“You Create These Monsters”: Graduate in Youth Counselling, 8x Mr. Olympia Shared His Wisdom for Bodybuilders on the Edge of Depression in 2021

Lee Haney is the most successful bodybuilder in the history of bodybuilding. Haney dominated the 80s with his classic physique. However, Haney is not remembered as the biggest or the hardest training bodybuilder. But his success shows that smart and efficient work could also bring success in the sport. Many people felt his physique was of the mold of the great Sergio Oliva.

Haney once revealed how he accidentally met a young bodybuilder who was going through a rough patch. Moreover, Haney listened to the bodybuilder’s issue and advised him rightfully. What was his advice?

Haney had the answers to the most pressing issues in bodybuilding

Lee Haney had won 8 Mr. Olympia titles, and hence, had immense experience in how a career in bodybuilding works. With experience comes the answers to several complicated questions. Haney revealed in an interview in 2021 that a young bodybuilder approached him for advice, particularly on the mental side of the sport. Fortunately, Haney knew what exactly the young bodybuilder was going through. So, he decided to hear him out and help him.

Haney said, “The young man walked up to me and started to share what was happening. And then he began to talk to me about some of the things that was going on in his life.” He added, “I knew exactly what was happening. He was internalizing his position in the sport. Internalizing his placing, he was just internalizing so many things. Thinking beyond and not living in the moment.

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Haney continued, “So when you don’t live in the moment, you think beyond the moment and you create these monsters inside of your head. That’s not even there, but you have created them for yourself. And so my advice was just to calm down, ease up. This is only a job. Period. You have to look at it that way.”

Lee Haney and his achievements

Lee Haney had one of the greatest physiques in the history of the sport. An indestructible bodybuilder with amazing football skills, Haney also played football during his college days. However, once he won the Teen Mr. America title in 1979, there was no turning back. Moreover, before competing in his first Olympia, he won the Grand Prix Las Vegas and Night of Champions, among other prestigious titles, in 1983. He finished as the runner-up in the Grand Prix Sweden and England and second runner-up in Switzerland. 

In his first appearance as Mr. Olympia, Haney secured the third position. And from the next year, that is 1984, he began the winning streak that ran till 1991. And finally, he was defeated by Dorian Yates in 1992 who then went on a winning streak himself until 1997.

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Haney hailed from a very humble background and when he got the opportunity to train, he had the knowledge to resolve the issues every bodybuilder faces in their career. And his experience helped him to find a way out for the young bodybuilder. As Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney, both have eight titles. Between them, who is your favorite?