Flex Lewis Would Finish His Retirement and Contemplate a Comeback For Seven-Determine Provide

Lewis has loved his retirement however a hefty payday would get him again on stage.

Written by Robert Zeglinski Final up to date on April 29, 2023

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 broadly thought to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Lately, with the icon maybe trying to scratch that aggressive itch, he could nicely return to a stage. That’s, for the precise 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 (no less than $1 million), he would think about 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 residence 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.

Nevertheless, 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 value — a payday of no less than $1 million. (Be aware: 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 identify 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 alone 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 gentle affect within the bodybuilding and power group over numerous media platforms — even not too long ago serving as a social media correspondent in the course of 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 a giant identify on paper, Lewis in contrast his supreme payday to compete as a bodybuilder once more to that of extra conventional sports activities.

“I really assume bodybuilding was as fruitful as lots of the different sports activities on the planet 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 doubtlessly be one of many sports activities which can be 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 planet … It’s 365/24/7. You’re all the time interested 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 newest iconic bodybuilder to take care of they’d return if the compensation was incredibly lucrative.