While pro bodybuilding can be hardenough even when you're in peak physical condition, Tyler Smith had it harder than most.  He battled a chronic kidney disease that required a transplant, but still didn't give up.

The 42-year-old, who is from Ashby in Leicestershire, found out about his chronic kidney disease in 2015. In 2018, he underwent a transplant, which helped improve his quality of life, but didn't stop there.

According to the BBC, he loves seeing “people achieve things they never thought they could. Whether it's stepping on stage or just feeling fitter and more confident. That's what drives me every day.”

After his transplant and years of missing out on qualifying for competitions, he finally finished 1st at the 2025 Thailand Pro and earned his spot at the 2025 Mr. Olympia in the Men's Physique category.

“As far as I am aware, I am the only person in the world to undergo a kidney transplant, become a professional, and then qualify for the Mr Olympia competition," he told the BBC.

He admitted that “For the last few years, I always felt like I could do it. But I always fell short. To qualify for Mr. Olympia, you have to win a tour event, so it is similar to other sports like golf…. I would always come second, but I knew it was there. So this year, to finally win that tour competition, which was in Thailand, for me it was an overwhelming sense of belonging.”

Although he did not win the title, his journey is far from over.

Invitation for the Arnold Classic 2026

On 22 December, 2025, on his Instagram account @ifbb_pro_tylersmith, he announced that, “I’ve sat with this for a while because I honestly didn’t quite have the words… To be invited to compete at this year’s Arnold Classic in March is something I never imagined would be another part of my story. I’m incredibly honoured, deeply grateful, and still a little in shock.”

Tyler Smith showed his gratitude by saying, “This sport has a way of keeping you humble..... Grateful beyond words for everyone who’s supported me along the way. My wife, my family, my coaches, my sponsors, and everyone who’s believed in me when I was just chasing a dream quietly in the background.”

On 27th December, he said that he is “13 weeks out from the Arnold’s”. However, before starting his preparation, he has completed his medical checkup, “along with Cystatin C test, IGF test, and ECG to see where we’re at following the long prep this year into the Olympia.”

He said, “@transformnow.co.uk looking after me again as usual. I’ll be back in 3 weeks' time to see how things are at 10 weeks and if my body has fully recovered.”

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi