Going LIVE: Lee Haney 💪🏾 8 Time Mr Olympia - How I Became the Greatest Bodybuilder on the Planet

Hi Basheer,

On today’s episode, I will be welcoming former American bodybuilder and eight time Mr Olympia Lee Haney to the pantheon of sporting greats we’ve entertained over the years here on London Real.

Greatness is an often overused term these days, with scant regard paid to the finer details of an athlete's career. But in Lee Haney’s case great does not quite do justice to the unprecedented accomplishments he achieved and the impact he had on the future of the sport he loved.

His eight victorious appearances in the IFBB Mr Olympia were significant for two reasons; firstly, he won each contest and secondly he achieved this landmark in a consecutive streak that ran from 1984 until 1991 upon which he retired. He surpassed a record set by the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger and through dedication and his unique approach to training transformed the world of bodybuilding.

Tipping the scales at around 250 lbs but with a 32-inch waist, Lee Haney quite literally changed the way in which a champion was measured. Genetics play a huge part in bodybuilding success and Haney was blessed, but his unique science-based approach, unrivalled discipline and work ethic enabled him to cross era’s from the classical smaller aesthetic to the modern larger athletes, and in doing so revolutionise the sport.

Haney’s approach was to train hard and smart, summed up by his catchphrase ‘stimulate, don’t annihilate’. He believed that big weights did not necessarily yield the biggest results, and in testimony to his approach, in retirement he has avoided the onset of injury and operations so common in the sport.

Lee Haney has achieved so much and dominated the sport of bodybuilding, all the while maintaining his integrity and a truly humble philosophy. He believes in the power of the mind, in surrounding yourself with good people and is determined to help others, to share his knowledge and experience while promoting a spirituality that has been the backbone to his success.

It’s a great pleasure to welcome Lee onto the show, to understand what fueled his success and how he continues to inspire and inform the next generation of sporting stars. He maintains incredible athleticism even as a 61 year old and believes we can all achieve our fitness goals no matter our age and fortune.

So be sure to tune in and enjoy the positivity, something we could all enjoy a bit more of right now.