Did Kai Greene’s past keep him from being crowned Mr. Olympia?
Kai Greene is a bodybuilding great who enjoyed a lot of success on stage. He turned pro as a teenager and became one of the biggest stars of his generation, building one of the best rivalries with Phil Heath. Despite his stature, Greene was never able to win the ultimate prize at the Olympia — and was this intentional?
Justin Compton spoke on his podcast, Overcome.Podcast, about Greene and his appearances at the Olympia. He claims that Greene was never going to be crowned Mr. Olympia due to his “past.”
“I don’t think Kai was ever going to win the Olympia under any circumstance. Let’s just say Phil broke a leg, he fell down backstage and broke his leg and didn’t make it to the stage, whoever got third was probably going to go into first.”
Greene began his career as the youngest natural pro bodybuilder in the world. He later moved into the NPC and eventually IFBB. Greene began working with George Farah and this led him to a New York Pro victory in 2011. This would lead to a third-place finish at the Olympia. He would go onto finish second to Heath from 2012-14.
Greene did not compete in the 2015 Olympia as he planned to focus on other ventures outside of bodybuilding. He eventually returned to win the 2016 Arnold Classic, giving him three Arnold titles in his career.
Justin Compton Talks Kai Greene At The Olympia
Kai Greene has taken on many different activities outside of bodybuilding, including art and acting. He has been featured in many documentaries and shows. Some of these activities has gained plenty of attention, including different videos on social media. Compton discussed the reason that he believes Greene did not win an Olympia title and what held him back.
“The reason I say that from a political standpoint is his past. I’m not judging Kai on the things he’s done because it’s weird to me, but that’s his life, that’s his choice. He can do what he wants. Unfortunately I feel like, and we have no way to back this up, is that the last thing the Manion’s or anyone else higher up is for a 14-year-old kid to Google Kai Greene Mr. Olympia and then they find a video that they probably shouldn’t find.”
The former pro bodybuilder and iconic alum from the original Generation Irondocumentary has officially announced the launch of his own podcast, The Kai Greene Effect. Produced and distributed by the Generation Iron Network, this new show promises to offer fans an unprecedented look into the life and mind of one of the most enigmatic figures in bodybuilding.
When & Where to Listen
Another key focus of the podcast will be Kai Greene’s latest business endeavor—his supplement company, Pro Am. With the recent launch of his brand, Greene has hinted at a potential return to competitive bodybuilding. The Kai Greene Effect will provide bi-weekly updates on his journey with Pro Am, offering listeners an exclusive look at his training regimen, business strategy, and personal reflections on this next phase of his career.
The Kai Greene Effect is set to launch on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and more. It will also be available through the Generation Iron Fitness Network. The official release date will be announced soon, but fans can expect the first episode to drop after the 2025 Arnold Classic weekend. Episodes will release every other week.
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