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Flex Lewis
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James "Flex" Lewis (born 15 November 1983) is a Welsh former bodybuilder and has won 7 consecutive 212 Mr. Olympia titles. On 12 May 2022 he announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1]
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Lewis' interest in bodybuilding began at the age of 12 after discovering a book on Tom Platz. It was Platz's legs, he claims, that inspired Lewis to join a gym and start bodybuilding. Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of Lewis' biggest idols as a child.
One day, when Lewis was home alone, he had scouted his father's shed and came across plastic weights, that his parents wouldn't allow him to use. Despite his parents' prohibition, Lewis would take the weights and hide them under his bed, performing various exercises every night with them, before his parents found out and took them back. This was his introduction to weight training.
At the age of 15 Lewis stepped into a gym for the first time. He had played rugby at a high school level and he needed to gain some size for the sport. After coming across a local bodybuilder by the name of Steve Naylor, he was told that his physique had great potential. He took heed in the advice and trained with Naylor for a year, before he entered his first bodybuilding competition, the Junior Mr. Wales, which he promptly won.[2]
Lewis had a tattoo printed on his left arm at the age of 15, which he claims had stretched and morphed itself completely around his arm as they grew in size. Rugby also introduced Flex to weight training for increasing super power and he consequently has the ability to lift an enormous weight and hold it for long periods of time.[3]
Contest history
[edit]2018 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2017 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2016 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2015 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2014 IFBB San Marino Pro - 212 - 1st
2014 EVL's Prague Pro - 212 - 1st
2014 IFBB Korea Grand Prix - 212 - 1st
2014 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2014 IFBB Arnold Classic - 212 - 1st
2013 EVL's Prague Pro - 212 - 1st
2013 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2012 EVL's Prague Pro - 212 - 1st
2012 British Grand Prix - 212 - 1st
2012 Mr Olympia - 212 - 1st
2011 Arnold Classic Europe - 5th
2011 Mr Olympia - 202 - 2nd
2011 New York Pro Championships - 202 - 2nd
2011 Mr Europe Grand Prix - Open - 3rd
2011 IFBB British Grand Prix - 202 - 1st
2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro - 202 - 1st
2009 Mr Olympia - 202 - 5th
2008 Europa Pro - Overall - 7th
2008 Europa Pro - 202 - 1st
2008 Tampa Pro - Open - 7th
Amateur Competition History:
2007 British Nationals (Earned Pro Card) - Overall - 1st
2006 Mr Wales - Overall - 1st
2006 Mr Britain - U90 - 1st
2004 NABBA Mr Universe - 1st
2004 EFBB Jr Mr Britain - 1st
2004 EFBB Jr Mr Wales - 1st
2004 NABBA Mr Europe - 1st
2004 NABBA Jr Mr Britain - 1st
2004 NABBA Mr Wales - 1st
2003 EFBB Jr Mr Britain - 1st
2003 EFBB Novice Mr Wales - 1st
2003 EFBB Jr Mr Wales - 1st
Awards and honors
[edit]At the 2014 Arnold Classic he became the first man to be presented as winner of the 212 class. In 2011, Lewis placed third in the IFBB Mr. Europe pro mens. He holds the record of holding the most 212 class wins at the Mr. Olympia with 7 total wins.
