Keone Pearson Reflects on Mentorship From Bodybuilding Legend Flex Wheeler in Journey to 212 Mr. Olympia: “This Is the Work That People Don’t See”

En route to becoming the 212 Mr. Olympia, Keone Pearson had a mentorship that went beyond the glitz and glamor seen on stage. Reflecting on his time with bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler, Pearson shared insights into the intense behind-the-scenes work that often went unnoticed.

Recently, the prodigy shared an old video on his Instagram account, reminiscing about the challenging yet transformative moments. Pearson’s post indicates the learnings he gained from the time spent with the legendary bodybuilder. The focus was not just on lifting weights, it was about perfecting the art of posing, an essential element in the competitive sphere.

Keone Pearson’s candid revelation of the pursuit of excellence

Pearson in his post revealed, “Things got very dark in that posing room.” It wasn’t about flashy lights or cheering crowds it was about the sheer dedication to the craft. Days after days, Pearson devoted one hour before sleeping to posing practice. This was not a casual run-through it was a vigorous session guided by Wheeler.

The 28-year-old mentioned in his post caption, “I remember @officialflexwheeler would play random R&B songs and make me pose to them till the end!” The choice of music added another layer to the challenge, which requires both physical and mental strength. Each pose had to be performed flawlessly, and any mistake meant starting over again. “I would make one mistake and we would start over again!” expressed Pearson.

In his words, “This is the work that people DON’T see.” Pearson’s candid revelation showcased the unseen efforts of an athlete’s journey. Wheeler’s guidance was not limited to one thing, it was about instilling discipline, attention to detail, and the resilience required in the contests. Even though, days before the Olympia took place, Wheeler showed his support to Pearson.  He openly predicted that Prodigy would win, given the promising progress he had gained over the years.

Moreover, Wheeler’s prophecy came true as the Prodigy was crowned the new champion in the 212 category. After his win, Wheeler shared a post with an interesting tale. Prodigy’s hard work for years paid off as he went from 14th place to winning the coveted title. In 2022, he climbed from fourteenth place to finishing sixth, and in 2023, he amazed everyone by becoming the new champion after defeating Shaun Clarida.

READ MORE: “I Felt Bad for Winning”: Dethroning Ronnie Coleman in 2006, 4X Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Makes a Shocking Confession

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