Iron Icons: The 10 Best Bodybuilders from 1970 to 1980

There is a reason the era spanning from 1970 to 1980 is revered as the Golden Era of Bodybuilding. Long before extreme mass and distended bellies became common on professional stages, athletes of the 1970s treated physique development as an art form. It was a decade defined by sweeping V-tapers, tiny waists, vacuum poses, and classical proportions reminiscent of Greek statues.

Centering around iconic hubs like Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California, these athletes pushed each other through brutal double-split training routines while living on high-protein, whole-food diets. Decades later, while many of these pioneers have passed on, their legacies—and the surviving legends—continue to shape the modern fitness landscape. Here are the 10 greatest iron icons who defined that legendary decade.

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger: “The Austrian Oak”

• Status: Alive (Age 78)

No list of 1970s bodybuilding can begin anywhere other than with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Winning six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1970 through 1975—and making a dramatic comeback to claim his seventh in 1980—Arnold was the undeniable anchor of the decade. Arnold brought an unprecedented mix of sheer size, sweeping lines, and relentless psychological dominance to the sport. Standing 6’2″ and competing at roughly 235 pounds, his chest and bicep development set standards that remain legendary today. Beyond his competitive record, Arnold single-handedly pushed bodybuilding into global mainstream awareness through the 1977 release of Pumping Iron.

Following his bodybuilding retirement, Arnold achieved global megastardom in Hollywood with films like The Terminator and Predator, eventually serving two terms as the Governor of California. Arnold remains very much alive and active in the fitness world. He hosts the annual Arnold Sports Festival, publishes a daily health newsletter, and continues to train regularly at Gold’s Gym, standing as the ultimate living ambassador for iron sports.

2. Frank Zane: “The Chemist”

• Status: Alive (Age 84)

If Arnold represented power and size, Frank Zane proved that perfection could come in a smaller package. Winning three consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1977 to 1979, Zane championed an aesthetic rooted in mathematical precision, razor-sharp conditioning, and impeccable symmetry. Competing at under 200 pounds, “The Chemist” defeated much larger athletes by presenting seamless lines, deep abdominal etching, and his signature vacuum pose. Zane proved to the world that bodybuilding wasn’t just about moving the heaviest iron—it was about sculpting a timeless silhouette.

Today, Frank Zane lives in California, where he continues to teach his personal training philosophies, write books on longevity and aesthetics, and mentor younger generations of bodybuilders. Recognized for maintaining remarkable physical health well into his eighties, Zane remains the premier icon for classic, lifelong conditioning.

3. Franco Columbu: “The Sardinian Strongman”

• Status: Deceased (1941–2019)

Standing at just 5’5″, Franco Columbu was a force of nature. Arnold’s primary training partner and lifelong friend, Columbu won the Lightweight Mr. Olympia title multiple times before taking the overall Mr. Olympia crown in 1976 (and later again in 1981). Columbu possessed some of the densest muscle mass in the history of the sport. Famous for his upper-chest striations and lat width that made him look twice as wide as he stood, he was also notoriously powerful, capable of deadlifting over 700 pounds and bending steel bars in public exhibitions.

After retiring, Columbu practiced as a licensed chiropractor and authored several books on weightlifting and nutrition. Tragically, Columbu passed away on August 30, 2019, at age 78, after suffering a medical emergency while swimming off the coast of his native Sardinia, Italy. His passing was deeply mourned across the globe, with Arnold paying tribute to him as his best friend of over 50 years.

4. Sergio Oliva: “The Myth”

• Status: Deceased (1941–2012)

Sergio Oliva was so genetically gifted that his fellow competitors gave him a fitting moniker: The Myth. The Cuban powerhouse was the only man to ever defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Mr. Olympia stage (in 1969), and he brought that fierce rivalry right into the early 1970s. Oliva boasted a physical structure that almost defied human anatomy: a 28-inch waist paired with massive 20-inch arms, wide shoulders, and flared lats. When he raised his arms above his head in his famous “Victory Pose,” his body formed a shape that seemed virtually impossible to duplicate.

Following his competitive career, Oliva served for over 25 years as a police officer for the city of Chicago. On November 12, 2012, Oliva passed away at age 71 from kidney failure, making him the first former Mr. Olympia champion to pass away. His legacy lives on through his son, Sergio Oliva Jr., who carries on the family name as an IFBB professional bodybuilder.

5. Mike Mentzer: Heavy Duty Revolutionary

• Status: Deceased (1951–2001)

Mike Mentzer burst onto the elite bodybuilding scene in the late 1970s, bringing both an imposing, densely muscled physique and a radical philosophy that challenged established gym traditions. In 1979, Mentzer won the Heavyweight Mr. Olympia class with a perfect score of 300—a feat never repeated. Unlike his peers who trained for two to three hours a day, Mentzer pioneered Heavy Duty High-Intensity Training (HIT), advocating for brief, infrequent, but maximum-effort workouts taken to absolute muscular failure.

