Former IFBB icon Don Long was quite a name in the?bodybuilding?industry, and one of his notable finishes was at his 1996 Night of Champions pro-debut, where he was placed third after?Ronnie Coleman?and Flex Wheeler. However, he also had other battles to deal with besides his athletic one. In 1999, he was diagnosed with massive kidney failure due to high blood pressure which eventually kept him from competing professionally for many years.?

In an interview with ‘The Menace Podcast with Dennis James,’ featuring co-hosts, Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier, Long revealed the turn of events that urged him to skip the 1996?Mr. Olympia.

Don Long?s big step in his bodybuilding career

In a candid conversation with the hosts, the 47-year-old athlete opened up about the trajectory of his bodybuilding career. James pondered over his strategy after he sidestepped from the 1996 Mr. Olympia, despite being at his peak. Therefore, Long admitted that he did it to take time and prepare, in order to bounce back with better conditioning.

?I never won a lot of shows, I went big on just a trophy…and then just doing the Olympia, I had bigger plans. I literally felt like I could?ve won the Olympia or definitely been in the top two or three consistently,??he said. Furthermore, his desire to improve encouraged him to step out of the most-elite event and??bring on a little more maturity??along with conditioning later on, given the amount of expertise his co-athletes had.

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He continued,??So that was my goal to bring my best body, not just a body that I just won at the Nationals, and I can?t do so much between May and September. So I needed more time to bring something better, bigger and better.??Unfortunately, Long?s plan didn?t go as expected.?

Life took a toll on Don Long’s aspirations

With hopes of contending better for the future Mr. Olympias, the IFBB pro could not even beat his 1996 finish. He went as high as seventh after that, over the span of his 13-year career and 12 contests. His blurry conditioning was a major factor in his loss at the competitions. However, there was a much more severe problem behind that.

Three years later, the athlete was diagnosed with kidney failure, as only one of his kidneys had been functioning throughout his life, thus, subjecting him to high blood pressure. After 11 years of dialysis and an unsuccessful kidney transplant, he was rescued by his wife. In 2010, she donated one of her kidneys. Moreover, Long made a comeback in 2006 and finally retired in 2009 on his??own terms.??

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All the hard work predisposed Long to be an unforgettable name in the industry. Today, he uses his expertise to guide enthusiasts and potential athletes as a nutritionist and trainer in Florida.