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Sergio Oliva

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For the Film The Myth staring Jackie Chan, see The Myth (Film).

Personal Info
Sergio Oliva
Sergio "The Myth" Oliva
Nickname	The Myth
Birth	July 4 1941 (1941-07-04) (age 66), Cuba
Height	5 ft 10 in
Weight	240 lb
Professional Career
Pro-debut	1966 Mr. World, 1966
Best win	IFBB Mr. Olympia 1967-1969, three consecutive times,
Predecessor	Larry Scott
Successor	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Active	Retired 1985

Sergio Oliva (born July 4), 1941, is a retired Cuban bodybuilder.

1 Background
- 1.1 Early life
- 1.2 Life in America
2 Distinctions
3 Trivia
4 Bodybuilding titles
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

Background

Early life

Oliva was born in Cuba on July 4, 1941. At the age of twelve he worked with his father in the sugar canefields of Guanabacoa. At age 16 his father suggest that he enlist in Fulgencio Batista's Army. In the absence of a birth certificate, the recruiting officer took the senior Oliva's word that his son was old enough to enlist in the fight against communism. After losing the war to Fidel Castro, Oliva took to hanging out at the beach. There he met a fellow sun worshipper who invited him to the local weightlifting club. After just six months of training Oliva was doing clean & jerks with over 400 pounds. With his impressive weightlifting feats he was soon chosen to represent Cuba at the 1961 Pan American Games hosted in Kingston, Jamaica. During his stay in Jamaica, Oliva sneaked out of his quarters while the guards were distracted. He ran at top speed until he was safely inside the American consulate. Arriving breathlessly he demanded and received political asylum. Soon, sixty-five other Cuban nationals followed him, including Castro's entire weightlifting team. Soon afterword, Oliva was living in Miami, Florida working as a TV repairman.^[1]

Life in America

In 1963 Oliva moved to Chicago, Illinois. There he worked at a local steel mill and began working out at the Duncan YMCA. Working 10 hour days at the mill and putting in another 3 hours at the gym gave Oliva little time for anything else. Soon the bodybuilding grapevine was abuzz with gossip about a powerhouse who lifted more than the local Olympic champs. Although Oliva lost his first bodybuilding competition -- the minor Mr. Chicago contest in 1963 -- he was more successful in 1964. In 1966, he joined the IFBB and won the Mr. World Contest. In 1967 he won the prestigious Mr. Universe contest with relative ease. Oliva then went on to win the Mr. Olympia title three years in a row. At 5 feet 11 inches and 240lbs, Oliva displayed a level of muscle mass and definition - including a "V" shape to his large, well-formed upper-body that tapered down to a narrow waist - unlike anything seen in prior competitions. His upper arms measured nearly 22 inches, with his chest measured at 58 inches, his waist tapered down to a 29 inch waist and two well-muscled legs. Oliva would go on to win the Mr. Olympia competition in 1967, 1968, and 1969 - where he would defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger 4 to 3, marking Schwarzenegger's first and only loss in a Mr. Olympia competition.

Distinctions

The second bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia competition.
The only bodybuilder to ever defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Mr Olympia contest, 1969.
The only bodybuilder to win a Mr. Olympia Contest uncontested, 1968. ^[2]

Trivia

Has served the city of Chicago as a police officer for more than 25 years.
In 1986, Sergio survived being shot by his then-wife. He sustained 5 bullet wounds.
Sergio is the inspiration for Manga character BISCUIT OLIVA from the martial art manga series BAKI, THE SEARCH OF OUR STRONGEST HERO, In the series, he is one of the strongest men in the world, unstoppable (and his nickname is "the unchained") and he chases dangerous criminals around the world and make a close bond or friendship and rivalry with Baki and Yuujiro "The strongest creature in the world"
His son, Sergio Oliva Jr, is following in his fathers footsteps into competitive bodybuilding.