Lee Priest

Biography

Lee Priest grew up in Wallsend, Australia. Priest's mother was also a bodybuilding competitor, and posed with Priest onstage. Priest started training at the age of 12 with the help and support of his grandfather. He competed for the first time at the age of 13 and won. He went on to win numerous other competitions leading up to him winning the IFBB Mr. Australia at 17, 18, and 19. Priest competed at the World's Championship at 17, where he placed 4th. At 19 he again competed and won The Mr. Australia title, but was not allowed to get his pro card in Australia because of his young age. It was then Priest decided to enter an amateur competition, Niagara Falls Championships. While there, Priest was discovered and given his pro card. Priest became one of the youngest men ever to turn IFBB pro at the age of 20.

Priest competed successfully within the IFBB for 16 years. After falling shy of a notable championship, Priest set his sights on his most elusive opponent The Ironman Pro. After ten years of coming in 2nd or 3rd, 2006 proved Priest's year as the Ironman Pro.

In 2010, Priest was rumoured to compete at the NABBA Mr. Universe however this did not eventuate. He was invited by Paul Dillett to compete in the WBFF, but due to the lack of competition, he decided against competing.

Priest is also an avid racing enthusiast and champion race car driver. He started racing in 2002 with road-racing and circle track. Priest then progressed to drag racing in 2004. He won numerous races and titles in road and circle track. His most successful bid came within drag-racing. He won Rookie of the Year in 2005. The following year, 2006, he won the SCEDA Racing Championship in Lancaster, California.

Priest has also done some TV and movie work. He did all the bodywork for The Hulk Movie and also for the video game. In 2011, he appeared a local Australian TV series, Rescue Special Ops. In 2012 Priest was featured in the promotional ads for Big Brother Australia 2012.

Following a seven-year absence from competitive bodybuilding, Lee Priest returned in 2013 to compete in the NABBA Mr Universe where he won the overall title as an amateur. He then appeared as a special guest at the 2014 Universe Championships while he was on tour in the UK.

Priest joined MuscleSport Magazine in November 2014 and began writing a monthly column online and in their print magazine. He was featured on the cover of their Winter 2015 issue.

Priest is an outspoken atheist.

The Lee Priest Classic

In 2014 NABBA International announced plans to hold a professional bodybuilding competition in Sydney, Australia, in partnership with the World Fitness Federation (WFF) International. This will be the first NABBA professional event held in Australia since the 1990 NABBA World Championships held in Geelong, Victoria.

The Lee Priest Classic Australia 2015 was held on Sunday, 22 March 2015 at the Bankstown Sports Club in Sydney. The contest included both professional and amateur classes with overall male and female amateur class winners receiving a Pro Card from the World Fitness Federation.

A second Lee Priest Classic event was held in the UK in conjunction with Muscle Promotions UK and sanctioned by WFF International. The Lee Priest Classic UK was held on Sunday, 19 July 2015 at The Cresset, Peterborough. The event offered classes for both amateurs and professionals.

Stats

Contest history

1986 school boys classic Sydney 1st place 1986 school boys Newcastle Hunter Vsllet 1st place 1986 school boys State Championships 1st 1987 Dubbo Classic men's open 3rd place 1988 Nsw state 1st place 1989 Nsw state Titles 1st place 1989 WPF Mr Australia 1st place and Overall 1989 AAU Mr Universe 2nd place 1989 NSW Hunter Valley Couples 1st place

Training videos