RONNIe, I forgot to mention that I was once assigned to be an "ESCORT OFFICER" for Oliva while he was a special guest of Jeff Everson's during some expo held in some very cold city back east someplace.
He failed to show up at the expo on time and called to say that he was lost so I took off to find him and managed to do so and said, "Follow me!"
I used to say that lots so Sergio obliged and we commenced to walk the 1/4 mile to the expo.
But during that 1/4 walk we had a lot of people to walk through and it seemed that all those other walkers recognized him from his competitive days and were obliged to shake his hand and hold their youngest child for a photograph.
The fans soon grew to a hundred or so and we were having some difficulty getting to the expo and I thought that I'd have to call for "reinforcements" but a simple but loud plea, "Please let us go. He's gonna be late!" worked well enough.
They obliged and a few of them even led the way and prevented further delay.
Here is was about 30 years later and the Sergio fans were still numerous and felt forced/obliged to express their 'gratitude' or whatever it is that rabid fans do express.
I also watched as this same thing happened when Arnold showed up and I am still amazed that any bodybuilder, actor, sports figure, or politician can gather that much attention.
Good stuff Stunt. I also forgot to mention, that the first gym I trained in S. FL. was Goldcoast Gym.
It was owned by Rafael Guerrero who also happened to be Sergio Oliva's Olympic weightlifting coach in Cuba.
He was also good friends with Peter Potter and they used to promote and of course judge contests together.
Rafael was also a gymnast/hand balancer and used to do all kinds of bodyweight strength moves in the gym.
He was the one who taught me how to pose, and worked with me on my routine and diet for my first contest.
Rafael was the best, he worked with every bodybuilder in the gym who competed in his contests.
He always got great guest posers for the shows, and also got bbers to do seminars in the gym.
That's how I met Mentzer, Viator, Teufel etc. He and Peter Potter were responsible for bringing Sergio to guest pose.