Frank Zane vs. Franco Columbu: A Golden Era Rivalry - Old School Labs
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Home Ā /Ā  OSL Blog Ā /Ā  Frank Zane vs. Franco Columbu: A Golden Era Rivalry

Frank Zane vs. Franco Columbu: A Golden Era Rivalry


Key Takeaways

  1. Frank Zane and Franco Columbu first met onstage as polar opposites with vastly different physiques.
  2. They traded off wins, besting each other in both NABBA and IFBB competitions from 1969 to 1977.
  3. An unfortunate accident during a competition left Franco off the circuit for a few years, allowing Frank to win consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1977 to 1979.
  4. In the end, the two men tied for 3 when competing against each other, leaving the world with one of the most intense shows of opposites attract throughout the Golden Era of Bodybuilding.

One of the most intense rivalries during the Golden Age of Bodybuilding was between Franco Columbu and Frank Zane. Both champions displayed radically different physiques.

Franco was short and thick with extreme muscularity and dense mass. 

Zane, on the other hand, was the polar opposite of Franco. Frank Zane was the epitome of the aesthetic bodybuilder with great symmetry and proportion. But, he didnā€™t compare to the extreme mass and thickness shown by other bodybuilders of his era like Arnold, Sergio, and, of course, Franco.

Frank Zane Winning Mr. 1969
Frank Zane winning 1969 Mr World

When Franco and Zane first competed against each other, the judges favored Zane as the superior bodybuilder. At the 1969 IFBB Mr. World held in Brugge, Belgium, he was the overall winner. 

Frank Zane and Franco Columbu
Frank Zane and Franco Columbu Posing Together

Frank won the medium height class over the excellent Albert Beckles. He went on to win the overall title over tall class winner Frank Richard and short class winner Pierre Vandensteen. Franco, who was still developing his soon to be legendary physique, placed second to Vandensteen in the short class.

Meeting on the NABBA circuit

One year later, Zane and Columbu would meet again onstage. 

Franco had a great year by winning the overall title at the IFBB Mr. Europe before winning the IFBB Mr. Universe in Yugoslavia. This was a tremendous accomplishment for a shorter bodybuilder to win the overall at two prestigious international competitions. 

Columbu winning Mr. Italia

Later that fall, Franco traveled to London, England to compete in the NABBA Mr. Universe contest. 

The NABBA Mr. Universe at that time was considered to be the most prestigious competition in the world, even bigger than the Mr. Olympia contest. 

Although much improved from the previous year, Franco only managed to place second in the short class. He fell behind the more aesthetic but much less muscular Chris Dickerson

Franco Columbu Posing With Chris Dickerson
Franco Columbu (left) and Chris Dickerson (right)

Frank Zane, on the other hand, was in superb shape and he won the overall title at the 1970 NABBA Mr. Universe. Frank displayed a muscular and aesthetic physique, a look that the judges favored at the NABBA Universe. This was a big win for Frank, probably his biggest victory to date

At the time, Zane was already a winner of the IFBB titles for: 

  • Mr. America 
  • Mr. World
  • Mr. Universe 

But the NABBA Mr. Universe was considered the biggest amateur event in the world. 

In 1971, Franco won the IFBB Mr. World overall title. This was Francoā€™s third international title in two years in the IFBB along with the Mr. Europe and the Mr. Universe. 

Frank Zane continued to compete in the NABBA organization in England, avoiding all IFBB competitions for another year. Zane competed in the 1971 Pro NABBA Mr. Universe, winning the short class but losing the overall to the legendary 40-year-old Bill Pearl

Meeting Again on the IFBB Circuit

In 1972, Franco and Zane would meet once again onstage, and clash just as they did before. 

Frank Zane Mr. Universe
Frank Zane Winning NABBA Mr. Universe

Frank Zane returned to London, England to compete and win the 1972 NABBA Mr. Universe in the professional division. Zane defeated a bunch of excellent bodybuilders, including Dennis Tinerino and Boyer Coe in this contest. 

One week later, Zane traveled to Essen, Germany to compete in his first Mr. Olympia competition. He realized that the Mr. Olympia favored the more massive bodybuilders compared to NABBA. 

Frank Zane and Franco Columbu Posing

Frank figured he had no chance against the excellent physiques of Sergio Oliva and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although Serge Nubret was in excellent shape, Zane thought he would place third behind Arnold and Sergio. 

Instead, both Frank and Franco would end up disappointed in their standings after competing for the first time at the Mr. Olympia:

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger ā€“ 1st Place
  • Sergio Oliva ā€“ 2nd Place
  • Serge Nubret ā€“ 3rd Place
  • Frank Zane ā€“ 4th Place
  • Franco Columbu ā€“ 5th Place

Franco and Zane did not compete against each other again until 1974. Zane took a year off in 1973 while Franco won the IFBB Mr. International in the professional division. Then, he took second to Arnold at that yearā€™s Mr. Olympia contest. 

The 1974 Mr. Olympia, Where Columbu Bests Zane

In 1974, Frank Zane competed again at the Mr. Olympia. For the first time ever, the Mr. Olympia was split into the Under 200 and Over 200 pound categories. Franco and Zane were both in outstanding condition. 

