On December 20, 2025 episode of the Menace Podcast, multiple-time Mr. Olympia runner-up Shawn Ray gave his take on young competitors and what he felt about competing in his early 20s.

Ray argued that top competitors like Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Samson Dauda will disappear in a few years, while younger competitors like Urs Kelecinski will move up. Hearing this argument, host Milos Sarcev asked: “So you regret entering 88 Olympia?”

“I don't. I was a baby. I was a kid. I barely turned 22 the day before that contest, and I was a pro after four years. I was in the Mr. Olympia after lifting weights, in four years. I started at 17. I earned my pro card at 21. 22. I'm on the Olympia stage," added Shawn Ray.

While Ray never won the Olympia, starting at a young age gave him the advantage to compete against the greatest champions in bodybuilding.

Shawn Ray placed 13th in his 1988 Mr. Olympia debut, which was his debut on the stage against top bodybuilders like Lee Labrada, Rich Gaspari, and 8x champ Lee Haney.

He also clarified his point by saying, “I signed an agreement in January to do a September Olympia. I knew in May I was not going to be ready in September, but I signed my name," added the former Arnold Classic champion.

Throughout his career, Shawn Ray became one of the handful of competitors who could adapt to the mass monster era Doria Yates started.

How Shawn Ray defined competitive longevity

While Shawn Ray started in the era that preferred the aesthetics and conditioning Lee Haney epitomized, Dorian Yates flipped the script. However, instead of fading into obscurity, Ray became famous as 'The Giant Killer,' defeating multiple elite bodybuilders of the time.

He participated in the event 13 times from 1988 to 2001, and consistently placed among the top five. Despite Yates having the size advantage, Ray even gave him a run for his money in 1994 and 1996.

While he never made it past second place, those losses helped him build a legacy as one of the most consistent competitors of all time. In fact, Ray even competed against 'The King' Ronnie Coleman for the first four years of his 8x Olympia reign.

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi