Bodybuilding star Lee Priest still keeps tabs on the sport since stepping away from competing. On March 6, 2025, he discussed comeback rumors, how he’d improve the Men’s Open class, competing at 13, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger Men’s Physique controversy.
Fan speculation grew quickly about Lee Priest possibly coming back to compete in bodybuilding. He stirred the pot renewing his IFBB Pro card, leading many to wonder if he was seriously considering re-entering the competitive landscape.
Lee Priest Discusses Comeback Rumors, Men’s Physique Controversy, and How He’d Make Open Bodybuilding Better
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest shared the hurdles that are interfering with his possible comeback, most notably, atrophy in his chest, triceps, and back.
“No, after the car accident, and then I had the two neck surgeries because it crushed all the nerves in my neck. I have a bit of atrophy on this part of my chest, tricep, and back. I’m still seriously thinking about stem cells,” he shared.
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He’s considering stem cell therapy, and if it corrects his imbalances, he’d like to compete at a future Masters Olympia contest.
“If this side came back and looked like this side, I’d probably give the Masters Olympia a go. I still got some good size. When I go to the gym, I do more of a circuit workout. I might go to do chest, and after four sets I’m like I’m going to do biceps now.”
“It’s more like maintenance. I go to the gym for mental health rather than going there to get big or do this or do that,” he adds.
As for the Men’s Physique board shorts controversy, Priest sided with Schwarzenegger, defending the legend for wanting to see more leg definition.
“When the Physique guy got mad at Arnold this year, he’s like, ‘I’m never doing the Arnold again.’ I’m like, when you listen to what Arnold said, he said you guys have great legs, you should show them. He goes most of you have good legs why do you hide them?
He mentioned that it’s the IFBB’s rules. He didn’t come down on that competitor or any other competitor. He just said the rules are silly, they should change the shorts similar to the Classic shorts so they could show the legs.”
He believes Men’s Physique competitors are being overly sensitive.
“Well, they seem to be [overly sensitive] now when I watch a few of the feuds they have online,” shares Priest. “Maybe some should do Bikini the way they are carrying on.”
Switching gears, he shared that his solution for improving big shows like the Olympia would be instituting a one-day contest policy.
“I’d go back to one day judging at the Olympia and big shows. One day, prejudging around noon, finals at seven or eight at night. None of this wait a day because to stay in shape is hard anyway. To me, it’s like I don’t want to give someone a chance.”
Priest also touched on competing young, revealing that he won his first bodybuilding contest at only 13 years old.
“I went to do it, I was only 13 years old, and I won my first contest at 13 then I did another two that year, so I won my first three bodybuilding shows when I was 13. When I was 14, I did the Men’s Open and placed third, 15 I won more titles,” he shared.
Priest admits the Masters Olympia has piqued his interest, but he believes these events come with considerable risks. In the past, he highlighted the dangers of using anabolics after 50 years old and stressed that some Masters Olympia competitors have wound up dead.
Lee Priest hasn’t completely shut the door on a potential return in the future. For now, he remains focused on maintenance training and offering his unfiltered opinion of the most controversial events shaking up the sport.
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