Franco Columbu

Franco, by this time, had developed a very thick and dense physique and he was very muscular and ripped. 

Zane was also at his lifetime best. He was a little lighter in body weight, but his muscularity and definition were better than ever before. 

Frank Zane Posing

In a very close decision, Franco took first place in the Under 200 Pound Class, beating Frank Zane for the very first time. 

1975 Proves Disappointing for Frank Zane

1975 was a banner year for bodybuilding. Director George Butler was filming a documentary about bodybuilding called ā€œPumping Ironā€. This soon to be classic film about the sport would document the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions in Pretoria, South Africa. 

Franco and Arnold Posing on Beach
Posing On Beach

Franco Columbu was in the best shape of his life in 1975. He placed second to his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger for the past two years in the Mr. Olympia contest. Franco was hoping to turn the tables on Arnold that year and win his first overall Mr. Olympia in 1975. 

Frank Zane, on the other hand, had a bad year in 1975. Upset over the attention given to Arnold Schwarzenegger by the film crew of the movie, Zane decided to make a move. He trained at Vinceā€™s Gym that summer, away from the noise and confusion of the filming of ā€œPumping Ironā€ at Goldā€™s Gym. 

Frank Zane Beach Posing

This turned out to be a bad decision and Frank competed in the 1975 Mr. Olympia in his worst shape ever. He was smaller than usual and uncharacteristically smooth. 

At the conclusion of the competition in South Africa, Franco won his second consecutive Under 200 Pound Class at the Mr. Olympia. Zane placed a disappointing fourth behind the late Ed Corney and Albert Beckles

Arnold and Columbu Comparison
Arnold and Zane Having a Pose Down

Franco posed down with Arnold for the cameras of ā€œPumping Ironā€ and was beat for the overall title in a close decision. 

One year later, the ultimate battle between Frank Zane and Franco Columbu would take place. 

The Final Showdown Between Frank and Franco

Frank was initially considering retirement after his disappointing fourth-place finish at the 1975 Mr. Olympia. He decided to give it another try after giving a posing exhibition at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York in February 1976. 

Zane and Columbu Comparison

What happened to make him change his mind? Frank was featured in the exhibition alongside Arnold and Ed Corney. 

The experience of being chosen to represent the sport as one of its premier ambassadors was the inspiration he needed. He decided to continue competing in the Mr. Olympia later that year. 

Both with Peak Physiques ā€“ Who Would Win?

The 1976 Mr. Olympia was held in Columbus, Ohio for the first time. Promoted by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer, the competition reached new standards in stage production and audience response.

It was the most professional bodybuilding show ever produced and it would lead the way for the future of the sport. 

Similar to their conditions at the 1974 Mr. Olympia, both Franco and Zane were at their all-time best for the 1976 Mr. Olympia. 

Columbu Posing on stage

Franco was even better than his superb condition in 1975. He was thicker (if that was possible!) and even more ripped and dense. 

Zane was also at his lifetime best. Frank was more ripped than ever before and he displayed his extremely proportionate and symmetrical physique to perfection. 

Frank Zane Posing

Although Franco was the odds-on favorite to win based on his close second place finishes the last two years, the judges couldnā€™t deny the excellence of the Zane physique. In the end, the battle between Franco Columbu and Frank Zane was almost a dead tie. 

They finally announced Franco the winner by Half A Point! Was there ever a closer decision in the history of the Mr. Olympia? 

The Rivalry Comes to an Unfortunate End

Franco easily defeated the Over 200 Pound Class winner Ken Waller to win the 1976 Mr. Olympia title. This win would complete his extremely successful competition career. 

Franco Beating Waller
(From Left to Right) Danny Padilla , Ken Waller, Franco Columbu, and OSL Ambassador Tom Platz at the 1981 Mr. Olympia

Unfortunately, Franco would incur a serious injury to his knee the following year while competing in the Worlds Strongest Man contest. He would not be able to return to the stage to compete until 1981. 

Frank Zane, however, returned to the Mr. Olympia contest the next year, and he won his first Mr. Olympia title in 1977. Having learned from his defeat the previous year, Zane had made the necessary improvements. He was able to finally win the title that would mean so much to his career. 

Frank Zane Mr. Olympia 1977

Frank won three Mr. Olympia titles from 1977 to 1979. He and Franco would never meet onstage again. However, their intense rivalry during their career will stand the test of time and always be remembered as one of the highlights of the Golden Age of Bodybuilding. 

Final Tally of the battles of Franco Columbu and Frank Zane ā€“ Columbu 3, Zane 3 (TIE!)

Have you grown up with either of these men as an inspiration? Do you have any stories of them that have significance to you? Weā€™d love to hear about them!

Disclaimer: None of the individuals and/or companies mentioned necessarily endorse Old School Labs products or the contents of this article. Any programs provided for illustration purposes only. Always consult with your personal trainer, nutritionist and physician before changing or starting any new exercise, nutrition, or supplementation program.
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Old School Labsā„¢ is the maker of premium supplements that carry on the fitness values of the ā€œGolden Eraā€ of bodybuilding. Old School Labsā„¢ products do not hide behind proprietary blends, contain no artificial sweeteners or artificial flavors, and are manufactured using only high-quality ingredients.

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