With seven 212 Olympia titles to his credit, you can make a case that James “Flex” Lewis is the greatest non-heavyweight competitor in the history of men’s bodybuilding. And while he hasn’t been an active athlete since 2018, he is still one of the sport’s most popular figures and remains connected to bodybuilding thanks to his podcast, social media presence, and gym in Las Vegas, which has become a premier destination for strength athletes of all disciplines.
Longtime supporters may be well aware of all the Welsh bodybuilder’s accomplishments. Still, others may not be as familiar with all he has done in his nearly two-decade bodybuilding journey. Here’s a glimpse at why Lewis is revered as a legend of the stage.
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Early Career
James Lewis was born on November 15, 1983, and grew up in Llanelli, Wales. His interest in bodybuilding began when he was 12 years old. While many fans in his area were inspired by then reigning Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates, it was actually 1980s bodybuilding legend Tom Platz — and those legendary leg workouts — who motivated Lewis to pursue bodybuilding.
According to Muscle Memory, Lewis began competing in 2003 when he won the British Junior Championships. Shortly after, he was featured in FLEX magazine as well as other magazines internationally. In 2004, he went on to win the NABBA Mr. Britain and Junior Mr. Universe contests. He really broke onto the scene in 2007 when he captured both the IFBB British Light-Heavyweight and Overall titles to earn his IFBB pro card.
Flex Lewis’ Contest History
Lewis made his pro debut in 2008 at the Europa Supershow, where he won in the 202-pound division (now the 212 division) and took seventh in the Men’s Open. The highlight of that year came a bit later when he made his Olympia debut in the new 202 Showdown. He placed third in that show, which was won by David Henry.
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From that rookie season through his final contest one decade later, Lewis accumulated 20 victories, including his seven Olympia wins from 2012-2018, which is the most for any non-heavyweight men’s competitor. The following contest history was put together with information from NPC News Online and Muscle Memory.
2008
- Europa Supershow, 202 – 1st
- Europa Supershow, Open – 7th
- Tampa Pro, 202 – 2nd
- Tampa Pro, Open – 7th
- Olympia, 202 – 3rd
2009
- Atlantic City Pro, 202 – 1st
- Olympia, 202 – 5th
2011
- New York Pro, 202 – 2nd
- British Grand Prix, 202 – 1st
- European Pro, Open – 3rd
- Olympia, 202 – 2nd
- Arnold Classic Europe, Open – 5th
2012
- British Grand Prix, 212 – 1st
- Prague Pro, 212 – 1st
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
2013
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
- Prague Pro, 212 – 1st
2014
- Arnold Classic, 212 – 1st
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
- Prague Pro, 212 – 1st
- San Marino Pro, 212 – 1st
- Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st
2015
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
- Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st
2016
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
- Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st
2017
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
- Korean Grand Prix, 212 – 1st
2018
- Olympia, 212 – 1st
Following his 2018 Olympia victory, Lewis announced he was taking the 2019 season off to put on size with hopes of competing in the Men’s Open Mr. Olympia contest in 2020. And while he was offered a special invite to compete in that show, he had to withdraw due to injury.
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He couldn’t commit to the 2021 contest due to plans to expand his family with his wife, and in 2022, he formally announced his retirement from all competition. Lewis turns 40 in November 2023, which would make him eligible to compete in the Masters Olympia in 2024, but there is no word on whether he would consider entering that contest.
Training Style
Lewis worked with coach Neil Hill throughout his entire career. Hill employs a training system called Yoda 3 Training (Y3T), which calls for the athlete to perform three different workouts over the course of three weeks.
The first week was basic for Lewis, with compound exercises for reps in the six to 10 range. The second week was a blend of compound and isolation exercises with slightly more volume, including sets up to as high as 15 reps. The third week involved different workouts with drop sets, rest pauses, and high-rep sets, adding up to as many as 100 total reps. The cycle would repeat again in the fourth week. Here’s a sample third-week back workout that Lewis shared with Muscle & Fitness:
- Front Pulldown + Straight-Arm Pulldown: 3 x 15, 3 x 20
- Low Pulley Row + High Rope Pull: 3 x 15, 3 x 20
- Rack Deadlift: 4 x 12, 10, 8, 6
- Machine T-Bar Row + Back Extension: 3 x 15, 3 x 20
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Social Media, Business Ventures, and the Dragon’s Lair Gym
Lewis has been active on social media for several years, most notably on Instagram and YouTube, where he has 2.3 million followers and 191,000 subscribers, respectively. Lewis used to show training and life content throughout his Olympia reign on his channel, but he has used it most recently to air his Straight Outta the Lair podcast, where he interviews various guests ranging from strength sports stars to pro football players and (of course) bodybuilders.
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On the business front, he had originally opened a private gym in Florida called The Dragon’s Lair. He had since relocated it to its current home of Las Vegas, where it’s a popular spot for bodybuilders to train. He is also involved with Arsenal Strength gym equipment, Yamamoto Nutrition supplements, Mega Fit Meals, and even Monster energy drinks, where he is the only bodybuilder on the company’s roster.
Will Flex Lewis Return to Bodybuilding?
On the personal side of his life, Lewis is married with two children. He said he intends to stay in Las Vegas and has no aspirations of returning to the stage as of September 2023. Instead, he remains committed to supporting bodybuilding in his roles as gym owner, media contributor, and businessman.
While a return to competition will always be an intriguing thought for fans, Lewis has proved that he can still have an impact on the sport without stepping onto the stage.
Featured Image: @flex_lewis on Instagram
