Sergio Oliva.
Sergio Oliva was born on the very day that Independence Day was celebrated in America on July 4, 1941. Who knows, perhaps to some extent this influenced the character of the future “Mr. Olympia” strive for independence. The boy was born quite physically developed – he had good speed, endurance, flexibility and strength. This led him to the decision to take up bodybuilding. But this is a little later, but for now he is persistently engaged in athletics …
It was 1959 and Sergio clearly understood that the situation that had developed in the country (the opposition with Fidel Castro removed the country’s government) would not give him complete freedom, not a single opportunity for self-realization. He knew that the only way out of this impasse was the world of big-time sports. At the same time, thanks to his natural talent and hard work, at the age of 20, Sergio is among the best bodybuilders in Cuba. This allowed the guy to slightly open the door to the world of the independence he had dreamed of since childhood.
In 1961, there is a small hope for gaining the long-awaited freedom – Sergio takes part in the Pan American Games, held in Kingston. The guy understands that if you do not win the tournament now, then there may be no more such a unique opportunity to get out of Cuba. He does his best and for good reason … Sergio, as part of the team that took part in the competition, wins and finally finds political asylum in America.
Sergio Oliva moves to live in Miami. But a little later, in 1963, he moved to Chicago, where a fateful meeting with a popular person in the world of bodybuilding, Bob Gadzha, took place. This eminent bodybuilder was able to consider in a new acquaintance the enormous potential that Sergio was endowed with. Thanks to this, Bob decides to take on the “construction” of the guy with full responsibility. Competent training, proper nutrition lead to what Sergio himself begins to wonder – his muscles began to increase at such a rate that it seemed a pump was inserted into the athlete, into which air was pumped under high pressure.
In the same year, the trained Sergio takes part in the “Mister Chicago” tournament and becomes its main winner.
Hard training was not in vain, and in 1964 Oliva won the Mister Illinois Championship.
While the newly minted athlete took part in the status of an amateur. But this is only for now … in 1965 the “Mr. America” tournament became significant in the life of an athlete – he takes 2nd place and joins the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB). Now he can think about more serious tournaments that can bring greater fame and authority among venerable bodybuilders.
Sergio continues to train hard but competently. And in 1966 he became the winner of the “Mister World” championship, and a little later in 1967 – took the title “Mister Universe” and “Mister Olympia”.
In 1968, Oliva easily holds the title of “Mr. Olympia”, which cannot be said about 1969, when the powerful, but not yet quite experienced bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger appears on the arena. I had to fight, but Sergio wins the fight again.
The “war” between the two athletes continued the following year. Arnold has already gained little experience, and it was not difficult for him to bypass his main rival. Then Oliva decided to take a “vacation”. And in 1971 he did not take part in the tournament. Naturally, it would be wrong to think that the athlete wasted his time and did nothing – he trained hard, was preparing to take revenge. And in 1972 he returned again to show Schwarzenegger who is the best. But as it turned out, Arnold turned out to be the best. This greatly hurt Sergio, and he even wanted to leave professional sports, but he delayed his departure until 1985.
After completing his sports career, Sergio took up coaching.