Flex_USA_JulyAugust_2017_2
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
1ST SET<br />
ASK THE CHAMP<br />
BY PHIL HEATH,<br />
SIX-TIME REIGNING MR. OLYMPIA<br />
DIVIDENDS<br />
QUESTIONS<br />
ABOUT MONEY<br />
AND A POSSIBLE POSEDOWN<br />
WITH THE 212 CHAMP<br />
AS BODYBUILDING<br />
GROWS IN POPULARITY,<br />
DO YOU WORRY ABOUT<br />
THE INFLUENCE OF<br />
MONEY ON THE SPORT?<br />
I’m not worried at all. That’s the<br />
kind of worry we want to have.<br />
If it all goes to the athletes, then it’s<br />
a good thing for the athletes, and<br />
it’s a good thing for the sport.<br />
It’s not like the NFL—we don’t have<br />
data to quantify what kind of<br />
money is in the sport and where it<br />
all goes. Now that we’re growing<br />
again, I hope that will improve,<br />
and that the athletes will benefit<br />
from the growth as well.<br />
THE LIGHTWEIGHT<br />
CHAMP, FLEX<br />
LEWIS, HAS SAID HE<br />
WOULD LIKE TO DO A<br />
POSEDOWN ONSTAGE<br />
AT THE O WITH YOU,<br />
TO SHOW THE WORLD<br />
HOW THE LIGHTWEIGHT<br />
AND HEAVYWEIGHT<br />
CHAMPIONS COMPARE.<br />
IS THAT SOMETHING<br />
YOU’D CONSIDER DOING?<br />
I think it’s flattering. <strong>Flex</strong> Lewis<br />
is a champion, no doubt. I like the<br />
idea—show what it’s about the<br />
way Arnold and Franco did. But I<br />
would need to know more<br />
before I could get 100% behind<br />
the idea. The way the O contests<br />
are structured now is different<br />
than it was when lightweight<br />
and heavyweight competed as<br />
one group. What is the benefit of<br />
doing it—and is the benefit for<br />
the audience or the bodybuilders<br />
or both? Would it be an exhibition<br />
or a contest to win? Those<br />
would be some things I’d want<br />
to clarify first.<br />
WHAT’S THE<br />
MAXIMUM<br />
WEIGHT YOU ALLOW<br />
YOURSELF DURING<br />
THE OFF-SEASON?<br />
280 pounds.<br />
PER BERNAL<br />
46 FLEX | JULY/AUG ’17