In a YouTube video posted on Oct. 15, 2021, seven-time 212 Olympia Champion James “Flex” Lewis announced that he and his wife, Ali Lewis, are expecting their second child. The announcement came without any direct comment from Lewis at the 28:51 mark of the video below.
Lewis announced in July 2021 that he wouldn’t compete in the 2021 Olympia. Among the reasons was his intention of growing his family. The graphic in the video stated that the baby is expected to arrive in May 2022. There was also a photo of the ultrasound included at the end of the video, hanging next to two five-pound dumbbells, a binkie, and a stuffed dragon No gender was announced. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in November 2015.
Lewis also shared in the video that he was absent from Orlando, FL and that he wasn’t involved in the Olympia in any capacity in 2021. He made his debut on the Olympia stage in 2008 in what was known then as the 202-pound division. Every year from 2011 to 2018, he competed in the 212 division on the Olympia stage. He won seven straight titles starting in 2012 until he retired from that division after his victory in 2018.
The Wales native took the 2019 season off to add size to his frame for his debut on the Open stage in 2020. He received a special invite to compete in the 2020 Mr. Olympia, but withdrew due to an undisclosed injury. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay won the Mr. Olympia title in both 2020 and 2021 in Orlando.
View this post on Instagram
During his time away from the competition stage, Lewis relocated from Florida to Las Vegas, NV, to open his “Dragon’s Lair” gym. That gym has become a training haven for numerous athletes in the strength sports community, including four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden to powerlifting great Joe Sullivan and strongman Nick Best. Lewis also revealed in the video (25:17 mark) that World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Tyson Fury trained in Lewis’ gym in the final weeks before his third fight with Deontay Wilder. Fury won that bout by knockout in the 11th round.
Lewis previously stated that he intends to return to the bodybuilding stage with hopes of winning the Mr. Olympia title. If he is to compete in the 2022 contest (dates not yet announced), he will have to qualify by winning a Men’s Open pro show or receive another special invite.
Featured Image: @flex_lewis on Instagram
