The bodybuilding world believes that height plays an important role in a bodybuilder’s success in any competition. Bodybuilding legends like Frank Zane assert that a short bodybuilder, even with the perfect physique, will be at a slight disadvantage when placed next to a tall giant like Ronnie Coleman. However, veteran bodybuilder Lee Priest, who competed against the King, carries a different opinion.

In 2021, a fan opened up to Priest about his insecurities related to his height. He then asked how Preist coped with the height difference while competing against Coleman. The legend’s answer broke not just one but two stigmas related to the height of a person.

Lee Priest commented on height insecurities

On 28 October 2021, Sam’s Fitness released an interview featuring Lee Priest. During the interview, Priest answered questions asked by his fans. When a fan asked if he ever felt insecure about his height, Preist revealed he never paid much attention to it. He continued, “the only time my height has been like, even on my mind, is when people ask me a question about it.”

His answer further shut down the stigma related to the height dynamics between couples. He continued, “I never once thought ‘I wished I was taller’, not once, I’ve never been insecure about my height. I’ve never thought about it, I’ve dated girlfriends who have been near 6ft, and I’m 5’5. So, that’s never bothered me when I stood on stage near Coleman or anyone, Marcus Rule, Paul Delet like 6’1 or 6’2.”

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Reassuring his fan, he further said that the fan might be thinking too much about it. Whereas no one else is paying attention to that aspect. Talking about himself, Preist vouched he never felt he was inferior to his peers because of his height. Well, it is justified why Lee Priest never had that complex. Even bodybuilding legends like Jay Cutler were in awe of his physique.

Jay Cutler on Lee Priest’s physique

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jay Cutler crossed paths with bodybuilding veterans like Coleman and Priest on the Olympia stage. But instead of the reigning champion of the time A.K.A., Coleman, it was Lee Priest whose physique stunned the now-4x Mr. Olympia.

In an interview in 2018 with Ron Harris, Cutler revealed that the freakiest bodybuilder he had ever seen in person was the 20-year-old Lee Priest. He added, “he was f**king insane big he was crazy big like I’d never seen anything like that…” 

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Safe to say that Preist’s insane physique and the gasps he earned because of it contributed to his unwavering confidence in his stature.