Haney thinks current demands of the game are way too dangerous.
Few people understand what it truly takes to eat, train, and prepare like a dynastic bodybuilding champion. Lee Haney is one among them. With eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1984-1991, Haney spent nearly a complete decade at the highest of the fitness world. To this present day, his eight Olympia titles are tied with fellow legend Ronnie Coleman for probably the most ever. That’s why a recent interview might paint the image of a person who doesn’t appreciate where modern bodybuilding stands.
On Feb. 6, 2022, Haney appeared in a podcast episode with Muscular Development. Amidst a discussion of varied current events, just like the rise of Derek Lunsford, Haney particularly centered on modern conditioning standards for one of the best of one of the best. In just a few words, he isn’t a fan.
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Similarly to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Haney thinks modern bodybuilding is simply too fixated on size quite than aiming for symmetry and balance. Per the legend, the highest names may be larger than ever, but they’re missing vital details that was a primary focus during his era.
When one aspects in potentially excessive dehydration to display much more muscular detail, Haney thinks this overall mentality comes at a big cost to the athletes’ health.
“Numerous athletes find yourself sick or find yourself dying due to trying to realize that level of dryness,” Haney explained. “I believe we’d like to vary the cultural mindset of what’s happening in terms of judging these competitions.”
Ultimately, while he appreciates the dedication to competition and fitness, Haney expressed that what bodybuilders are asked of nowadays goes too far. For him, having an extended and enjoyable life is more vital than having a fruitful, rigid profession that might potentially put that in danger.
“At the tip of the day, you desire to enjoy yourself as an athlete, but you desire to walk away along with your health,” Haney said. “You shouldn’t must die to succeed in this level of conditioning. They’re asking an excessive amount of of the athletes, period. You have a look at the previous school of bodybuilding. People say ‘old skool,’ that’s the true school. It’s the varsity. Forget that ‘old skool.’ … We reached a level of conditioning that allow us walk away after the competition and still be alive, and still be healthy.”
The 63-year-old Haney maintained that previous bodybuilding contest standards let the icons of his era go on to steer long lives. He explained that figures just like the late and influential Bill Pearl, three-time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane (1977-1979), and even Schwarzenegger lived or have all reached their senior years, well into their 70s and 80s, for reason. Their bodybuilding preparations didn’t ask an excessive amount of of them.
As such, it may be time to reassess and trace steps back to those past days before it’s too late. Haney suggests that the onus could also be on the bodybuilding judges to only reward certain physiques within the context of earlier bodybuilders.
“They remember the indisputable fact that we were healthy. No one passed out on stage. Perhaps we got a bit dehydrated, got a bit light-headed, but no one needed to call in paramedics to revive anybody. So, there’s a pattern that already exists. I’m saying, let’s get back to those patterns,” Haney said. “It doesn’t take rather a lot to do this. It just takes a joining of the minds. … I believe we now have to step back and rewrite, reassess, since the blood of those athletes which can be dying, is in your hands. They’re in your hands.”
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Haney’s thoughts are noble and worthy of being listened to, especially coming from a legend well-known for suggesting that bodybuilders “stimulate, don’t annihilate” within the gym. For bodybuilding to even consider scaling back to his preferred health ideal will likely take a Yeoman’s effort from everyone involved. That features competition organizers, athletes, and their coaches seeing the forest for the trees together.
Because if an all-time great thinks the game isn’t in a high quality place, then it may very well be time to reconsider the harmful path that lead thus far.
Featured image: @lee_haney_official on Instagram