It’s not easy to get close to your goal and lose it at the very last moment. But Kevin Levrone faced this not once, but four times.

The four-time Mr. Olympia runner-up never touched the crown during his career, yet his legacy is far greater than one might anticipate. Now, years after his retirement, he believes it was all for the good.

Speaking to Mike Thurston on his podcast ‘First Things Thrst,’ Levrone expressed gratitude about not winning the 1992 Olympia, “So you see, God had a greater purpose. And I always say God because I know what I wanted, but what I wanted isn’t what He wanted for me.”

Kevin emphasized that while his personal ambition was to clinch the Mr. Olympia, God wanted something different for him, and all his other losses were also shaping him for something greater. “I took your dad away and your mom away because I wanted you. I was building you to do greater things,” said Kevin.

He further added, “So now it makes sense if I could stand here now and talk to you, and talk to all of these kids around the world, in so many countries. You know, we’re doing business and every single thing. Now it makes sense why I never won the Mr. Olympia.”

During his prime years, despite being one of the standout bodybuilders, Kevin could not get his hands on the Mr. Olympia title, as he was first overshadowed by six-time Mr. Olympia winner Dorian Yates and later by eight-time Mr. Olympia winner Ronnie Coleman. However, he went toe-to-toe with both of those giants.

This is not the first time he has expressed a sense of no regret; he made a similar statement last year.

“It's the chase, not the Catch”- Kevin Levrone on his career

Last year, during a public appearance, the 61-year-old added that it is the journey that matters, not the absolute position he was seeking, “So, it's all about the journey, right? It's the chase, not the catch.”

The 4x Mr. Olympia runner-up even expressed that he wouldn’t change anything about his life.“I will not change anything in my life that happened for the Mr. Olympia trophy. I'd rather have what I have exactly right now, today,” Levrone added.

The golden trophy might not be in his cabinet, but he still has his fans with him: “For me, you guys are my Mr. Olympia. And that's all that matters.”

What are your thoughts on Kevin Levrone?

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Joyita Das