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Lee Haney, who was the first bodybuilder ever to win eight Mr. Olympia titles, remains one of the most impactful athletes in bodybuilding. Haney broke Arnold Schwarzenegger's record of seven Olympia titles in 1991. In 2005, Ronnie Coleman won his eighth Olympia title as well, equalling Haney.
Born on November 11, 1959, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Lee Haney started training at a very young age. Haney showed his caliber in his initial years by winning his first bodybuilding show - Teen Mr. America at just 19 years old.
In an edition of Muscular Development magazine, Lee Haney wrote about his career in detail where he revealed that he couldn’t afford a good gym membership. This was when the gym’s owner John Lankford made a deal with Haney.
“If I would wipe off the equipment and mop the floors every night at closing, I could train there,” Lee Haney wrote.
Talking further about his mentor, Haney credits his phenomenal physique to his mentor Lankford:
“John was a powerlifter, and it was through him that I learned that the foundations of bodybuilding lie in the heavy power movements to build size and strength. When you add in more pure bodybuilding movements for quality and muscularity, you had the perfect training program. And that’s when I really started to put size on.”
After years of hard work and training, Haney won his IFBB Pro qualification at the 1982 NPC Nationals. Securing his pro-card victory at the age of 23, Haney moved on to better things in life.
Lee Haney’s arrival on the Mr. Olympia stage
Haney made his Mr. Olympia debut in 1983 where he finished in third place and Samir Bannout was the winner. Next year, however, Lee Haney came prepared and got his hands on his first Mr. Olympia title.
Making sure he didn’t allow anyone else to win the title, Haney won the prestigious title for eight consecutive years, breaking Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previously held record of seven Mr. Olympia wins.
After successfully establishing his legacy, Haney decided to retire from bodybuilding in 1991. Talking about his decision, Haney revealed last year on the The Lee Labrada Show on YouTube, that it seemed the only logical decision at the time:
“When we’re on top, there’s nowhere else to go but down…So, the pressure of how do I stay here? What can I do different to bring a better package? All those things run through your mind and, if you don’t keep it together, that can really create a lot of stress.” (02:22)
Retiring at the early age of 31, Haney had almost his entire life left ahead of him. The 64-year-old Lee Haney still maintains good health and continues to lift and follow a good diet. After all, bodybuilding is not just a sport, but a lifestyle.
What are your views on Haney’s inspiring bodybuilding journey? Let us know in the comments.
