The 2023 Mr. Olympia competition was dwarfed by the biggest man ever. Shaquille O’Neal was in the house ready to throw it down with every bodybuilder there is. If you’ve kept up with the NBA legend, he’s got the chops to give the IFBB pros a run for their money. He has the panache to strut on the stage and out-pose them as he inches closer to his Instagram model era. Though his sights are set on one and only contender, Big Diesel is mingling with others and flaunting it.

Shaq has been channeling the Mr. Olympia contenders’ mindset to meet his personal fitness goals. He claims to not be there yet but he has dramatic ways of showing his progress.

Shaquille O’Neal overtakes Mr. Olympia

Derek Lunsford won Mr. Olympia 2023 but Shaquille O’Neal was the real winner. The honorary ambassador was in the audience for the fifth time because he likes watching greased-up muscular men. He loves it so much, he tries to be one of them.

The only update he shared with his 33 million Instagram followers was his meeting with five-time Mr. Olympia winner, Chris Bumstead. Both were caught mid-action in a bro handshake by host, Dan Solomon. That wasn’t all he was up to at the event.

Shaq engaged Solomon from downstage to express how impressed he is by the competitors this season. He’s not envying the judges by any means. He stopped short of saying who among the “phenomenal” guys are his favorite.

But he does have a favorite. “Bring back Phil Heath,” O’Neal roared. The former basketball player turned 7-time Mr. Olympia icon dismissed comeback rumors. But Shaq kept up his campaign. “Get your a** up here, Phil. We can do a pose-off right now.”

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Shaq’s dreams aren’t getting realized anytime soon. However, he’s got Phil Heath on his mind for other reasons.

Shaq channels Phil Heath

In the prime of his NBA career, 7’1″ giant, Shaquille O’Neal combined his massive frame and strength with astonishing agility. After retiring in 2011, he understandably let go of that athletic rigidity a bit. He came to the startling reaction during the 2020 shutdown when he was winded from climbing stairs. Aware that his health in his shambles, he resolved to get as fit as he was in the prime of his NBA career.

Shaq enlisted Roc Shabazz, an IFBB pro coach and his insider connection to Mr. Olympia scene. He also said he consulted dieticians and experts to stay on track. From his big Las Vegas gala, The Event, to his return to the TNT studio, the fit of Shaq’s suit is showing off that weight loss. But he says he likes to show instead of talk, and he did just that.

The 4-time NBA champion showed off the muscles in a dramatic Instagram post, posing like a formidable Mr. Olympia contender. His statement said it all, “In my past life, I was Phil Heath.” He did see that and hinted that he’s up for the challenge.

Seeing Shaq’s physical transformation, Heath was left impressed. He said he was proud of Shaq’s progress so far. However, Big Diesel is far from done.

The Big Aristotle has big goals

Shaquille O’Neal began his weight loss journey in 2021. By March 2023, he said he was down by 40lbs, 20lbs away from his goal of 250lbs. By September he, had shed a total of 55 pounds.

Shaq recently told Tom Brady on his podcast how proud he is of himself for staying on track. The 2000 NBA MVP claims he was jealous of all the models flaunting their bodies on Instagram, including Brady. He set himself a goal of building an eight-pack worthy of Instagram model-esque shirtlessness.

He confessed to Brady that, at the peak of his MVP-winning career with the  Los Angeles Lakers, he was an astounding 415 pounds. That’s nearly twice the 285lbs he was when he was drafted out of LSU.

O’Neal spent his initial career bulking up to be over 300lbs. It later started going against him and his ability to jump. The center had to restore his run over the lower post when he moved over to the Miami Heat. So under Pat Riley’s militant supervision, he dropped to 325lbs to win his fourth championship ring.

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Shaq wants to go back to that fourth championship physique now. He admitted he has the tendency to slack off after losing some weight. But he’s not doing that this time. He’s keeping the extra pounds at bay while still going for the 325lbs.

Big Diesel‘s efforts are more than visible. He’s clearly feeling great about himself and living his Instagram-grade Tom Brady-in-retirement vibe. And at 51, Shaquille O’Neal is proving that age is no bar for improving your health.