On July 17, 2023, James “Flex” Lewis posted a video to his YouTube channel where he had a conversation with Lunsford about his current place in bodybuilding. With Lunsford now a full-time Men’s Open class member, Lewis endorsed his peer’s chances at becoming the first bodybuilder ever to win in two separate Olympia divisions (212, Men’s Open).

A seven-time 212 Olympia champion (2012-2018), Lewis enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Lunsford toward the tail end of his reign, most notably overcoming the young runner-up during the 2018 edition of the contest. That might make Lewis more equipped than most to understand what Lunsford is capable of at bodybuilding’s highest levels.

Lewis maintained he’d kept a close eye on Lunsford since his sole 212 title in 2021 and that he unquestionably sees him as the athlete to beat in November in Orlando, FL.

“Going into this year’s Olympia [2023], I said to so many people, ‘Derek Lunsford is the one,'” Lewis explained. “That [2023] Pittsburgh Pro, that blew my mind and everyone else’s. I thought to myself, ‘Thank god that guy’s not in the 212 [division] anymore.’ I also said to myself, ‘Thank god I am not competing in the Open class against this guy.’ I also said, ‘whoever is going to be standing next to that guy is in for a handful.'”

Beyond talking about Lunsford’s physique, Lewis all but painted him as the inevitable first-ever “champ-champ” — the first bodybuilder in history who could win a title in two major Olympia divisions.

With a victory at the 2023 Olympia, Lunsford very well might live up to this billing.

“What you’ve done since the 212 is honestly so inspiring,” Lewis told Lunsford. “You say that you were never able to dethrone me, but you know what I can say about you, is, I might have beaten you in the 212 class but now you’re going to be, in my eyes, the first ever champ-champ.”

Lewis expressed that one of the goals of his competitive career was to win an Olympia title in two divisions. The icon never competed in a division outside of the 212 at the tentpole bodybuilding contests. Now that those days are behind him, he will live vicariously through Lunsford’s exploits.

“It was my motivation to be the first-ever two-division champ-champ,” Lewis said. “You now, whether you thought about it or not, it was consuming for me … I’ll never be able to achieve that now that I’m retired. I want to see you go to the moon and back.”

Lewis isn’t the first bodybuilding legend to put his faith in Lunsford at the 2023 Olympia. Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005) and long-time trainer Miloš Šarčev have both previously expressed their belief in the young superstar’s chances at historic success.

Now Lunsford will just have to live up to the hype.

Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram

The post Flex Lewis Believes Derek Lunsford Will Be First Olympia Champion in 2 Divisions appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

He’s one of the best bodybuilders in the world and acts accordingly. His latest testimonial — roughly a month before he steps on stage at the next Olympia contest — is an example of a levelheaded star athlete putting himself in a focused competitive mindset.

On Nov. 7, 2022, Walker discussed his outlook for the 2022 Mr. Olympia with seven-time 212 Olympia champion James “Flex” Lewis on the latter’s YouTube channel. Among the more notable tidbits, Walker asserts his self-assurance, nutrition, training, and current thought process will make him the next Mr. Olympia.

As much as Walker has recently been fine-tuning his physique and getting set for a gauntlet of a field at the 2022 Olympia, he wasn’t always so laser-focused this year. In fact, Walker admitted to Lewis that the weight of high expectations started to bring him down almost immediately following the 2021 iteration of the Olympia. An ensuing and seemingly frustrating turn of events in the early off-season apparently somewhat led to Walker parting ways with his long-time coach Matt Jansen in summer 2022.

However, after Walker paid a visit to Jansen in Florida during the onset of Hurricane Ian in late September, the athlete noted that the two are now back together again. They have one singular mission: Winning the Olympia.

“It felt like home again,” Walker said of his reunion with Jansen. “Not so much being there [the visit itself] but just me and Matt [Jansen]. I always promised Matt, I said, ‘I’m going to start my [IFBB] Pro [League] career with you and I’m going to end it with you.’ I also promised him I’d be his first Mr. Olympia winner.”

A clear and ambitious mind appears to be what Walker carries with him now. When Lewis flatly asked the young bodybuilder if he’ll win the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Walker said yes. The confirmation wasn’t in the sense of a concrete guarantee, either. It was about a competitor believing they’re reaching their highest level of presentation and staying positive.

“Yes [I can win] 1000 percent. Everything I’ve said I was going to do, I’ve done it and I will be Mr. Olympia without a doubt,” Walker said. “I have a great support system for it, a great coach for it. Now I’m in the Dragon’s Lair. Who’s gonna stop me?”

Whether anyone can actually stop Walker this year remains to be seen. If he does indeed perform at his best, he could soon join a pantheon of worthy bodybuilding legends. The 2022 Mr. Olympia will take place on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

The post A Confident Nick Walker Minces No Words in Olympia Win Prediction appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Lewis makes the official announcement starting at 22:10 in the video below:

“[Bodybuilding’s] been something I’ve been doing since I was 19,” Lewis says on the podcast. “There’s really no easy way to say this, but it’s time. Bodybuilding has served me very well. It’s opened amazing doors for me. It’s time for me to hang up my posing trunks. It’s been an amazing road. One that I’ve been very blessed to say I’ve accomplished more things than I ever imagined.”

A Living Legend

Lewis has been a competitive bodybuilder for nearly two decades in some capacity. According to Muscle Memory, Lewis made his professional bodybuilding debut during the 2003 International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) British Championships. At quite the start of a career, he captured first place while featuring in the Juniors division.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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From there, Lewis’ career would soon snowball into something incredible.

In 2007, Lewis notched his Pro Card while winning the overall British title. Later, he debuted at the 2008 IFBB Europa Supershow, where he won first place in the Lightweight division. After a few attempts over the next few years, Lewis would win his first-ever 212 Olympia title in 2012. That year also saw the champion bodybuilder “flex” on his competition and take home victories in the prestigious IFBB British Grand Prix and IFBB Prague Pro. 

At his peak, Lewis was a top fixture in the Lightweight bodybuilding scene. Even as it shifted from 202 to an eventual official 212 classification, it seemed as if Lewis never lost any steam. A run of seven consecutive 212 Olympia titles (2012-2018) is proof as much of his unique achievements. 

Here are some of Lewis’ more notable career results:

James “Flex” Lewis | Notable Career Results

• IFBB Olympia Champion (212) — 2012-2018
• IFBB Prague Pro Champion (212) — 2012-2014
• 2014 IFBB Arnold Classic Champion (212)
• 2014 IFBB San Marino Pro Champion (212)
• IFBB Korean Grand Prix Champion (212) — 2014-2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Into The Sunset

In 2018, Lewis announced his intentions to compete in the Men’s Open division. He would take the entire 2019 season off to build mass but eventually had to withdraw from the 2020 Mr. Olympia because of an undisclosed injury. The year 2021 was to mark his return, but then he and his wife placed their focus on the incoming birth of their child. 

When the cons outweigh the pros, you really have to assess things.

Lewis did not discuss his plans for his individual future now that his competitive bodybuilding career is over. Considering the announcement is still fresh, it’s understandable. That said, he seemed to place a lot of weight on the sport’s rising stars to thrive for years to come.

In other words, Lewis wants to help leave professional bodybuilding in a better place than he found it. 

“As an athlete, a champion, there’s a lot more work for me to do off-stage to help athletes be represented,” Lewis says. “To do what they don’t really want to do, and that’s get health checks. And, also, open more doors for these athletes in various different divisions and with various different sponsorship opportunities. My work is not done, and it will never be done. It is just done on-stage.”

Featured image: @flex_lewis on Instagram

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