Sergio Oliva is one of those destined to engage in strength sports and rise to the highest steps of the podium. The famous bodybuilder was born in 1941 in Cuba on American Independence Day. This coincidence turned out to be significant. Now it’s difficult to say what influenced the athlete’s fate - the energy of the day, the magic of numbers or destiny, but the desire for fight and freedom became a key moment in his life.
As soon as Sergio grew up, he began going with his father to cut down sugar cane in Guanabacoa and helped around the house. Working with a machete did not pass without a trace. By the age of 15, the boy had turned into a well-built young man with developed biceps and broad shoulders. Among his peers, he stood out not only for his figure, but also for his strength.
On the advice of his father, after reaching the age of 16, he enlists in Batista's army. Although the young man was not suitable for military action by age, the authoritative word of his parent became decisive. After Fidel Castro's victory, the guy returned home. One day on the beach, Sergio accidentally meets a guy who offers to come to the club and watch how weightlifters train. From that moment on, the guy's life changed dramatically. What he saw impressed him so much that the future champion began to train along with everyone else.
Anthropometric data
- Height: 178 cm
- Competition weight: 102 kg
- Biceps circumference: 54 cm
- Chest circumference: 140 cm
- Waist circumference: 75cm
- Thigh circumference: 73 cm
- Shin: 47 cm
- Nickname: myth (for the phenomenal amount of muscle mass)
Anthropometry Sergio Oliva
Notes
- [ironflex.com.ua/sportsmeny/sergio-oliva Sergio Oliva]. ironflex.com.ua. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
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Childhood and youth
The boy had a chance to gain strength since childhood. At first, Sergio Oliva worked diligently on large plantations where sugar cane grew, and while at school, he seriously took up barbells, starting with weightlifting .
At a young age, he was already a member of the Cuban combined , and a few years later he completely switched to bodybuilding, devoting the rest of his life to it. His muscles grew by leaps and bounds , only 6 months passed, and Sergio Oliva was already proud of his forms.
Sergio Oliva poses with other athletes
Biography of the Great Myth
Sergio Oliva appeared to the world as a little toddler on Liberty Island (Cuba) on July 4, 1941. In addition to him, the family raised 21 more children. At the age of 12, the teenager worked with his father on the vast sugar cane plantations in Guanabacoa, and at the age of 16, under his father’s instructions, he joined the ranks of Fulgencio Batista’s army. The boy did not have any documents, so the recruiting officer had to take Oliva Sr.’s word when his father confidently stated that his son was perfect for the fight against communism. The struggle for communism did not last long, communism won, and after Fidel Castro's landslide victory, Oliva returned home and left the army. After returning, the former soldier devoted some time to himself, spending days and nights on the local beach. It was then that Oliva met a man who invited the guy to the nearest weightlifting club. Already in the first 6 months of training, the guy built up significant muscle mass.
History of competition performances
| Tournament | Category | the date of the | Country and city | Place |
| Mr. Olympia 1985 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1985 | Brussels, Belgium | 8 |
| Mr. Olympia 1984 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1984 | New York, USA | 8 |
| Mr Olympia 1972 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1972 | Essen, Germany | 2 |
| Mr. Olympia 1970 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1970 | New York, USA | 2 |
| Mr. Olympia 1969 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1969 | New York, USA | 1 |
| Mr. Olympia 1968 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1968 | New York, USA | 1 |
| Mr. Olympia 1967 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1967 | New York, USA | 1 |
| Mr. Olympia 1966 | Bodybuilding absolute | 1966 | New York, USA | 4 |
Bodybuilding career
Having become the number one bodybuilder in Cuba, Sergio continues his crushing victories; it seemed that fate itself was telling the champion to further develop his talent, and in 1961, thanks to participation in the Pan American Games held in the USA, he remained in the states. Having asked for political asylum , the athlete lived in the city of Miami for 2 years and did not disdain even the most humiliating work.
Bodybuilding career
Already in 1963, the bodybuilder settled in Chicago , immediately signed up for a gym and, thanks to local star Bob Gudge, took his training seriously. Competent and systematic exercises significantly increased his muscles , at the end of the year Sergio Oliva took part in competitions among juniors held in Chicago, where he won a victory that spurred him on to more and more victories in bodybuilding.
The next goal of the young athlete was the Mr. America and in 1965, he managed to win a silver medal. This victory opened up great prospects, he was recognized by many bodybuilding stars, and most importantly, this victory brought him to the IFBB . The following year, 1966, Sergio Oliva deservedly receives the title of Mr. World and appears on the Olympia , where he takes 4th place.
The loudest 1967, at the Mr. Universe competition, the athlete wins in the absolute tall . The second attempt to climb to the top of Olympia becomes successful, and Sergio Oliva managed to win back in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, a new bodybuilding star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, appeared, who pushed Sergio into the background.
Sergio Oliva in bodybuilding
A slightly upset Cuban went underground for a whole year and gruelingly prepared for the 1972 Olympia, but still could not beat Schwarzenegger and again took 2nd place.
In his weight category, Sergio Oliva brilliantly wins the Mr. International , but due to the fact that his IFBB membership was not valid at that time, he was removed from the competition. From that time on, the bodybuilder decided to give up performing; he worked as a trainer and continued to work in the police . At 43 years old, the athlete returned to the Olympia and came away with 8th place, surpassing such phenomenal athletes as Tom Platz, Chris Dickerson, and Robbie Robinson.
