Arnold Classic UK winner Mike Sommerfeld made it clear who powers his career. During a recent podcast, he revealed he wouldn't have reached the Mr. Olympia stage without the support of one key person: his partner, Shani.

Just 2 words: “without her,” Sommerfeld praised the women in his life who made his bodybuilding journey possible.

The moment came during a podcast of Monday Night Muscle (BTS TV), where Sommerfeld and his partner, Shani Sommerfeld, joined Ryan Terry, the 3-time Mr. Olympia in the Men's Physique division, and Wendy Fortino, the 8-time Figure Olympian.

A short clip of the video was shared on the Instagram account of BTS TV on April 1, captioning, “@mikethebadass explains on @mondaynightmuscle importance of a supportive partner and how @shanisommerfeld has helped him get to where he is today.”

In the clip, Sommerfeld praised her partner, saying, “I wouldn’t make Olympia without her.” Let's dive more into this.

So, at the beginning of the short clip, the German bodybuilder is seen saying, “Shani is not strong, she's a beast. You don't know what she's doing. While she was supporting me, I believe that many people will fail.”

He continued, “She's running a marketing company. At the same time, she's coaching clients. At the same time, she's doing check-ins.... She's a teacher in a university in Germany.... she has 23 different certificates in sports and science.

She is the athletes manager, she is... and she's taking the photos, she's doing my YouTube videos. I can tell you without her, I wouldn't even stay on an Olympia stage, I guess.”

Although Sommerfeld hasn't won a Mr. Olympia trophy yet, just reaching the stage and finishing 2nd is a success.

Terry and Fortino were visibly impressed.

In the meantime, she showed her down-to-earth side when she joined the conversation and said, “Stop bragging.”

The coach and teacher also demonstrated what a true partnership is through an Instagram post on September 3, 2025, in which she is seen flexing her muscles and exercising with Sommerfeld.

She captioned the post as:

“Prep isn’t just his journey, it’s ours. ❤️ We wake up together, train together, eat together. Push through the hard days together. 24/7 side by side, because this lifestyle isn’t only for one person - it’s for the team. 🥼 I’m proud to stand next to him through every rep, every sacrifice, and every step closer to the goal🖤.”

This is not the first time the 31-year-old bodybuilder has praised her love of life.

Mike Sommerfeld created an unforgettable moment with Shani Sommerfeld at the stage of 2025 Arnold Classic

Sommerfeld wins the 2025 Arnold Classic in the Classic Physique division, drawing all the attention from bodybuilding fans. However, a memorable moment occurred when, after receiving his trophy, he invited his loved one to the stage.

The moment was charismatic because he not only showed his love for her but also handed over his trophy to the fitness coach.

On March 9, 2025, Sommerfeld himself shared the video of the moment on his Instagram with the caption:

“It was the Moment of my Life in bodybuilding, and it's getting more intense day by day. @shanisommerfeld changed my Life from the Moment I kissed her the very first Time. Every Second, every step, literally, every Workout, every Night in good and bad times.

I've never felt so satisfied, so satisfied that it's almost scary. She is all I need; she is my dream come true. We never had an Argument or a fight, it's something really special and the best decision to marry her.”

So, behind the rise of the bodybuilder is not just hard work but a supportive partnership that turned this journey into a victory.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil