Flex Lewis — Bodybuilding Profession, Pageant Historical past, and Biography

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With seven 212 Olympia titles to his credit score, you’ll make a case that James “Flex” Lewis is the best non-heavyweight competitor within the historical past of fellows’s bodybuilding. And whilst he hasn’t been an energetic athlete since 2018, he’s nonetheless one of the vital recreation’s hottest figures and stays hooked up to bodybuilding due to his podcast, social media presence, and health club in Las Vegas, which has grow to be a premier vacation spot for energy athletes of all disciplines.

Longtime supporters could also be smartly acutely aware of the entire Welsh bodybuilder’s accomplishments. Nonetheless, others might not be as accustomed to all he has carried out in his just about two-decade bodybuilding adventure. Right here’s a glimpse at why Lewis is respected as a legend of the level.

Bodybuilder Flex Lewis. — *Credit score: @flex_lewis / Instagram*

Early Profession

James Lewis was once born on November 15, 1983, and grew up in Llanelli, Wales. His pastime in bodybuilding started when he was once 12 years previous. Whilst many lovers in his house had been impressed through then reigning Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates, it was once in truth Nineteen Eighties bodybuilding legend Tom Platz — and the ones mythical leg exercises — who motivated Lewis to pursue bodybuilding.

In step with Muscle Reminiscence, Lewis started competing in 2003 when he received the British Junior Championships. In a while after, he was once featured in FLEX mag in addition to different magazines across the world. In 2004, he went directly to win the NABBA Mr. Britain and Junior Mr. Universe contests. He in point of fact broke onto the scene in 2007 when he captured each the IFBB British Gentle-Heavyweight and Total titles to earn his IFBB professional card.

Flex Lewis’ Contest Historical past

Lewis made his professional debut in 2008 on the Europa Supershow, the place he received within the 202-pound department (now the 212 department) and took 7th within the Males’s Open. The spotlight of that yr got here somewhat later when he made his Olympia debut within the new 202 Showdown. He positioned 1/3 in that display, which was once received through David Henry.

From that rookie season thru his ultimate contest one decade later, Lewis accrued 20 victories, together with his seven Olympia wins from 2012-2018, which is probably the most for any non-heavyweight males’s competitor. The next contest historical past was once put at the side of data from NPC Information On-line and Muscle Reminiscence.

2008

Europa Supershow, 202 – 1st
Europa Supershow, Open – seventh
Tampa Professional, 202 – second
Tampa Professional, Open – seventh
Olympia, 202 – third

2009

Atlantic Town Professional, 202 – 1st
Olympia, 202 – fifth

2011

New York Professional, 202 – second
British Grand Prix, 202 – 1st
Eu Professional, Open – third
Olympia, 202 – second
Arnold Vintage Europe, Open – fifth

2012

British Grand Prix, 212 – 1st
Prague Professional, 212 – 1st
Olympia, 212 – 1st

2013

Olympia, 212 – 1st
Prague Professional, 212 – 1st

2014

Arnold Vintage, 212 – 1st
Olympia, 212 – 1st
Prague Professional, 212 – 1st
San Marino Professional, 212 – 1st
Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st

2015

Olympia, 212 – 1st
Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st

2016

Olympia, 212 – 1st
Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st

2017

Olympia, 212 – 1st
Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st

2018

Following his 2018 Olympia victory, Lewis introduced he was once taking the 2019 season off to place on measurement with hopes of competing within the Males’s Open Mr. Olympia contest in 2020. And whilst he was once introduced a distinct invite to compete in that display, he needed to withdraw because of harm.

[Related: The 16 Best Creatine Supplements]

He couldn’t decide to the 2021 contest because of plans to extend his circle of relatives together with his spouse, and in 2022, he officially introduced his retirement from all festival. Lewis turns 40 in November 2023, which might make him eligible to compete within the Masters Olympia in 2024, however there is not any phrase on whether or not he would believe coming into that contest.

Coaching Taste

Lewis labored with trainer Neil Hill all the way through his complete occupation. Hill employs a coaching gadget known as Yoda 3 Coaching (Y3T), which requires the athlete to accomplish 3 other exercises over the direction of 3 weeks.

The primary week was once elementary for Lewis, with compound workouts for reps within the six to ten vary. The second one week was once a mix of compound and isolation workouts with relatively extra quantity, together with units as much as as excessive as 15 reps. The 1/3 week concerned other exercises with drop units, leisure pauses, and high-rep units, including as much as as many as 100 general reps. The cycle would repeat once more within the fourth week. Right here’s a pattern third-week again exercise that Lewis shared with Muscle & Health:

[Related: The 25 Best Back Exercises for Strength and Muscle Gain]

Lewis has been energetic on social media for a number of years, maximum significantly on Instagram and YouTube, the place he has 2.3 million fans and 191,000 subscribers, respectively. Lewis used to turn coaching and existence content material all the way through his Olympia reign on his channel, however he has used it maximum just lately to air his Immediately Outta the Lair podcast, the place he interviews quite a lot of visitors starting from energy sports activities stars to professional soccer gamers and (after all) bodybuilders.

[Related: The 17 Best Chest Exercises for Big Pecs and a Strong Bench Press]

At the trade entrance, he had at first opened a non-public health club in Florida known as The Dragon’s Lair. He had since relocated it to its present house of Las Vegas, the place it’s a standard spot for bodybuilders to coach. He’s additionally concerned with Arsenal Energy health club apparatus, Yamamoto Diet dietary supplements, Mega Are compatible Foods, or even Monster power beverages, the place he’s the one bodybuilder at the corporate’s roster.

Will Flex Lewis Go back to Bodybuilding?

At the private facet of his existence, Lewis is married with two youngsters. He stated he intends to stick in Las Vegas and has no aspirations of returning to the level as of September 2023. As an alternative, he stays dedicated to supporting bodybuilding in his roles as health club proprietor, media contributor, and businessman.

Whilst a go back to festival will at all times be an intriguing concept for lovers, Lewis has proved that he can nonetheless have an have an effect on at the recreation with out stepping onto the level.

Featured Symbol: @flex_lewis on Instagram

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