Flex Lewis Announces Retirement From Bodybuilding Competition.

[Matt]

For the best, IMO. Hopefully he was smart with the $500K to $1M+ he should have earned per year [pre-tax]. No need to keep risking your body past 40 [I think Flex is turning 38 this year].

Good for him.

The announcement comes at 22:25:

[Bevo]

Smart move at his age, concentrate on the business side and slim down and remain in good shape, no need to be 5’5 230+ pounds

[nerdoldnerdith]

It sure beats dying

[Matt]

^ Yep!

In fact, it's surprising, just given the nature of how it is in the physical culture [bodybuilding, strongman, and powerlifting]. Many don't retire when they most probably should.

That leads to things like Brian Shaw attempting to win World's Strongest Man this year at age 40, and Getbig's own former member Mike Wolfe dying before 5 just recently [RIP].

I'm glad Flex did this. And while he was huge, I don't think he ever spent much time over 260-lb, even offseason. So hopefully he has some good years ahead of him, and can spend it with his family, and running his gym.


Lastly, when Flex said he planned to "hang up his posing trunks" in the video above, I was reminded of when Georges St-Pierre said he planned to "hang up his gloves":

Because bodybuilding and MMA fighting are the same thing.

Lewis mentioned Kamaru Usman in the podcast above though. Apparatus they met.

[Flexacon]

He hasn't competed for 4 years

[Matt]

He hasn't competed for 4 years

So he was just keeping sponsors active by talking about moving to the open, and riding off his coattails, whether intentional or not?

Hopefully, he was able to make some cash in those few years, despite not pushing his body.

I'm reminded of Lee Haney, who ultimately retired at 32. If Flex actually retired at 34 [in 2018], that should make him far better off than competitors who compete until 41-42-43 or even older, and then stay on pretty heavy gear until they are pushing 50, or maybe even throw in another show at age 45-50.

I think it's pushing your body beyond 35-40 that may make the difference. Basically: we should be working to protect our CNS after 40 - not taxing it further.

I wish Flex the best. 7x lightweight Mr. Olympia championships - you can't fault that record.

[Flexacon]

I wish Flex the best. 7x lightweight Mr. Olympia championships - you can't fault that record.

He is not a Mr Olympia. He is a 212 Olympia champion. There is only 1 Mr Olympia

The winners in these other men classes need to stop calling themselves Mr Olympia.

He deserved all his wins, but I probably wouldn't put him in my top 5 "lightweight" bodybuilders. By lightweight I class that as 220lbs and below, because you can be certain 220lbs was Flexs stage weight.

Lightweight guys who were better than him. Samir, Shawn Ray, Labrada, 90's Dexter. Then there are guys like Lee Priest, Makkawy, Padilla, Pastel, basically a bunch of guys from the 80s who deserve a mention. I'd put 93 Flex Wheeler who was 215lbs ahead of Flex Lewis too.

[joswift]

I suspect he had healh problems 4 years ago, guy has a young family, he had nothing else to prove

Hes done the right thing

He was never going to win the open

[wes]

Great bodybuilder....insanely impressive....got out at the right time.

[Matt]

He is not a Mr Olympia. He is a 212 Olympia champion. There is only 1 Mr Olympia

The winners in these other men classes need to stop calling themselves Mr Olympia.

He deserved all his wins, but I probably wouldn't put him in my top 5 "lightweight" bodybuilders. By lightweight I class that as 220lbs and below, because you can be certain 220lbs was Flexs stage weight.

Lightweight guys who were better than him. Samir, Shawn Ray, Labrada, 90's Dexter. Then there are guys like Lee Priest, Makkawy, Padilla, Pastel, basically a bunch of guys from the 80s who deserve a mention. I'd put 93 Flex Wheeler who was 215lbs ahead of Flex Lewis too.

That's true - he's not the open class winner.

That being said, while I think your list of lightweight champions is good, I think the judges would put Flex Lewis ahead of most of them.

Shawn Ray and Flex Wheeler, I suspect would have beaten them. I mean just by modern judging standards.

[visualizeperfection]

One of my fav (no homo) bodybuilders ever. I’m a full size bro so no little guy extra juice.

Good move. I think his hair held up too.

[Irongrip400]

Is this the dude who had that chick interview him and she was biting her lip in lust?

[beakdoctor]

Is this the dude who had that chick interview him and she was biting her lip in lust?

Yup

[obsidian]

Is this the dude who had that chick interview him and she was biting her lip in lust?

