Lee Haney is a bodybuilding icon, who needs no introduction as his 8 Mr. Olympia titles speak for him. But behind every sweet win, there are some stories revolving around them that make the memories more pleasant. And what if the story is related to the first win?  While almost every bodybuilding fan is aware of the Mr. Olympia title of Lee Haney in 1984, there’s one story about Haney that is not as well-known – the story behind one of his most famous photographs after his maiden Olympia victory. 

The 63-year-old veteran recently revealed an interesting story behind one of his most iconic pictures which was taken after his first Olympia win in 1984 on the streets of New York.  

Lee Haney brings a picture from his archive

In the picture, Lee can be seen posing shirtless showcasing his exceptional physique and chiseled abs with a broad smile on his face. However, Lee revealed that this was one of the most random photographs that happened as he was suddenly asked by his photographer to step in front of a manhole.   “I was asked by the photographer (Mike Nevuea) to step in front of a manhole for an outdoor shot.”, he wrote in the caption. 

The legendary bodybuilder also revealed that he was initially taken aback by the thought, as it was a busy road. Lee was skeptical of whether taking a picture at that spot would be a good idea since there was a lot of traffic. “I said to him “who’s going to stop this traffic?”, Lee wrote

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However, a police officer noticed what was happening and rather than stopping them, he halted the traffic to allow Haney to pose uninterrupted. Lee instantly removed his t-shirt to give the pose and Nevuea snapped the shot. The picture turned out to become one of Haney’s most famous photographs. The image shows Haney flexing his muscles in front of the manhole cover, with little smoke surrounding the background. 

A time when Haney was insecure about his body

Although the photograph beautifully captured the details of Haney’s body, there was a time when the icon used to feel embarrassed to wear short-sleeved shirts. In a conversation with veteran bodybuilder Lee Labrada, the 63-year-old Legend opened up about his insecurities before becoming the all-time greats of bodybuilding.  

During the conversation, Haney revealed how he wanted to hide his skinny arms and never wanted to wear short-sleeved shirts. However, little did he know what was planned for him.  Today, Haney is a respected figure in the fitness industry. The 63-year-old has served as an inspiration for many young athletes to follow their passion and dreams. 

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