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“Nothing Was Done Overnight”: 32 Years After His 8th Mr. Olympia Win, Bodybuilding Maestro Revealed His Secret to Success Involving Many Other Veterans

Published 05/27/2023, 11:00 AM EDT

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Bodybuilding legend and Mr. Olympia GOAT, Lee Haney is one of those pioneers who have their names cemented into the foundation of the sport. The era in which he competed followed after, legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane concluded their careers. Moreover, he was the first athlete to break Schwarzenegger’s record of seven titles, and set one which stands till today. He won his eighth title in 1991, though matched but not broken by Ronnie Coleman later on. 

A YouTube short of a resurfaced interview featuring the icon talking about perseverance, and the contributions put in bit by bit by every athlete that graced the domain. He gave a special mention to a few athletes who helped him grow as the champion he is. 

Lee Haney speaks up on his growth in bodybuilding

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As per the video, the 63-year-old athlete enlightened his audience with a precious piece of wisdom, owing to his long exposure to the bodybuilding industry. He asserted the importance of time and determination to build his legendary career. “It takes time to build a masterpiece,” he shared.

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Furthermore, Haney revealed that every professional needs to devise a language in the field. The time when he and co-competitor Dorian Yates acquired their training language was inspired by the era prior to them. “The era in which Dorian and I got our language of training from, grew from that of Arnold and Frank Zane and Robbie Robinson,” he declared. 

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That’s not all, the legend even highlighted that the great forms, efficient techniques, and training principles were a fruition of time. “Nothing was done overnight, it took time,” the eight-time Mr. Olympia disclosed. However, his outlook on the modern bodybuilding sphere is not as optimistic in comparison to his own era. 

Lee Haney opines on the state of new-age bodybuilding

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Talking to the hosts of the Menace Podcast, Haney iterated his viewpoint on modern athletes. He claimed that the priorities of today’s bodybuilders have changed. Moreover, the events have grown more commercial than merely portraying a sport. 

He referred to the modern journeys as a “cakewalk” and that the “magic and the mystique” has been lost with time. An opinion common to many athletes from the former generations. 

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Evolution brings change, and change is inevitable. In the past, technology and social media hadn’t been as avid as today. Hence, it’s not surprising that the sport has shifted towards the future, because with time even the game has to evolve, although while maintaining its integrity. 

Watch This Story: “Pancakes, Egg Whites, Bacon”: Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Spent $136,875 on the Same Breakfast for 25 Years

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Written by:

Tiyasa Biswas

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Tiyasa is a sports writer at EssentiallySports, with a keen focus on ice hockey. She is as fascinated by the speed of the ice hockey players as she is by the surges of the surfers in the high seas. Drawing inspiration from legendary figures like Walter Gretzky, the iconic GOAT of the Edmonton Oilers, Tiyasa's writing reflects her admiration for the tenacity and grit displayed by athletes in the face of challenges.
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Edited by:

Anupama Ghosh