Anyone have the name of that sloot?!

[beakdoctor]

 

[Coach is Back!]

He is not a Mr Olympia. He is a 212 Olympia champion. There is only 1 Mr Olympia

The winners in these other men classes need to stop calling themselves Mr Olympia.

He deserved all his wins, but I probably wouldn't put him in my top 5 "lightweight" bodybuilders. By lightweight I class that as 220lbs and below, because you can be certain 220lbs was Flexs stage weight.

Lightweight guys who were better than him. Samir, Shawn Ray, Labrada, 90's Dexter. Then there are guys like Lee Priest, Makkawy, Padilla, Pastel, basically a bunch of guys from the 80s who deserve a mention. I'd put 93 Flex Wheeler who was 215lbs ahead of Flex Lewis too.

I disagree. He IS a Mr. Olympia and formidable one at that. If he would have went open he would have easily cracked the top 2-3. How many times did he beat Choopen?

[Matt]

Anyone have the name of that sloot?!

Stacey Oster Thompson. She's very pretty.

[Flexacon]

I disagree. He IS a Mr. Olympia and formidable one at that. If he would have went open he would have easily cracked the top 2-3. How many times did he beat Choopen?

That's wrong. It's not even a debate. He is a 212 Olympia champion. Winning a show at Mr Olympia doesn't make him a Mr Olympia. It would be the same as calling the Bikini Olympia champion something like Bikini Mr Olympia which makes no sense.

Hadi lost once to Flex in his second pro show. He was considerably better afterwards and improved even more when he moved to the open. So your point of reference for how good Flex was is that he beat another bodybuilder at his worst and from that you call him a formidable Mr Olympia?

Flex made the right moves in his career because he's got guys like you thinking the above when the hard facts say otherwise. He isn't a Mr Olympia, he never placed in the Mr Olympia and he never competed in the Mr Olympia.

[Matt]

That's wrong. It's not even a debate. He is a 212 Olympia champion. Winning a show at Mr Olympia doesn't make him a Mr Olympia. It would be the same as calling the Bikini Olympia champion something like Bikini Mr Olympia which makes no sense.

Hadi lost once to Flex in his second pro show. He was considerably better afterwards and improved even more when he moved to the open. So your point of reference for how good Flex was is that he beat another bodybuilder at his worst and from that you call him a formidable Mr Olympia?

Flex made the right moves in his career because he's got guys like you thinking the above when the hard facts say otherwise. He isn't a Mr Olympia, he never placed in the Mr Olympia and he never competed in the Mr Olympia.

Realistically, where would Flex have placed in the open?

Top six for sure.

How far could he have climbed within that top six?

[beakdoctor]

Realistically, where would Flex have placed in the open?

Top six for sure.

How far could he have climbed within that top six?

IMO he would've dissappeared up against any of the top 10.

Think about it: Cedric was usually around 7th to 10th. I don't see Flex looking impressive next to Cedric... but I could be wrong.

[Matt]

IMO he would've dissappeared up against any of the top 10.

Think about it: Cedric was usually around 7th to 10th. I don't see Flex looking impressive next to Cedric... but I could be wrong.

Hmm...you could be right.

Dave Henry placed 10th in the Olympia in 2007, then won the first 202-lb show, back when the weight class was 202.

Lewis did the right thing to compete in the 212 - ultimately, he ended up getting almost as much recognition as if he was Mr. Olympia. I'm glad he's wrapping things up early, and hopefully without any serious health issues!

[Coach is Back!]

Again..Hadi Choopen has never beat Flex Lewis that I’m aware of

[Matt]

Again..Hadi Choopen has never beat Flex Lewis that I’m aware of

I guess the question is - how much better did Hadi Choopan get since 2017 when Lewis beat him last?

[Flexacon]

Again..Hadi Choopen has never beat Flex Lewis that I’m aware of

Flawed logic coach, but I can do flawed logic too.

Flex has done open shows in the distant past. Dexter finished ahead of him in the Arnold classic Europe.

Hadi has beaten Dexter in the open, so Hadi beats Flex in open as he has beaten the guy that beat Flex.

[Matt]

Flawed logic coach, but I can do flawed logic too.

Flex has done open shows in the distant past. Dexter finished ahead of him in the Arnold classic Europe.

Hadi has beaten Dexter in the open, so Hadi beats Flex in open as he has beaten the guy that beat Flex.

That logic is not necessarily flawed, depending on the years.

Did Choopan make a huge transformation recently?