Escape from Liberty Island
In 1962, Oliva Sergio received second place of honor at the National Weightlifting Championship of Cuba, losing a small number of points to the leader, Alberto Rey Games Hernandez. But after the winner is injured, Sergio goes to represent his country at a competition in Jamaica. At the games, the athlete pulled off a completely unexpected trick: after waiting until the guards were distracted, the young bodybuilder escaped and went straight to the American consulate, where he asked for political asylum. Interesting fact: after some time, another 65 Cuban athletes performed the same trick, including the entire weightlifting team along with security.
Training program from Sergio Oliva
Sergio Oliva is a follower of intuitive training , in addition, he also believes that exercises taken from powerlifting are best for growing muscle mass, and recommends doing them to all beginners who want to build a muscular body.
Training program
In his training programs, Sergio likes to use high-intensity approaches, supersets , with little rest, according to the 5x5 .
Only 6 training days per week, the last day of the week is rest.
Sergio Oliva in the gym
Monday
the pectoral muscles on this day .
- Set #1: Bench Press 200 lbs x 8, 15 reps of Chin Ups
- Set #2: Bench Press 220 lbs x 8, 15 reps of chin-ups
- Set #3: Bench Press 260 lbs x 8, 10 reps of Chin Ups
- Set #4: Bench Press 300 lbs x 8, 10 reps of Chin Ups
- Set #5: Bench Press 320 lbs x 8, 8 reps of chin-ups
- Set #6: Bench Press 350 lbs x 8, 8 reps of Chin Ups
- Set #7: Bench Press 380 lbs x 8, 5 reps of Chin Ups
Plus 5 different swing and bend exercises with 80 pound dumbbells.
Tuesday
On this day, the emphasis is on the biceps , triceps , and shoulders .
- Abs – 5 sets x 15 reps with 200 lbs.
- Barbell Curls with Cheat – 5 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
- French Press – 5 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
- Scott Bench Curls – 5 sets x 10 reps with 150 lbs.
- Scott Bench Dumbbell Curls – 5 sets x 5 reps with 60 lbs.
- Seated French Press - 5 sets x 5 reps with 60 lbs.
Sergio Oliva trains shoulders
Wednesday
the calf muscles, abdominal muscles and back are pumped .
- Bent-Knee Press - 10 sets x 50 reps
- Hanging Leg Raises – 5 sets x 20 reps
- Side Bends with Weight Behind the Neck – 5 sets x 200 reps
- Barbell Squats – 300 lbs x 5 reps
- Squats 400 lb x 5 reps
- Squats 440 lb x 5 reps
- Squats 470 lb x 5 reps
- Squats 500 lbs x 4 reps
- Standing Calf Raise – 10 sets x 8 reps with 300 lbs.
Thursday
This day is dedicated to the development of shoulders , back and chest .
- Bench Press – 200 lbs x 5 reps
- Bench Press 220 lbs x 5 reps
- Bench Press 260 lbs x 5 reps
- Bench Press 300 lb x 5 reps
- Bench Press 320 lb x 5 reps
- Bench Press 350 lb x 5 reps
- Bench Press 380 lbs x 5 reps
- Barbell Overhead Press – 5 sets x 5 reps with 250 lbs.
- Seated press performed with 80-pound dumbbells, did not disclose further details
- Dips – 5 sets x 8 reps
Sergio Oliva and Joe Weider in the gym
Friday
On this day, work was done on the muscles of the back and arms .
- Abs – 3 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
- Barbell Curls with Cheat – 3 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
- French Press – 3 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
- Scot Triceps Bench Press – 3 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
- Dumbbell and Overhead Presses – 3 sets x 5 reps with 50 lbs.
- Head Pull-Ups – 5 sets x 5 reps
- Chest Pull-Ups - 5 sets x 5 reps
Saturday
Sergio Oliva trains biceps
The last training day of the week is devoted to the development of the abdominal muscles , back and leg .
- Bent-Knee Press - 5 sets x 10 reps
- Lying Leg Raises – 5 sets x 10 reps
- Side Bends with Weight Behind the Neck – 5 sets x 50 reps
- Barbell Squats – 3 sets x 3 reps with 300 lbs.
- Barbell Squats 2 sets x 3 reps with 400 lbs.
- Barbell Squats 3 sets x 20 reps with 250 lbs.
- Front Squats – 5 sets x 10 reps with 200 lbs.
- Seated Calf Raise – 5 sets x 5 reps with 200 lbs.
Sergio Oliva Jr.
Sergio Oliva has two sons, the youngest of them was born on October 20, 1984 and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and conquer Olympia, although he was seen as a lawyer in another matter, but genes, so to speak, took their toll.
It is worth noting that the youngest son of Sergio Oliva is making good progress in bodybuilding (his height is 183 cm, weight 113 kg, he has already become the absolute champion at NPC Nationals 2015 ) and who knows, maybe we will all see him in the near future at the Mr. Olympia competition.
At the age of 71, on November 12, 2012, the bodybuilder nicknamed “The Myth” died of kidney failure.
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