“Sergio Oliva – The Myth” DVD                                                                 
Review by John Hansen, Natural Mr Olympia and 2 time Natural Mr. Universe
www.naturalolympia.com

One of the best bodybuilders in the history of the sport is 3 Time Mr. Olympia Sergio Oliva. Even today, more than 20 years since he last competed and nearly 40 years since he won the Mr. Olympia title, Sergio is regarded as one of the most genetically gifted and incredible bodybuilders to ever grace a bodybuilding stage.

His battles with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s are those of bodybuilding legend. Sergio beat Arnold at their first meeting and Arnold won the next three competitions although the debate continues to this day on who deserved to win. It is very rare that two bodybuilders of this caliber ever compete against each other. Their legendary battles are like Ali vs. Frazier or McEnroe vs. Connors, two champions who inspired each other to greatness.

It’s hard to appreciate how amazing Sergio was unless you saw him in person or on video. With his tiny 28 inch waist and huge 22 inch arms, Sergio was a bodybuilder like no one had ever seen before or, in the opinion of many, since. Sergio’s incredible mass was combined with beautiful symmetry and grace. Because of his unreal proportions and size, Sergio was given the nickname “The Myth”.

Wayne Gallasch from GMV Productions has assembled an incredible array of films featuring Sergio Oliva and put them all together in an amazing DVD titled “Sergio Oliva The Myth”. Most of the footage after 1970 was shot by Wayne.  Included in this DVD is footage from the mid 1960’s when Sergio was just beginning his rapid ascent to the top of the bodybuilding world.

Born in 1941 in Cuba, Sergio defected to the United States in 1962 while in Jamaica for the Pan American Games. Sergio was a member of the Cuban Weightlifting Team and he grabbed his opportunity for freedom by escaping to the American Embassy during this competition. Sergio took up residence in Chicago, Illinois and eventually became a Chicago Police Officer.

The first competition featured on the DVD is the 1966 AAU Mr. America. Even though Sergio only began competing two years earlier, his incredible genetics are immediately evident as soon as he steps onstage. His tiny waist is contrasted with his wide shoulders, tree trunk thighs and gigantic arms.
Sergio soon makes the switch from competing in the AAU to the IFBB where he wins the IFBB Mr. World in 1966 but loses the Mr. Olympia title that same year to the reigning champ, Larry Scott. However, Sergio quickly becomes the King of Bodybuilding the very next year when he wins both the IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia on the same night. His incredible proportions and mass quickly gain legendary status after his amazing display onstage.

Sergio was so intimidating that he won the 1968 Mr. Olympia title unopposed. When the competition saw what he looked like the year before, no one wanted to take their chances against the Myth. However, a young Austrian bodybuilder with dreams of glory decided to go toe to toe with Sergio the next year and their epic battle is captured here for our viewing pleasure.

Arnold lost to Sergio in 1969 but he returns for another classic confrontation in 1970 and that historic posedown is also featured on the DVD. Wayne Gallasch has restored this great footage so it is brighter and more clear than the same contest featured on his great DVD, “Arnold – The Early Years”.

Sergio competed against legendary bodybuilders Bill Pearl and the late Reg Park in the 1971 Nabba Mr. Universe. He was narrowly defeated by Pearl at this contest and, because of his participation in this event, he was not allowed to compete at that year’s Mr. Olympia held in Paris, France. However, he did guest pose at the Mr. Olympia and he brought down the house that night with his incredible display of size and shape. Both of these appearances are featured on the DVD.

The highlight of “Sergio Oliva The Myth” for me was the incredible footage of Sergio and Arnold at the 1972 Mr. Olympia, held in Essen, Germany. Sergio was in the best shape of his life at this competition and he lost to Arnold in one of the most controversial Mr. Olympia contests in the history of the sport. Sergio has never been bigger and more cut than his appearance in 1972. The photos of Sergio from this contest are still talked about today as an example of one of the best physiques ever.

Two days later, Sergio posed for Wayne outdoors in London in one of the most incredible displays of physique perfection ever filmed. You will be amazed at the awe-inspiring mass and proportions of The Myth as he pumps up and poses for the camera.

The DVD also includes rare footage of Sergio competing and guest posing in contests in Australia, Mexico and Paris in the late 1970’s. Sergio vowed never to compete in the IFBB again after his loss to Arnold at the 1972 Mr. Olympia so he competed in the less competitive WBBG where he won competition after competition year after year.

Sergio finally did return to the Mr. Olympia in 1984 at 43 years of age. Although he only took 8th place behind bodybuilders like Lee Haney and Samir Bannout, who grew up idolizing The Myth, his appearance electrified the audience and was the highlight of the contest.
His final contest appearance in the 1985 Mr. Olympia is also featured on the DVD as well as one of his last guest posing exhibitions alongside Albert Beckles at the IFBB Mr. Germany. Even though Sergio is 13 years past his prime at this point, his awesome shape, proportions and size still blew away all who were fortunate to witness him onstage.

“Sergio Oliva The Myth” is a classic DVD that deserves to be in every bodybuilder’s collection. There may never be another bodybuilder as incredible as Sergio Oliva ever again and this fantastic DVD captures the magic of The Myth in all his fabulous glory. As Arnold Schwarzenegger himself said when he was asked about Sergio, “I always felt very lucky when I would beat him because he was just so enormous and so unbelievable. I have great, great admiration for him, his personality, his work ethic, the look, everything. There will never be another guy like him. That I can guarantee. He was the original.”
Please click here for details on the Sergio DVD which is GMV-690DVD.