In 1965, Arnold Schwarzenegger met a talented Italian powerlifter and bodybuilder, Franco Columbu. Powerlifting in the 60s was in its infancy, but Columbu’s incredible strength impressed Schwarzenegger. The friendship that began on a stage in Stuttgart, Germany, grew into one of the most legendary partnerships in bodybuilding history. For the rest of their career, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu became training partners, helping one another reach the pinnacle of their sport.

When Columbu passed away in 2019, Schwarzenegger wrote, “I could thrive without money, without my parents, but I couldn’t thrive without you.” Now, nearly four years after losing his best friend, Schwarzenegger wants his over 300,000 newsletter subscribers to learn how it feels like to train with a workout partner.

Why train with someone else?

In the latest edition of Arnold’s Pump Club, Schwarzenegger mentioned how having Columbu as his training partner “benefited” him throughout his life. “There will always be days when we don’t feel our best,” wrote the 75-year-old. However, “On those days, our training partners are there to get us going and keep us moving forward,” revealed Schwarzenegger.

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Having a workout buddy also builds healthy competition. Watching your workout partner lift more, can also help a person feel motivated to work harder. A training partner also gives a person the confidence to take on challenging lifts, because a partner can help a person bailout of failed lifts. So, Arnold Schwarzenegger urged his newsletter readers to “Be a training partner to someone this week.”

Resurfaced Image of Arnold Schwarzenegger Looking Like a Giant Next to Franco Columbu Goes Viral

“I think that you’ll find that going out of your way to help someone else helps you, and you’ll become addicted to giving back and spreading positivity like me,” wrote the seven-time Mr. Olympia in Arnold’s Pump Club. He also expressed that he thinks those who try it, might “become addicted to giving back and spreading positivity like me.” So exactly how did Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu help one another in their lives? Let’s find out.

The legendary partnership between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu

Throughout their bodybuilding careers, the Austrian and the Italian were nearly inseparable. The workout buddies knew one another strengths and weaknesses and helped one another train accordingly. However, their partnership went beyond the gym. Columbu and Schwarzenegger even went into business as partners.

The duo started their bricklaying business. Marketing themselves as Europen bricklayers, they earned a lot of money. Even after Schwarzenegger became a movie star, he didn’t abandon his friend. In fact, Franco Columbu stared in short cameos in many of Schwarzenegger’s like The Running Man (1987).

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It’s evident Schwarzenegger wants others to experience the joy of training with a partner. “Tell me how it goes,” the 75-year-old told his fans. It’ll be interesting to see how many fans follow the bodybuilding legend’s advice and tell him about their experience.