Times have changed in bodybuilding. Some, like champion bodybuilder Shawn Ray, believe the art of the sport is being overshadowed. Architects like Frank Zane and Lee Labrada crafted seamless routines to showcase their aesthetics. Ray, who competed in 13 Mr. Olympia contests, of which he podiumed five times, believes Open competitors are more often concerned with executing their mandatory poses than anything else in the modern era.
Ray feels pro bodybuilding has lost touch with the artistry that once defined it, suggesting that presentation and posing played a more critical role in scoring contests, especially during the Golden Age, than it does now. Iconic moments like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ¾ turn pose and Sergio Oliva’s victory pose brought the sport to life.
Though the Classic Physique division has aimed to recapture the Golden Era’s essence, Ray says the same can’t be said of Open class.
We don’t have artists. We have athletes taking direction, and puppet masters pulling the strings.
—Shawn Ray
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The Decline of Artistry in Open Bodybuilding
Ray suggested that posing and bodybuilding culture has changed. In his opinion, foundational principles like training and nutrition have deteriorated, blaming a rapid influx of coaches and gurus who’ve hijacked the minds of pro bodybuilders, dictating what, when, and how they eat and exercise.
With fewer “chefs in the kitchen” during his era, Ray and his fellow athletes displayed more individuality, paving the way for original posing routines that impacted their score. No physique was perfect, so mastering illusion and stage control was considered a prerequisite for elite bodybuilding.
More bodybuilders took control of their physiques.
—Shawn Ray
Legends like Lee Haney and Kevin Levrone carved their bodies using trial and error. Although coaches played a crucial role during the ’90s, Ray said their influence on preparations wasn’t as prevalent as today. Being “self-made” was a badge of honor for Ray and his contemporaries. He believes that’s no longer the case.
While Ray worries bodybuilding artistry is disappearing, some current athletes hope to reverse the trend. Derek Lunsford, the winner of the 2025 Arnold Classic, has made strides in improving his posing execution, which paid off with the Best Poser Award in Columbus and a $500,000 check.
Lunsford may be an outlier, as Ray’s opinion of fading sports artistry remains unchanged and that the craftsmanship that helped elevate bodybuilding to where it is today is slipping away.
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Featured image: @leelabradaofficial on Instagram
