Flex Wheeler Making a Comeback to Classic Physique
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One of the biggest stories of the 2017 Arnold Classic this year wasn't about anyone who got on stage that weekend, but rather, about someone who MIGHT get on stage...
According to an interview we heard on Dave Palumbo's Heavy Muscle Radio, legendary IFBB Pro Flex Wheeler announced this past weekend that he's thinking of making a comeback on the pro circuit in the new IFBB Classic Physique Division. Call it unfinished business, but perhaps the greatest bodybuilder to never win the Mr. Olympia (3-time runner up), will most likely return to the stage at the Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, September 14-17 He feels that even though he had a kidney transplat, he's being watched over closely enough by doctors, to confirm that this is something that he could do. He thinks he can do it in a healthy way, and bring in a package around 210lbs. Once upon a time, Flex was the king of conditioning who also rocked full muscle bellies. His physique was way ahead of his time.
We've seen Kevin Levrone try to do it at the 2016 Mr. Olympia at 50+ years old, and we recently saw Wil 'World' Harris do it at the 2017 Arnold Classic, also at 50+. Now, Flex Wheeler (once known as "The Sultan of Symmetry", who is 51 years, thinks it's his time to shine. He definitely has the street cred and the accolades/accomplishments behind him to pull something like this off, but the question will be whether his body will hold up. And of course, there will be issues concerning his health, i.e. Dehydrated yourself when you only have one transplanted kidney, and are on anti-rejection drugs.
He competed for the first time in 1983, but didn't get his first win until 1989 when he won the NPC Mr. California Championships. He then went on to get the silver medal at the 1993 Mr. Olympia, narrowly missing a win (he was a bridesmaid in 1998 and 1999, as well). However he does have 5 Ironman Pro wins to his name, 4-time Arnold Classic titles, and has won the France Grand Prix, South Beach Pro Invitational, Night of Champions, and Hungarian Grand Prix.