Bodybuilding is not just a sport. To most, it is alifestyle and sometimes, the chase gets to them eventually. But not with Shawn Ray.

The 1991 Arnold Classic Winner is back with his narrative on bodybuilding and “preserving body” by competing against elite bodybuilders like the 257lbs, Ronnie Coleman.

Currently, Shawn Ray has been seen to appear on The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, where Shawn Ray, Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, and Josh Raymond were seen discussing bodybuilding competitions and competitors.

Sarcev said, “Let me ask Sean. If you would compete nowadays, would you enter Arnold because it is such a stupid money that uh you being a top three Olympian pretty much every time you would have a chance of winning?”

According to him, during his peak, the Arnold Classic was as tough as Mr. Olympia. He said, “Well, I mean, against the lineup I was because I mean it’s an Olympia lineup, right? So I’d be going up against, I don’t know, Nasser, Flex, Kevin, same guys. Um, the chances are still there, but I was a perennial top five guy”. He is talking about Nasser El Sonbaty, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone.

Shawn then showed his clear intention not chase money, but to chase a legacy. His priority was winning Mr. Olympia, which he never achieved. He drew a comparison with Ronnie Coleman, who “decided to do that show every time and be like, doing the Olympia every time”.

Coleman, who earned 8 Mr. Olympia titles during his peak, competed in 69 pivotal bodybuilding competitions from 1990 to 2007. Coleman retired from his bodybuilding career at the age of 43. However, Shawn Ray retired at 36 in 2001.

According to Shawn Ray, he did the right thing. He said, “So, I don’t know. I think I did the right thing, preserving my body by not going after the money. I didn’t chase the prize money. I chased the prize. And the Olympia was always my dream. And I think that preserved my body and my health. I’m not, I wouldn’t go back on that and do it differently”.

Later, Shawn also said, “I was chasing the title. I think I think I did the right thing in terms of my health. You’re you still have to consider your health. Forget about how much money they’re dangling. If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything, right?”

So, did Shawn Ray ignore the money he could have earned?

How can you pass?

Later in the podcast, Milos was seen to question Shawn Ray’s decision to stay away from the competition and ignore the money.

Milos said, “I mean, you were twice second. You were always top five. So, legitimately, you have a chance to win. How can you pass? How can your brain say like, ‘Oh, I have a 750 payday”.

Shawn Ray quickly reacted, “No, no, no. I didn’t say I would pass. I think you got to remember my mindset. Would you do it? Well, my mindset wasn’t about the money. It’s a lot of money to be sure. Um, but I knew who I was competing against, so I’d have to weigh that”.

Shawn Ray highlighted his decision-making skills. He did not run behind money. He analyzed the situation based on risk, goals, and competitors.

He also said that he earned money from paid appearances and multiple sponsorships. Focusing only on bodybuilding competitions would cost him money. He said, “And also when you get ready for those shows, you lose money because you can’t really make the appearances. I was a sponsored athlete and making appearances for companies, and I was bringing home cash money that was guaranteed”.

He continued by clearing his point, “If I did it for the money, um, I would have been like Dexter and and like like Vince Taylor and Flex Wheeler. I wasn’t built that way. I couldn’t do those Grand Prix the way that Milos did and and chase that money”.

So, what do you think, Shawn Ray was right to focus on his health?

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu