Seven-time Mr. Olympia winner Phil Heath is the most prolific champion of the last decade. After Ronnie Coleman lost his crown to Jay Cutler in 2006, no other Mr. Olympia has won as many titles as The Gift. However, equaling Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s record was no easy feat. Heath faced tough competition from Kai Greene, Shawn Rhoden, and others.

While he eventually lost his title to Shawn Rhoden, Heath etched his name into the history books with his Mr. Olympia run. On August 28, The Gift appeared on Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom podcast. During the two-hour conversation, the 43 was candid about his life and career. Earlier, Heath shared a clip on his Instagram story where revealed he took a page out of Kobe Bryant‘s playbook to make the necessary sacrifices to become and remain a champion.

Phil Heath revealed the mindset of a champion

The bodybuilding icon said he had to make many sacrifices to become and remain a champion. In the past, The Gift had said everyone flocks around a champion, and it wasn’t any different in his case. While Heath pursued bodybuilding, he was also serious about basketball in college. However, none of his basketball teammates helped support him before he became a champion.

However, there was no shortage of friends after he won the Mr. Olympia. During the podcast, Heath said even the friends who stuck with him through his struggles wouldn’t understand the struggle to retain a championship title. “So you can’t hang out with them. A lot of my 30s I didn’t see my college friends,” the former Mr. Olympia told Williamson.

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“It’s kind of like Kobe Bryant. He didn’t hang out with people,” said the bodybuilder. “You know, on draft night, he gets drafted and he goes to the gym,” added the seven-time Mr. Olympia. Heath said he felt inspired by the mindset that Braynt had. “That’s how you answer your call to greatness. You do it and you don’t stop,” the 43-year-old told Williamson. At one point, Heath’s success even angered a fellow champion.

When Jay Cutler got angry at The Gift

During a 2019 interview with Patrick Bet-David, the former Mr. Olympia said he kept track of which champion he was surpassing after winning each Mr. Olympia. “I got two, I got three, I’m tied with Sergio (Oliva). I got four. Tied with Jay (Cutler),” said the champion bodybuilder. However, Jay Cutler, a good friend of Heath, didn’t react favorably to his win.

“Pi**ed him off! To the point where we barely even talk anymore… It happens,” said Heath. Despite nearly losing one of his few friends, Phil Heath’s mindset didn’t falter. Like Kobe Bryant, The Gift continued to add titles to his name. While withdrawing himself from social life was a massive sacrifice as a family, the champion in Phil Heath relentlessly hungered for greatness.

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