps look, and the way he flexes them.

**demetri** · 07-24-2002, 07:46 PM

Simply amazing.

**retired** · 07-25-2002, 12:08 AM

Awesome pics, very motivating. I think that Sergio's 1972 form was possibly the best EVER- including today's pros with their 21st century gear and nutrition. In the first few pics his waist looks smaller than his arm and leg circumference. Unbelievable!

**mando** · 08-11-2002, 03:39 AM

i prefer the look of the late 60 's and mid 70 's just the perfect balance of everything. have you noticed most of the top guys used to train 6on/1off hitting each part twice/three times a week.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
these days the b/b are much bigger but they look like crap and drugs they have to use - gh , insulin ,clen etc.
the average b/b should realize that to get the look of the current top b/b it involves a lot of risks....it would be much true to try to get the look attained by the top b/b back in the 50's and 60's , where gear was played a small part and hard work was the workhorse.

another thing, please don't buy into that overtraining crap too much, it was the only way mike mentzer made a living.
put your body through the hard work and you will be suprized even a natural b/b can be massive.
like lee priest says-there is overtraining jus undereating and underresting.

hope i did'nt offend anyone.-peace.

**tatty** · 08-11-2002, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by demetri
Simply amazing.

Well said.

**BIG GEOFF** · 08-25-2002, 12:16 PM

without exception the greatest bodybuilder who ever stepped.
but that is just an opinion

**JollySwagman** · 02-22-2003, 12:46 AM

Originally posted by mando
i prefer the look of the late 60 's and mid 70 's just the perfect balance of everything. have you noticed most of the top guys used to train 6on/1off hitting each part twice/three times a week.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
these days the b/b are much bigger but they look like crap and drugs they have to use - gh , insulin ,clen etc.
the average b/b should realize that to get the look of the current top b/b it involves a lot of risks....it would be much true to try to get the look attained by the top b/b back in the 50's and 60's , where gear was played a small part and hard work was the workhorse.

another thing, please don't buy into that overtraining crap too much, it was the only way mike mentzer made a living.
put your body through the hard work and you will be suprized even a natural b/b can be massive.
like lee priest says-there is overtraining jus undereating and underresting.

hope i did'nt offend anyone.-peace.

Sergio's training was more HIT than volume

**Wrathchild** · 02-22-2003, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by ECKO 747
Personly I think Sergio and Lou Ferrigno looked way better then Arnold...
Both were bigger, some what better prortioned and symetrical then Arnold... The only thing is that Arnold had the support of weider brothers (who by the way pimped the industry back then and continiue do so today.. exploting bodybuilders worldwide)... But that just my 2 cents worth.

Couldn't agree more

**zzo18** · 02-22-2003, 10:42 AM

I'll admit, Sergio had one of the best builds of his day. To say that he and Lou were better than Arnold....I just can't agree with that. Sergio gave Arnold some good competition but Lou, in my opinion, shouldn't have even stepped on the same stage with Arnold...simply no comparison.