Flex Lewis

Early life

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 disallowed him from using. Despite his parent's 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.

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.

Career

Lewis' nickname, 'Flex’, originated on the rugby pitch instead of the weights room. Lewis was noted for flexibility during his years playing elite level rugby in his native Wales, and this allowed him to avoid any number of tackles.

At Lewis' first competition, he met International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB) Pro Neil Hill who convinced him to try the Y3T method of training. Hill helped Lewis master the rigors of diet planning and he won the Junior Mr. Britain title just four weeks later. After establishing himself on stage in the UK, Lewis headed to the U.S. where he trained at Gold’s Venice and Milos Sarcev’s Kolosseum Gym. As a six-time winner of Mr. Olympia 212, Lewis is recognised as possessing the world’s greatest 212 physique.

Lewis began to train seriously as a bodybuilder after his graduation, and made rapid progress.

Contest history

2017 Mr. Olympia Weekend Bodybuilding:IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2016 Mr. Olympia Weekend Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2015 Mr. Olympia Weekend Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2015 IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2014 IFBB San Marino Pro: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2014 EVL's Prague Pro 212 Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2014 IFBB Korea Grand Prix 212: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2014 Mr. Olympia Weekend Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2014 IFBB Arnold sports Festival: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2013 EVL's Prague Pro 212 Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2013 Mr. Olympia Weekend Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2012 EVL's Prague Pro 212 Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2012 British Grand Prix 212 Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2012 Mr Olympia Weekend Bodybuilding: IFBB Pro 212 1st Place

2011 Arnold Classic Europe Mens Bodybuilding: Pro Men 5th Place

2011 Mr Olympia Weekend Men 202: Open 2nd Place

2011 New York Pro Championships Men's 202: Men's 202 Class 2nd Place

2011 Mr Europe Grand Prix Men's Open: Men's Open Lis 3rd Place

2011 IFBB British Grand Prix Men's 202: Men's 202 List 1st Place

2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro 202 Division 1st Place

2009 IFBB 202 Challenge (Mr. Olympia) 202 Division 5th Place

2008 Europa Pro Overall Division 7th Place

2008 Europa Pro 202 Division 1st Place

2008 Tampa Pro Open Division 7th Place

Amateur Competition History: 2007 British Nationals (Earned Pro Card) Overall Division 1st Place

2006 Mr. Wales U90, Overall U90 Division 1st Place

2006 Mr. Britain U90 Division 1st Place

2004 Nabba Mr. Universe 1st Place

2004 EFBB Jr. Mr. Britain 1st Place

2004 EFBB Jr. Mr. Wales 1st Place

2004 Nabba Mr. Europe 1st Place

2004 Nabba Jr. Mr. Britain 1st Place

2004 Nabba Mr. Wales 1st Place

2003 EFBB Jr. Mr. Britain 1st Place

2003 EFBB Novice Mr. Wales 1st Place

2003 EFBB Jr. Mr. Wales 1st Place

Awards and honors

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.