As soon as we pronounce his name, we immediately think of his eight victories at Mr Olympia between 1984 and 1991. Lee Haney is known and recognized worldwide for holding with Ronnie Coleman, the record for the number of victories at the very famous bodybuilding competition.
Now retired, Lee Haney hosts a show on the popular American Christian network, Trinity Broadcasting Network. In this show, Lee Haney conveys the importance of cultivating one's physical development, in relation to his spiritual development. During the show, he is often joined by sports personalities.
But beyond his incredible victories and his television show, do we truly grasp the extent to which Lee Haney dedicated his life to bodybuilding? Much more than a sporting discipline, Lee Haney made bodybuilding his passion, his education, and his way of life.
Passionate about bodybuilding since the age of 6:
While some bodybuilders came to bodybuilding through other sports, Lee Haney has had an overflowing passion for muscles since a very young age. Born in 1956 in Georgia, Lee Haney quickly developed his fascination for bodybuilding. In fact, at the age of 6, His models are already Samson from the Old Testament and the famous Hercules from Greek mythology.. From that moment on, only one thing will matter to the child: to achieve the muscular physique of his idols.
Endowed with a strong personality and unwavering determination, at the age of 10 Lee Haney asked his parents for his first weights. Listening to their son's wishes, Lee Haney's parents gave him his first weights as a Christmas present. The gift even came with a training book, the famous Charles Atlas. This book would become his source of inspiration and motivation. A true bible of bodybuilding, it would provide him with much of his training knowledge and nutrition.
Encouraged by his parents, Lee Haney created his own world around bodybuilding. He devoured the best bodybuilding magazines, such as Muscle & Fitness and Joe Weider's Muscle Builder. He hung posters of renowned bodybuilders on his bedroom walls.
Bodybuilding is his reason for living. So much so that, at the age of 14, his welder father built him a T-bar rowing machine. Lee Haney trained at home, drawing inspiration from information gleaned from magazines. One day, he too, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, would become a bodybuilding legend. Lee Haney knew it and was preparing himself…
His path to professionalism:
His weightlifting sessions at home began to define Lee Haney's muscles. He then decided to join the local YMCA. There he met Danny Rogers, who immediately recognized Lee Haney's potential. He took him under his wing for four years, guiding him towards a professional career. He taught him, among other things, how to lift weights correctly. By 1973, Lee Haney already possessed a well-proportioned physique.
His physique attracts sympathy and Lee is invited to join various sports disciplines in high school, such as football, track and field and basketball. Â
His performances even earned him a scholarship to attend university. Despite this honor, Lee Haney did not forget his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder.
After explaining his intentions to his parents, Lee Haney left the path of studies to devote himself solely to his passion, bodybuilding.
His years of competition:
Lee Haney first experienced the world of competition in 1975 at the Mr. South Carolina pageant. He was 16 years old. It was his first time in a show. He was completely unprepared for this world and therefore walked the runway in an inappropriate outfit. His ignorance of the rules of competition was evident. 
This will not allow him to be ranked. But instead of being discouraged by this defeat, young Lee has just caught the challenge bug.
He then prepared for three years. And in 1979, Lee Haney entered the Mr. America competition (in the junior category), boasting a more than advantageous physique, impressive musculature, and unwavering confidence. His efforts paid off. His dream took shape. Lee Haney had just won his first competition!
But far from letting this first victory go to his head, Lee Haney withdrew from competition for three years. He was seeking excellence. In his quest for perfection, he continued to sculpt his body, ultimately achieving in 1982 the most astonishing physique of all time.
Now, nothing can stop the rising star. Lee Haney won the Junior Nationals (heavyweight category) and the Amateur World Championship in 1982. These victories earned him his professional bodybuilding card. Lee Haney was 23 years old at the time; his dream was coming true. He turned professional.
In 1983, Lee Haney participated in numerous competitions as a professional and placed among the top 7, the most honorable:
- British Grand Prix, 2e
- Las Vegas Grand Prix, 1st
- Swedish Grand Prix, 2e
- Swiss Grand Prix, 3e
- The Night of Champions, 1st
- Mr. Olympia, 3rd
- The Professional World Championship, 3rd
Lee Haney becomes a legend:
By believing in his dream, Lee Haney would even surpass him by winning the Mr. Olympia title 8 times between 1984 and 1991.. Lee Haney has just broken the record of his idol Arnold Schwarzenegger (who held 7 Mr. Olympia titles). Lee Haney is no longer a professional bodybuilder. He became a true bodybuilding legend.
 Lee Haney is a well-rounded individual today. He hosts his show, sharing his philosophy of uniting body and mind to find harmony. He has also written books about his passion and created his own brand of sports supplements.
The bodybuilder behind the scenes!!!! A star just the way we like them!!!