Flex_USA_JulyAugust_2017_2

1ST SET
ASK THE CHAMP
BY PHIL HEATH,
SIX-TIME REIGNING MR. OLYMPIA
DIVIDENDS
QUESTIONS
ABOUT MONEY
AND A POSSIBLE POSEDOWN
WITH THE 212 CHAMP
AS BODYBUILDING
GROWS IN POPULARITY,
DO YOU WORRY ABOUT
THE INFLUENCE OF
MONEY ON THE SPORT?
I’m not worried at all. That’s the
kind of worry we want to have.
If it all goes to the athletes, then it’s
a good thing for the athletes, and
it’s a good thing for the sport.
It’s not like the NFL—we don’t have
data to quantify what kind of
money is in the sport and where it
all goes. Now that we’re growing
again, I hope that will improve,
and that the athletes will benefit
from the growth as well.
THE LIGHTWEIGHT
CHAMP, FLEX
LEWIS, HAS SAID HE
WOULD LIKE TO DO A
POSEDOWN ONSTAGE
AT THE O WITH YOU,
TO SHOW THE WORLD
HOW THE LIGHTWEIGHT
AND HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPIONS COMPARE.
IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU’D CONSIDER DOING?
I think it’s flattering. Flex Lewis
is a champion, no doubt. I like the
idea—show what it’s about the
way Arnold and Franco did. But I
would need to know more
before I could get 100% behind
the idea. The way the O contests
are structured now is different
than it was when lightweight
and heavyweight competed as
one group. What is the benefit of
doing it—and is the benefit for
the audience or the bodybuilders
or both? Would it be an exhibition
or a contest to win? Those
would be some things I’d want
to clarify first.
WHAT’S THE
MAXIMUM
WEIGHT YOU ALLOW
YOURSELF DURING
THE OFF-SEASON?
280 pounds.
PER BERNAL
46 FLEX | JULY/AUG ’17