References
[edit]- ^ "A Day with Flex Lewis - Move to Florida". 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "About Flex | Flex Lewis". Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "About Flex | Flex Lewis". Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- FLEXOnline Archived 17 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine
Flex Lewis
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Upbringing in Wales
James Lewis, known professionally as Flex Lewis, was born on November 15, 1983, in Llanelli, a small industrial town in Wales.[1] Growing up in a working-class family, Lewis was raised in a loving household where his father worked as a steelworker and his mother served as a nurse, providing consistent support amid the economic constraints of their community.[5] This environment instilled in him a strong work ethic from an early age, shaped by the town's post-industrial landscape and the everyday challenges of limited resources. Lewis also demonstrated early entrepreneurial spirit through activities such as delivering newspapers on his bike, breeding and selling finches, and later starting a moving company with his first truck.[5] As a child in Llanelli, Lewis faced typical hurdles of a modest upbringing in a region with scarce access to specialized fitness facilities, relying instead on local opportunities for physical activity. He struggled academically, possibly due to dyslexia or ADHD, and was labeled "stupid" at school, but excelled in physical education.[5] He initially excelled in rugby, a popular sport in Wales, playing at a competitive level starting from age 6 during his youth, where his flexibility helped him evade tackles and earned him his nickname "Flex." These early experiences in team sports highlighted his natural athleticism but also underscored the barriers to pursuing more individualized pursuits like bodybuilding in such a setting. Additionally, an elbow injury from a motocross accident required him to self-rehabilitate, further building his resilience.[5] In pursuit of greater opportunities in bodybuilding, Lewis relocated to the United States at age 22 in 2005, leaving behind his Welsh roots to train in a more competitive and resource-rich environment.[2] This move marked a pivotal shift, allowing him to escape the limitations of his hometown and access world-class gyms and coaching essential for his emerging career.Introduction to bodybuilding
Flex Lewis's fascination with bodybuilding emerged during his early teenage years in Wales, sparked at around age 12 by a book on legendary bodybuilder Tom Platz—introduced to him by his aunt—whose exceptionally developed legs captivated him and ignited his initial curiosity about the sport.[6] Growing up in the working-class town of Llanelli, where access to fitness resources was scarce, Lewis's interest was further fueled by the era's prominent figures, including six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates, whose dominance in the early 1990s inspired many young enthusiasts in the UK, including Lewis himself.[1] At age 15, Lewis entered a gym for the first time, initially driven by his involvement in competitive rugby, where he sought to build size and strength through powerlifting routines. He began with plastic-coated Weider weights from his father's shed.[6] With limited equipment available in the modest local facilities of rural Wales, he taught himself the fundamentals by improvising workouts, honing a resourceful approach that shaped his early development.[7] This self-directed training marked the beginning of his shift from rugby toward bodybuilding, as a local bodybuilder soon recognized his potential and encouraged him to focus on aesthetic physique building.[3] Lewis's admiration for Dorian Yates extended beyond inspiration, evolving into a pivotal mentorship; by his early 20s, this idolization led to a training session with Yates, reinforcing the mental toughness and high-intensity principles that would define Lewis's career.[1] His parents initially worried that weight training would stunt his growth, causing him to delay serious lifting for years despite his interest.[5]Bodybuilding career
Amateur achievements
Flex Lewis began his competitive bodybuilding journey in the early 2000s, dominating amateur circuits in the United Kingdom and Europe through federations such as the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (NABBA) and the European Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (EFBB). Over the course of his amateur career, he accumulated 13 titles, showcasing exceptional symmetry, conditioning, and development at a young age.[8] His breakthrough came in 2003, when, at age 19, he secured three EFBB victories: the Junior Mr. Wales, Novice Mr. Wales, and Junior Mr. Britain championships, establishing him as a rising talent in Welsh and British bodybuilding. The following year, 2004, marked a pinnacle of amateur success, including the overall win at the NABBA Mr. Wales Championship, along with the NABBA Junior Mr. Britain, NABBA Mr. Europe, and NABBA Junior Mr. Universe titles— the latter held in the UK, where he outperformed international competitors in the juniors category. These accomplishments highlighted his rapid progression and versatility across weight classes.