Mr. Olympia Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Sergio Oliva: The Myth

Posted on Friday, June 22nd, 2018 by John Wood

Is there any question as to why Sergio Oliva was known as “The Myth?” Here’s a simple, casual shot playing pool with friends. Even though there may be bodybuilders these days with bigger arms there has never been nor will there ever be anyone more physically impressive that Sergio Oliva. He was simply blessed with the greatest genetics of all time. In addition to several other titles Sergio won the Mr. Olympia crown three times:(1967, 1968, 1969)

Sergio The Weightlifter

Posted on Monday, December 4th, 2017 by John Wood

Like many bodybuilders in the 60’s, Sergio Oliva got his start in Olympic Weightlifting. In fact, he did well enough to compete for his native Cuba at the 1963 Pan-Am games. Though he was very strong, his Olympic lifting ability was actually hampered by his relatively thin waist. The foundation built by Olympic lifting still served Sergio well in his bodybuilding career though, he went on to win the Mr. Olympia Contest in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

Mr. America Magazine: June, 1968 – Sergio Oliva

Posted on Thursday, November 2nd, 2017 by John Wood

A look at he cover of the June, 1968 issue of Mr. America Magazine, featuring Sergio Oliva and much of the hardware he had won.

As of that publication date, Sergio had won: The “Most Muscular” Sub-Class at the 1965 AAU Mr. America (although he finished fourth overall),the “Most Muscular” Sub-Class at the 1966 AAU Mr. America (this time finishing second), 1966 AAU Jr. Mr. America , 1966 IFBB Mr. World, 1967 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 1967 IFBB Mr. Universe, and the 1968 IFBB Mr. Olympia. He’d compete another decade and a half adding another IFBB Mr. Olympia title (1969), 1972 WBBG Mr. Galazxy, 1974 WBBG Mr. International, 1976, 1976, 1978 WBBG Mr. Olympus, and two more WABBA Pro World Cups championships to his haul – whew!

Notice Sergio is pointedly noted as “a Weider Trained Man” on this cover.

Sergio Oliva and the Nautilus Pullover

Posted on Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 by John Wood

Sergio Oliva and the Nautilus Pullover

The Nautilus Pullover, demonstrated here by Three-time Mr. Olympia winner Sergio Oliva, was often called “The Upper Body Squat” because it trained the largest and strongest muscles of the back in a way that is not possible with regular barbells and dumbbells…

However, like any tool, the pullover must be used correctly. “Correctly use” entails not just the form of the movement itself but also the volume and intensity in which sets and reps are performed.; A lot of people didn’t do it right from the outset and wrote it off, which is a shame… Once you “get” how to use the pullover correctly, the results are like night and day. Though this particular machine was originally in production over forty years ago, they are still surprisingly easy to find — we may actually do a special feature on the pullover at some point.