“Classic bodybuilding should have never left!”
IRON CINEMA – Every Monday we connect you with Generation Iron director Vlad Yudin. Get a first hand look at the entire journey of the bodybuilding industry – ranging from athlete interviews, behind-the-scene looks at major events, and insight into the Generation Iron Fitness Network‘s original shows and films.
Lee Haney was the first bodybuilder to break and hold the world record for most Mr. Olympia wins at 8 Sandow trophies. Ronnie Coleman later matched this record while also solidifying a new type of physique – the insane mass monsters. Now decades later it seems that the classic physique aesthetic is becoming more popular with athletes and fans demanding a new look. We are still a far cry from mass monsters in Men’s Open from fading away… but the introduction of a new Classic Physique shows the continued progression and change in this industry.
While I was filming Generation Iron 2 I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lee Haney – the man who held the world record not with ridiculous mass but a classic physique. I wanted to know his thoughts on the introduction of the new division as well as the rise of YouTube bodybuilding gurus becoming more and more popular. The entire interview could not make it into the film – but it’s all worth hearing. That’s why today we are releasing the extended clip. You can watch it above.
– Vlad Yudin
Tell lee to stop
He’s 8x Mr. O, he can say what he wants too.
Ronnie Coleman is 8 time so what’s your point
Ronnie and flex yeah buddy
Ronnie is all fuck up now his arms look deformed plus he had hip,neck and knee surgery mentally you know that got to be messing with his head yea buddy lol
Yeah but Lee never lost at an Olympia, Ronnie did
Lol funny yeah buddy hater s
He didn’t knock Ronnie. So why take offense? And Haney’s rep in bodybuilding is damn near untouchable
Ok
Okay this is going to do going to be at debate not all night with this now well I’m not going to keep talking about the same thing I do apologize I won’t be on here if he talked about the same thing for hours and hours with Lee I understand you’re likely
Andrew James Haney placed 5th at the 83 Olympia losing to Samir
Haney was the best Mr. O hands down
Damien Justin Francis that was before he ever won the title, then he won eight straight and didn’t try to do any stupid comebàcks and place 4th like Ronnie did after winning 8, but I get what ú were saying Samir was the shit in 83
I think Lee Haney lost his damn mind sure Ronnie was bigger but flex could match Ronnie pose for pose
Ronnie retired Flex
You are so wrong Flex starting having kidney issues in early 2000
Ronnie retired him. Beat him a few times before he retired.
That’s not his point he’s saying that they both bring such different attributes that it’s unfair to compare the two.
What Johnson Dave said.
Ronnie retired Kevin levrone, Shawn ray and flex
So Jay retired Ronnie?
So Phil retired Jay?
Ronnie can’t even walk
I agree with him
I agree 100% with Lee.
All you ass wipes here that is agreeing with Lee is acting like Flex was some classic physique guy like the classic physique today Flex was about 245 lbs ripped to shreds when he competed in 1998 when Ronnie won his first title Flex was right there he place 2nd to Ronnie.
I think Lee was referring to the post 2002 big gut Ronnie that most newbie bodybuilding fans normally refer to whenever Ronnie’s name is mentioned as opposed to the çlassic type physique that Flex brought, weight has nothing to do with your physique type you can weigh 280 and still have a classic type physique, Cedric McMillan is an excellent example of this.
Flex was the total package if you ask me Ronnie should of only won 5 Olympia because he kept going up in weight and it just made him look terrible bloated big belly lol.
Exactly
He beat Flex during Flex’s prime. And when Ronnie beat him Ronnie had no gut, no bloat.
Flex Wheeler’s best physique was 1993
Flex had a terrible back
The biggest wrong turn in BBing history, it’s been bloated bodies ever since
When u say say Flex had a terrible back Ryan Garrett what do you mean?
Which Olympias in particular should Ronnie not have won, who should have beaten him those years and what is your justification?
2001…..Cutler had Ronnie beat hands down, lights out, zero question.
Finally! A worthwhile article from GI!
Agreed it’s like when people debate who’s the best basketball player, like Jordan and Kareem played the same position, it’s apples and oranges.
Bhig Lenny
It can’t keep going the way it’s going, this size at all costs is killing BBing in more ways then one. Mainstream sponsors are pulling out, and money calls the shots. I own a gym, used to be every kid through the door wanted to be a BBer, right now I have none, NONE! They want to be PLers, Strong men, Physique stars, I ask 20yr kid why he doesn’t want to be a BBer, he says he isn’t interested in getting so big he can’t do anything, he’s afraid of all the drugs and chemicals he’d have to take. WTF HAPPENED SINCE HANEY WON HIS LAST TITLE!!!
It’s a sad state I tell ya!
true! its not beautiful anymore, the golden era aesthetic has been forsaken and not everyone will want to take the risks in order to match Olympia physique today.
عالی
AGREE 100%
Shane Davey you can’t put Ronnie Coleman and Flex Wheeler on the same stage … except that they actually were on the same stage for about a decade
Lmao these articles are just so interesting and raise such valid points
Jimmy Ackerman
Lee Haney=legend
Kartik Kaushal sahi bolda bnda
Yet it was ok for Haney to be on stage with Shawn ray
Flex
Flex is the best ever
Yea I said ever
Agree with him wtf Ronnie is,half paralyzed flex is competing this year?????
Mmmmmmm
You cant put Dexter and cutler on the same stage.. or Rami and Shawn rhoden … Flex and Ronnie where pretty close next to eachother when Ronnie had still a flat stomach.
Different body types, different classes
Yawn