Mentzer abruptly retired from competition following the controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia and spent the rest of his life writing, coaching, and refining his High-Intensity Training systems. Tragically, Mentzer passed away on June 10, 2001, at age 49 due to heart complications. In a heartbreaking turn of events, his younger brother and fellow elite bodybuilder, Ray Mentzer, passed away in the same apartment just two days later from kidney disease.

6. Robby Robinson: “The Black Prince”

• Status: Alive (Age 80)

Robby Robinson possessed one of the most aesthetic, visually striking physiques ever to grace a bodybuilding stage. Rising from Florida to train at Gold’s Gym, Robinson captured the inaugural Night of Champions title in 1979 and dominated the heavy/tall divisions throughout the late 1970s. Known for high-peaked biceps, a tight waist, and crisp conditioning, Robinson’s muscularity was incredibly dense and grainy. He went on to win the very first Masters Olympia title in 1994.

Today, Robby Robinson stands as a living marvel of longevity in the fitness world. In his eighties, he still maintains a sculpted, muscular physique, trains heavily at Venice Beach, and remains a fierce advocate for drug-free, natural bodybuilding. His lifelong dedication makes him one of the purest symbols of the Golden Era lifestyle.

7. Serge Nubret: “The Black Panther”

• Status: Deceased (1938–2011)

Hailing from Guadeloupe, Serge Nubret presented an aesthetic that many consider the most pleasing in bodybuilding history. Placing near the top of the Mr. Olympia podium throughout the mid-1970s (including 2nd in 1975 behind Arnold), Nubret looked like a living Renaissance sculpture. Unlike the heavy powerlifting styles of his peers, Nubret built his world-class muscle using high-volume, light-weight training with rapid pace and continuous tension, creating round muscle bellies and ultra-thin skin texture.

After retiring, Nubret formed the WABBA (World Amateur Body Building Association) and continued training people around the world while living in France. In March 2009, Nubret fell into a coma under mysterious circumstances and spent two years in care before passing away on April 19, 2011, at age 72 in Paris.

8. Lou Ferrigno: The Gentle Giant

• Status: Alive (Age 74)

At 6’5″ and weighing upwards of 275 pounds during his competitive peak, Lou Ferrigno was the largest bodybuilder of the Golden Era. Ferrigno won back-to-back IFBB Mr. Universe titles in 1973 and 1974, quickly establishing himself as the primary threat to Arnold’s reign. Their rivalry was immortalized in Pumping Iron, which documented Ferrigno’s intense drive to dethrone Arnold at the 1975 Mr. Olympia.

Though he stepped away from bodybuilding to star as CBS’s The Incredible Hulk, Ferrigno made famous comebacks to bodybuilding in the early 1990s. Today, Ferrigno is alive, well, and active in public life. Beyond acting and making regular pop-culture convention appearances, he remains an advocate for fitness, serves as a deputy sheriff in county law enforcement, and maintains a strong presence in fitness media.

9. Chris Dickerson: The Master of Precision

• Status: Deceased (1939–2021)

Chris Dickerson represented the ultimate synthesis of symmetry, conditioning, and stage presentation. Training under legendary coach Bill Pearl, Dickerson climbed the ranks through the 1970s, consistently finishing near the top of major competitions before making history as the oldest Mr. Olympia champion in 1982 at age 43. Dickerson was famous for classical, opera-inspired posing routines that elevated bodybuilding into performance art.

Dickerson enjoyed a long, respected career in fitness education and public speaking, remaining active in the IFBB community for decades. He passed away on December 23, 2021, at age 82 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following heart failure. He is remembered as one of the most polite, cultured, and physically precise champions the sport ever produced.

10. Boyer Coe: The Model of Consistency

• Status: Alive (Age 79)

Rounding out the top 10 is Boyer Coe, one of the most durable and prolific competitors in bodybuilding history. Competing at an elite level throughout the entire 1970s, Coe amassed over seven Pro Grand Prix victories and consistently placed in the top five at the Mr. Olympia. Coe’s hallmark features included exceptionally split bicep peaks, deep abdominal separation, and outstanding vascularity.

Today, Boyer Coe is alive and living in Louisiana. After retiring from competition following the 1995 Masters Olympia, he owned successful gyms, hosted fitness television programs, and remains an respected elder statesman of bodybuilding. Even into his late seventies, Coe continues to advocate for full-range-of-motion training and sensible strength preservation.