Sergio at his best

[alfresco]

The thread "1st BBing magazine" got me to thinking back
about the first build-up magazine I purchased. So I dug
through what remains of my once huge collection of mags
and pulled out a copy of Iron Man Magazine, May 1973,
75 cents. (Yes, not a typo, 75 cents.)

This, my first issue was via subscription, could not find
it at the newsstand in the small town where I lived. I'm sur-
prised I didn't wear the ink of the pages I looked at it so
many times.

My Sensei used to have these magazines lying all over his
house. I don't know how he ever found the time to read
them, he spent so much time measuring his arms (he was
a bodybuilder also). When I started lifting, he let me rifle
through his closet for back issues as did a friend of who
owned the gym where I was training at the time.

I went on to collect every issue Iron Man, may still have
the very first issue they published, I'd have to look though.
It's an old one.

But I digress . . .

Looking through this old magazine gave me a real sense of
how much bodybuilders have improved (?) grown (yes)
throughout the passing years. Many would not make the
top ten had they competed in the same contests today.

But one person in particular I believe has withstood the
test of time, Sergio Oliva. I do believe, at his best, he
could compete, and even win today against the current
crop we see on the stage today.

 

[hellraiser27]

Damn! He looks so hard! His arms look like oak trees.

 

[HeavyHitter2]

He's one of my all-time favorites!! The man was just NASTY!!

 

[smootheavy]

rarely see balance like that, look at those arms to legs to calves balance! Awesome!

 

[Ashop]

Damn! He looks so hard! His arms look like oak trees.

He looks simply amazing in that photo.

 

[Thor]

I HAVE TO AGREE

with you guys, i never noticed it years ago but that guy was amazing and one of if not the best built guy for his era.

 

[IRON37]

timeless physique right there

 

[RONJON]

WOW..incredible!

 

[soonerman74]

think what he could do now with the amount of stuff these other guys take ?????

 

[laylow]

Sergio - One of the best

He had a classic look to him. Love the pic in the pool hall showing his biceps.

I had the pleasure of talking to him a few years ago and he seemed like a genuinely nice man. Talked for only about 10 minutes, but was very down to earth. Agree that he could definitely compete with todays look.

 

[Prometheus615]

think what he could do now with the amount of stuff these other guys take ?????

Big BUMP...was thinking the same thing

 

[tbobby]

yea the balance of his physique is very impressive

 

[Designbuilt]

I found this pic on MD, it's worth a look.

His son is very impressive, but his father was just one of a kind.

I have an uncle, (married into the family) who competed against Sergio, in I think 1959. I'm not sure of the year.

But he said that back then it was part weight lifting and part "Physique" It was YMCA and the lifts were clean and jerk and the snatch.

He said that Sergio was a "masterpiece" back then. I've seen him on the street in downtown as a cop, when I was a kid, but he just looked superbig it was hard to tell, besides I was just too young to really take notice, but very friendly guy, waves and says hi to everyone.