[2] Lewis continued his momentum in 2006 with overall victories in the under-90 kg divisions at the Mr. Britain and Mr. Wales competitions, refining his physique for higher-level contention. His amateur tenure culminated in 2007 at the IFBB British Championships, where he claimed the lightweight and overall titles, earning his IFBB professional card at age 23 and transitioning to the professional ranks.[2][1] Standing at 5 feet 5.5 inches (1.66 m), Lewis transformed his frame during this period through dedicated training, achieving competition-ready weights that emphasized density and proportion suitable for his height. In 2005, he relocated from Wales to Birmingham, England, to train at the renowned Temple Gym and began a mentorship under six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates, whose high-intensity "Blood and Guts" philosophy profoundly influenced Lewis's approach to muscle building and contest preparation.[9][2]Professional rise and Olympia dominance
Lewis earned his IFBB professional card in 2007 by winning the overall title at the British Nationals, marking the transition from his successful amateur career to the pro ranks.[2] He made his pro debut in 2008 at the Europa Supershow, claiming victory in the 202-pound division (the precursor to the modern 212-pound class).[1] Throughout his professional tenure, Lewis accumulated 20 IFBB pro victories, showcasing consistent excellence across international competitions.[1] Notable among these were triumphs at the Arnold Classic in 2013 and 2014, which highlighted his ability to dominate under varying judging standards and travel demands.[1] The pinnacle of Lewis's career came with the introduction of the dedicated 212-pound division at the 2012 Mr. Olympia, where he captured the inaugural title and launched an unprecedented streak of seven consecutive wins through 2018, setting the record for the most titles in the division's history.[1] Competing at a strict 212 pounds on stage, he would bulk to approximately 240 pounds during the off-season to build the mass necessary for his conditioned presentation.[3] Lewis's dominance was forged through intense rivalries, particularly with Jose Raymond, a perennial contender in the 212 class whom he repeatedly bested during his Olympia reign.[1] Central to his strategy was an emphasis on quad and back development, drawing inspiration from legends like Tom Platz for leg training while employing high-volume techniques to sculpt a wide, thick back that judges praised for its completeness and detail.[1]Key competitions outside Olympia
Flex Lewis established his professional prowess through a series of dominant performances in IFBB Pro League events outside the Mr. Olympia, securing multiple victories that qualified him for the prestigious Olympia stage and demonstrated his versatility across various shows.[1] In his pre-Olympia professional phase, Lewis claimed his first major pro win at the 2008 Europa Supershow in the 202-pound division, marking a strong debut just months after earning his pro card. He followed this with a victory at the 2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro in the 202 division, showcasing his rapid rise and ability to outperform established competitors like Kevin English. These early triumphs, including a second-place finish at the 2008 Tampa Pro, highlighted his conditioning and stage presence, paving the way for his Olympia breakthrough.[1] Following his initial Olympia successes, Lewis continued to dominate non-Olympia qualifiers, often using them to fine-tune his physique. Notable wins included the 2013 Arnold Classic in the 212 division, where he became the inaugural champion of the category, and repeat victories at the EVLS Prague Pro in 2012 and 2013. He also swept multiple titles in 2014, winning the Arnold Classic 212 again, the EVLS Prague Pro, the San Marino Pro, and the Korean Grand Prix, underscoring his peak form during this period. Later successes encompassed the Korean Grand Prix wins in 2015, 2016, and 2017, events that served as key international qualifiers.[1] Lewis's international achievements extended his influence beyond U.S. shores, with triumphs at the 2011 and 2012 British Grand Prix in the 202 and 212 divisions, respectively, celebrating his Welsh roots. His European and Asian victories, such as those in Prague, San Marino, and Korea, emphasized his global appeal and adaptability to diverse judging standards.[1] Throughout his career, Lewis maintained exceptional consistency, achieving top-three placements in the majority of his professional appearances outside Olympia, amassing over a dozen non-Olympia wins in total. His posing routines were renowned for emphasizing symmetry and balance, particularly highlighting his legendary quadriceps development alongside proportional upper-body mass, which judges frequently praised for exemplifying classic bodybuilding aesthetics.[1][10]| Year | Event | Division | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Europa Supershow | 202 | 1st |
| 2009 | Atlantic City Pro | 202 | 1st |
| 2011 | British Grand Prix | 202 | 1st |
| 2012 | British Grand Prix | 212 | 1st |
| 2012 | EVLS Prague Pro | 212 | 1st |
| 2013 | Arnold Classic | 212 | 1st |
| 2014 | Arnold Classic | 212 | 1st |
| 2014 | EVLS Prague Pro | 212 | 1st |
| 2014 | San Marino Pro | 212 | 1st |
| 2014 | Korean Grand Prix | 212 | 1st |
| 2015 | Korean Grand Prix | 212 | 1st |
| 2016 | Korean Grand Prix | 212 | 1st |
| 2017 | Korean Grand Prix | 212 | 1st |
