OUR FLEX BEATS ARNIE’S RECORD!
How town bodybuilder muscled in on Hollywood star’s achievements
WALES’S most successful bodybuilder signed off with a seventh consecutive title at this year’s Mr Olympia.
Not content with matching a legend’s achievements with his victory in the competition last year, James “Flex” Lewis won the 212lb Mr Olympia title for a seventh time.
When he collected his sixth in a row in 2017, he matched the number of consecutive wins set by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the open category, who remains the highest-profile winner. Now Llanelliborn Mr Lewis has gone one better.
The Mr Olympia event, which celebrates bodybuilding in a range of weight classes for both men and women, took place in Las Vegas across the weekend.
Mr Lewis saw off competition from Derek Lunsford (USA), Kamal Elgargni (Libya), Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait) and Jose Raymond (USA) to take this year’s crown.
The 34-year-old, whose brother and sister are both rugby players, is a superstar in the United States, training at his own personal gym and dining with pop culture icons such as Hulk Hogan.
Until recently he was a relative unknown back home in the UK, but his continued success has brought him to prominence. He pocketed a $40,000 prize following his weekend success.
Following the event he declared his intention to retire from the 212 weight class and enter the open Mr Olympia competition next year.
He took to Instagram after his success to speak of his delight at yet another Mr Olympia win.
“I just want to say thank you to all my fans and followers. We done it!!!,” he wrote.
“It’s been a pleasure being your 212lb champion for seven years. I love this sport so much, it’s all I have known since I was 19. This won’t be the last time you will see me on stage, the future is bright and full of opportunity and I can’t wait to keep opening doors for the sport and breaking barriers that many said can’t be done.”
Elsewhere in the event, Shawn Rhoden won the open Mr Olympia title, denying fellow American Phil Heath a recordmatching eighth win in a row.
Rhoden picked up the largest cash prize in Mr Olympia history in doing so – $675,000.