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Lewis has loved his retirement however a hefty payday would get him again on stage.
Roughly a 12 months in the past on the time, James “Flex” Lewis officially retired from competitive bodybuilding. A seven-time 212 Mr. Olympia champion (2012-2018), Lewis completed his profession extensively considered one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Nowadays, with the icon maybe trying to scratch that aggressive itch, he might effectively return to a stage. That’s, for the fitting incentives.
On Apr. 24, 2023, in a video profession dialogue shared on Lewis’ YouTube channel, the athlete breaks down his emotions a few potential return to skilled bodybuilding. Lewis maintains that for a seven-figure supply (not less than $1 million), he would take into account competing and donning his posing trunks once more.
After Lewis retired, it opened the door to former 212 competitor Derek Lunsford receiving a special invitation to compete in the Men’s Open on the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Lunsford would take dwelling a runner-up finish at the contest. Lunsford’s absence as one of many inheritor apparents to Lewis’ former 212 title reign might imply there’s one other opening for the icon to step again in.
Nonetheless, contemplating the dedication at a training and nutritional degree, Lewis wouldn’t simply return to skilled bodybuilding seamlessly. As competitions just like the 2023 Masters Olympia re-enter the fray for skilled veterans, Lewis’ return must come on the proper worth — a payday of not less than $1 million. (Word: Lewis, at age 39, wouldn’t be eligible for the Masters Olympia till the 2024 version when he’s 40 and meets the competition’s age requirement.)
“Clearly, my title has been thrown within the combine this 12 months [for the 2023 Masters Olympia], and I mentioned, ‘Let me dispel this proper now, I’m by myself journey, it’s undoubtedly again to the stage,’” Lewis mentioned “… If there was a financial draw for me, I’m all in. For me, it needs to be a seven-figure financial draw. It needs to be as a result of for me to stroll away from what I’m doing proper now, that’s what my sacrifice is, sadly.”
Within the approximate 12 months since his retirement, Lewis has maintained a gradual affect within the bodybuilding and power group over numerous media platforms — even lately serving as a social media correspondent through the 2023 World’s Strongest Man. His standing as a legendary Olympia champion appears to supply him a measure of respect for his opinions and ideas on the present state of the game.
Being such an enormous title on paper, Lewis in contrast his best payday to compete as a bodybuilder once more to that of extra conventional sports activities.
“I really assume bodybuilding was as fruitful as most of the different sports activities on the earth like golf and basketball and soccer,” Lewis mentioned. “The contracts these guys are getting paid, it’s insane … No one [in bodybuilding] was ever actually in a position to carry the torch into the realm it might be to probably be one of many sports activities which are getting enormous contracts for sponsorships … The place you’re in a position to win a present and it’s a seven-figure win for a present otherwise you get seven-figure sponsorships as a result of bodybuilding is, if not one of many hardest sports activities on the earth … It’s 365/24/7. You’re all the time fascinated by what you’re consuming and what you’re coaching.”
The 2023 Masters Olympia has an overall prize purse of $229,000. Lewis now joins seven-time Mr. Olympia champion (2011-2017) Phil Heath as the most recent iconic bodybuilder to take care of they might return if the compensation was incredibly lucrative.
Lewis’s place appears to be gaining extra steam within the bodybuilding world. As among the elite athletes proceed to push their bodies to the restrict, and the game seems to be rising in recognition, the celebs of the game would possibly need larger paydays. On the very least, one thing like that might probably lure Lewis again to the stage to shine as soon as once more.
Featured picture: @flex_lewis on Instagram
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