Mr. Olympia: Between Art and the Beast

Lee Haney is, without question, one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Winner of the prestigious Mr. Olympia title eight years in a row, his record has only been matched—but never surpassed—by the formidable Ronnie Coleman. If bodybuilding had its own Mount Olympus, Haney would be its Michael Jordan, its Pelé, its Tiger Woods. But it's also true: Haney belongs to another era—a transitional stage between the golden aesthetics of the '70s and '80s, and the brutal explosion of the mass monsters in the '90s.

My real fascination with bodybuilding began precisely in the '90s. In 1991, Haney retired from the professional stage after securing his eighth title. The following year, a cold-eyed Brit with merciless training habits claimed the throne: Dorian Yates. His rise marked a new era. He embodied the heavy-duty philosophy of Mike Mentzer, but taken to the extreme: colossal physiques, hypertrophy over classical symmetry. And with him came a new breed of titans—Paul Dillett, Nasser El Sonbaty, Markus Rühl, Big Ramy… and, of course, Ronnie Coleman.

Many purists rejected this evolution. They claimed the mass monsters had buried the aesthetic ideal of legends like Larry Scott, Frank Zane, or Arnold Schwarzenegger. And while they weren’t wrong, it’s also undeniable that this monstrosity was exactly what the sport needed in the '90s to break out of the underground basement and begin its rise to the global stage. Yates was the tipping point, but Coleman and Jay Cutler fully understood the new game: more muscle, more impact, more spectacle.

Today, the debate between aesthetics and sheer mass is more alive than ever. In fact, the emergence of the Classic Physique category is a direct response to that nostalgic yearning for the balanced bodies of the past. Still, even within the Open category, there are athletes seeking to revive the harmony of physiques like Lee Labrada, Flex Wheeler, or Shawn Ray.

In this modern landscape, fascinating parallels can be drawn: Derek Lunsford as a new Dorian Yates; Nick Walker as the reincarnation of Paul Dillett; Samson Dauda as a modern Chris Cormier; and Hadi Choopan channeling the intensity of Nasser El Sonbaty. Each has proven their worth on stage, but Dauda has stood out by prioritizing proportion over excess. Even so, the return of Lunsford and Walker to the top ranks—with Lunsford dominating this March’s Arnold Classic and making it clear he's ready to reclaim the throne—signals an all-out war for the Mr. Olympia crown.

Ironically, Lee Haney—who once embodied the shift from symmetry to size—has now become one of the most vocal critics of the mass monster era. He argues that these extreme physiques have alienated the general public by appearing “inhuman.” While Haney has been a strong ambassador for the sport, he’s also had his controversial moments—from insensitive comments toward the LGBT community to recent criticism of Mr. Olympia’s direction. Maybe it's time for him to shift his focus toward Classic Physique, supporting athletes like Mike Sommerfeld or Urs Kalecinski. Or maybe—just maybe—Haney should remember that he, too, was a mass monster in his day, out-sizing rivals like Mohamed Makkawy, Rich Gaspari, Lee Labrada, and Vince Taylor. At the time, his own physique was considered extreme. That’s why he won eight times.

No, Haney. Bodybuilding doesn’t need a “reset.” What it needs is continued diversification. It’s not about halting muscular development or enforcing a single aesthetic ideal. It’s about opening the playing field, showcasing physiques that challenge us—from the anatomically sublime to the brutally gargantuan. And may the best man win.