Australian professional bodybuilder Lee Priest is now a member of the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame. The six-time Mr. Olympia competitor was honored in a ceremony at the site of the legendary outdoor weight room in Venice, CA on May 30, 2022.
Inducting him at the ceremony was longtime Iron Man Magazine owner and publisher, John Balik, who is also a member of the Walk of Fame. The induction ceremony can be seen in the video below, courtesy of MrYorkieLover Fitness Entertainment‘s YouTube channel:
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Priest was honored for his onstage success and contributions to the sport of bodybuilding. Balik referenced him as “the greatest champion to have come out of Australia.” During his acceptance speech, Priest expressed that he didn’t feel he deserved the honor, and he recognized the late Eddie Giuliani as well.
I really do want to dedicate this award to my good friend, Eddie Guiliani.
Guiliani passed away on May 3, 2022 at the age of 87.
Priest was voted in as a member of the class of 2020, but inductions were rescheduled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Priest’s inability to travel due to lockdowns in Australia. The other members of the class of 2020 include fellow competitor Steve Davis, Muscle Beach contest promoter and organizer Joe Wheatly, and renowned writer and photographer, Bill Dobbins. Other notable members include former Mr. Olympia winners Larry Scott, Franco Columbu, Samir Bannout, Frank Zane, and the first Ms. Olympia, Rachel McLish.
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Priest competed from 1989 when he first took the stage as an amateur until 2013 when he won the NABBA Mr. Universe title as his final contest. The 49-year-old turned professional at the age of 19 by winning the 1990 IFBB Australian Championships. Aside from his Mr. Universe title, Priest also won the 2002 San Francisco Pro, the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, and the 2006 Iron Man Pro. He also placed first in the 2006 Night of Champions, which was promoted by the now-defunct Pro Division, Inc.
In recent years, Priest contributed to podcasts and YouTube shows for brands such as RxMuscle. After a series of injuries, he resumed training and posted transformation photos that had many fans wondering if he was going to return to the stage. As of this writing, Priest had made no such announcement.
Featured image: @leepriestofficial72 on Instagram