Legendary bodybuilder, Flex Wheeler doesn’t need any introduction as his power, strength, and resilience speak for him. But not many people know that behind his chiseled physique, there were many haunting incidents that changed his life forever. And the bodybuilding legend recently opened up about a similar incident that had a lasting impact on his psyche. 

On June 9, 1994, Wheeler met with a deadly car accident. However,  after almost 3 decades the Sultan of Symmetry recently recalled the near-death experience in the popular Menace Podcast. 

Flex Wheeler explained the horrific impacts

On June 5, 2023, during a candid conversation on the Menace Podcast, hosted by Milos Sarcev, Dennis James, and Chris Cornier, Sarcev was seen talking about his personal experience of the car accident. However, the episode took an unexpected turn when the topic shifted to Wheeler’s car accident. While Dennis jokingly claimed that it was Wheeler’s mistake, he defended himself by saying, “It wasn’t my fault”. 

Regardless of the circumstances, the emotional and psychological barriers were present for a long time. Wheeler later shared his perspective on the traumatic event that continues to shape his present. While the wounds of the accident may have healed, Wheeler revealed that there are always some invisible scars present on the person’s mind. 

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Flex Wheeler emphasized that the impact of the accident went far beyond the visible injuries, affecting his mental state in ways that continue to shape his life today. “It’s a type of trauma, mentally”, he described. However, it is not the first time that the Sultan of Symmetry has opened up about this trauma. 

The physical toll of the accident

In a live interview at the Arnold Sports Festival UK in 2022, Wheeler opened up about the consequences of the car accident as it almost left him paralyzed. Wheeler described the severity of his injuries, revealing just how close he came to losing everything. He explained that the accident had broken him physically and mentally, causing him to revisit dark thoughts of suicide.

The legendary bodybuilder revealed that his C5 and C6 vertebrae were shattered. In addition, his collarbone was broken, his ear was nearly torn off, and his eye was on the verge of being ripped from its socket. 

Overall, by openly discussing his darkest moments and the impact they had on his mental health, Flex Wheeler breaks the silence and stigma surrounding mental health struggles. His willingness to share his experiences encourages others to seek help, support, and treatment for their own challenges.

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