The son of bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada opens up about losing his passion for the sport
Hunter Labrada has opened up about the physical and emotional struggles that have kept him away from the bodybuilding spotlight. The son of bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada revealed that severe arthritis in his left shoulder has made training and posing nearly unbearable, leaving him questioning his future in the sport.
In an emotional video shared on social media, Labrada discussed his prolonged absence, his struggle to find fulfillment despite his professional success, and his decision to undergo a partial shoulder replacement.
While the injury has forced him to confront the possibility of retirement, Labrada made one thing clear: He is not finished with competitive bodybuilding.
Hunter Labrada Reveals Stage Four Arthritis and Plans for Shoulder Replacement
Labrada explained that his left shoulder has been a problem throughout his professional career. Despite undergoing two major surgeries, the condition has continued to deteriorate.
“My left shoulder has been an extreme uphill battle for the entirety of my professional career. At this point, I have had two major surgeries on it and it has stage four arthritis, meaning the shoulder is bone on bone.”
The pain has affected more than his ability to perform in the gym.
“It’s made training and posing absolutely excruciating and that has honestly taken a lot of the love and excitement that I had for bodybuilding away from me.”
Labrada confirmed that he has scheduled a partial shoulder replacement. Although the procedure represents another significant obstacle, he expressed optimism about returning to competition.
According to Labrada, his medical team believes he can eventually compete at the level he was accustomed to before the injury.
Labrada Opens Up About Happiness and Losing His Passion
Beyond his physical struggles, Labrada revealed that he has spent much of the past two years feeling disconnected from the things that once brought him happiness.
He admitted that even achieving many of his lifelong goals failed to provide the fulfillment he expected.
“I’ve achieved pretty much everything I set out to. I have made an incredible living from bodybuilding. I’ve gotten to travel the world doing it. And I thought happiness would lie on the other side of that achievement.”
Instead, Labrada discovered that professional success and personal happiness were two very different things.
He described feeling guilty about his unhappiness despite having a successful career, supportive friends, a loving family, and a daughter.
The veteran bodybuilder also acknowledged that his relentless pursuit of success came at a personal cost. Relationships, faith, and interests outside bodybuilding often took a back seat to his competitive ambitions.
During his time away, Labrada has focused more on his faith, family, friendships, and activities outside the gym.
Hunter Labrada Remains Optimistic About Bodybuilding Comeback
Perhaps the most difficult part of Labrada’s shoulder problems has been confronting the possibility that his career could end before he is ready.
He explained that he wants to remain physically active later in life, particularly as his daughter grows older and he potentially becomes a grandfather.
However, he emphasized that surgery does not necessarily mean retirement.
“That is not a death sentence on my bodybuilding career. In fact, I am extremely optimistic and looking forward to making a full comeback from it.”
Labrada also promised that his approach to bodybuilding will change when he returns. While he remains determined to win, he no longer wants competition to come at the expense of his personal happiness.
He intends to become more active on social media and share the realities of his surgery, rehabilitation, and eventual comeback.
“I’m not done bodybuilding. Like I said, after this shoulder procedure, I am going to rehab it and I will be coming back. But I will be doing it with a much different intention.”
For Labrada, the next chapter is about more than returning to the stage. It is about rediscovering his passion for bodybuilding while building a fulfilling life beyond the sport.
Header image embed via Instagram @hunterlabrada
