“Internet Is Killing Bodybuilding?”: 4x Arnold Classic Winner Who Went Through a Leg Amputation Shares a Loaded Opinion About the Sport

Bodybuilding icon Flex ‘The Sultan of Symmetry’ Wheeler was among the most talented bodybuilders of his day. A genetically gifted bodybuilder, fans often consider the bodybuilding veteran most deserving uncrowned Mr. Olympia. Despite being forced to step away from the sport due to a rare kidney disease that later resulted in a leg amputation, Wheeler continues to help and train others. Earlier, the Arnold Classic champion shared a post talking about a relatively modern issue in bodybuilding and fitness.

The four-time Arnold Classic shared a post with multiple images. The first image was of Wheeler himself, striking the front lat spread. He labeled the image like an anatomy chart in Russian. However, the following two images quoted Wheeler on how the internet has affected how individuals make progress in the gym.

Is the internet a useful tool or responsible for information overload

Thanks to the rise of social media and powerful search engines like Google, information on every topic is at our fingertips. However, is that always a good thing? While social media websites like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others can be a learning tool, they can also confuse. In his opinion, Flex Wheeler shared how information overload might be doing more harm than good.

The second image that Wheeler shared contained a question. “Internet is killing bodybuilding?“ read the question. The second image and the one that followed showed The Sultan of Symmetry’s answer to the question. The 57-year-old stated one must be “sufficiently educated and savvy in bodybuilding to distinguish useful and harmful information.“

The bodybuilding veteran said the information readily available today came from “experienced people” in the past. It’s especially tough for “newbies” to know if one person on the internet is telling the truth as another would try to establish the opposite advice. “Overtly contradictory information that can slow your development,” the post claimed. However, the uncrowned Mr. Olympia took it upon himself to help others.

The bodybuilding icon’s new goal

During the Arnold Classic 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger presented Flex Wheeler with a lifetime achievement award. Shortly after receiving the award, Wheeler said he was grateful for the love he gets from fans. However, the bodybuilding veteran said he wanted to embark on a new journey. Wheeler wanted to help people live better lives through fitness.

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While his bodybuilding legacy would remain intact, he wished to add to it. Hence, instead of only training athletes, Wheeler said he would take on elderly, ailing, and amputees. Wheeler’s goal is to help such people live life to its fullest potential.

What did you think of Flex Wheeler’s take on the internet and bodybuilding? Do you agree with the former champion? Tell us in the comments.

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