Lee Priest might have been one of the youngest pro bodybuilders of his era, building an immensely successful career. However, he is often asked what he feels about not winning the Mr Olympia title. Lee finally opens up and talks about it in a viral Instagram clip with Jay Cutler on the Cutler Cast Podcast.

During the podcast, Priest shares how he always knew he was not going to win the title. Cutler points out how great it must be to be compared to modern bodybuilders of this era. He talks about Franco Columbo, Lee Labrada, Francis Benfatto, and Dorian Yates, sharing how he compares himself to Yates sometimes.

“I just did my own thing,” shares Lee. “'Cause I’m like, man, I’m never gonna be as good as some of these guys. People always say, “Oh, you never won the Olympia”. But I was a realist. I knew I’d never win the Olympia.

This honest take was quite refreshing, as many athletes would not share the same positive mindset as Priest. In his opinion, there were several bodybuilders who had carved out an ideal body that would help them win the title.

Priest, however, was aware that he did not.

So, Priest did not have any unrealistic expectations. Instead of pursuing a far-fetched goal, he decided to excel in his sport. He did this for himself, not for the validation of a title.

Biggest Professional Achievements of Lee Priest

Although Priest never won the Mr Olympia title, he successfully built a career that became an inspiration to other bodybuilders and athletes. He won several top-10 finishes at Mr Olympia events, including a milestone in his career in 1997 when he came in 6^th place.

Priest also earned his pro card at just 20, making him one of the youngest professional bodybuilders of his era. He won his first Mr. Australia title at the ripe age of 16. However, he was denied his pro card due to his age.

He further went on to win the IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational twice during 2006 and 2013. Moreover, Priest enjoyed several victories at the San Francisco Pro Invitational as well as the NABBA Mr. Universe.

Post retirement, the veteran IFBB bodybuilder joined MuscleSport Magazine. Here, he shared his wisdom in monthly columns, building a massive fan following.

While some may not know this, Priest also appeared in TV projects and films. These include Dumb Criminals: The Movie, Fat Pizza: Back in Business, and Lee Priest: Rebel with a Cause.

Looking back at his career, Priest is extremely content. The fact that he did not win the title of Mr Olympia does not bother him, proving that his success isn’t measured by a trophy.

What do you think of Priest’s philosophy towards his career and winnings?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil