Who is Lee Haney?
With a record-breaking 8 Mr. Olympia titles, Lee Haney (also known as Total-Lee Awesome) has solidified his place in bodybuilding history.
He is one of the top role models the sport has ever seen and possesses one of the best physiques in the business.
Short Career of Lee Haney
Lee Haney his ascent to the top began with a set of plastic dumbbells from a department store loaded with sand.
Lee took a chance and abandoned his college scholarship and schooling as a youngster, but it wasn’t always simple for him.
Body Measurements of Lee Haney
| Full Name: | Lee Haney |
| YEAR OF BIRTH: | 1959 |
| ERA: | 1980, 1990 |
| PROFESSION: | Professional bodybuilder |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| ALIAS: | Total-Lee Awesome |
| HEIGHT: | 5’11” (180cm) |
| WEIGHT: | 255 to 265 lbs (115.7 – 120.2kg) |
Accomplishments
- 1975 Mr. South Carolina
- 1979 Teen Mr. America
- 1982 Junior Nationals Heavyweight & Overall, 1st
- 1982 Nationals Heavyweight & Overall, 1st
- 1982 World Amateur Championships Heavyweight, 1st
- 1983 Grand Prix England, 2nd
- 1983 Grand Prix Las Vegas, 1st
- 1983 Grand Prix Sweden, 2nd
- 1983 Grand Prix Switzerland, 3rd
- 1983 Night of Champions, 1st
- 1983 Mr. Olympia, 3rd
- 1983 World Pro Championships, 3rd
- 1984 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1985 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1986 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1987 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1987 Grand Prix Germany (II), 1st
- 1988 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1989 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1990 Mr. Olympia, 1st
- 1991 Mr. Olympia, 1st
Biography
Young Years
Lee was born and reared in Georgia, USA, and developed a passion for bodybuilding early on. He loved Greek Mythology’s Hercules and the Old Testament’s Samson to replicate their physiques.
Lee purchased a ton of publications and hung Robby Robinson’s images on his bedroom walls. He aspired to have a physique like the Black Prince (Robby Robinson), whom he looked up to.
The future legend asked for weights for his Christmas present in 1971 when he was 12 years old. The gift set included a Charles Atlas training manual, which served as his primary source of fitness information at the time.
Making Headway
Lee’s first experience with any sport as a child was weightlifting. But fortunately, he had excellent genetics.
After outgrowing his first weight set, Lee joined the YMCA in his neighborhood. Here is where Danny Rogers first became aware of his enormous potential.
“Kid, you have one of the most balanced physiques I have ever seen,” he said to Lee. Your ticket is bodybuilding. If you set your mind to it, you can become one of the greatest bodybuilders in the world.
Lee Haney was taken under Danny’s wing for the following four years while he learned how to lift weights safely. By 1973, Lee had significantly improved his body and was the biggest person in his age group.
He didn’t have to wait long to receive invitations to play football, basketball, and other high school sports. But Lee never wavered in his commitment to achieving his ideal physique.
Inaugural Competition
Lee entered his first competition at the age of 16—the 1975 Mr. South Carolina competition. Lee entered the stage wearing a pair of panties from the store because she had no idea how to get ready for a performance.
He failed to place because of his inexperience. He loved his first experience with competitive bodybuilding, though, and decided to make a profession out of it.
Emphasizing Bodybuilding
By 1977, Lee had developed a strong persona and was a star football player. He was 18 when he received a scholarship that allowed him to attend college, but he refused to put his passion on hold.
After having a serious discussion with his parents, Lee decided to forgo college and devote himself to pursuing his ambition. He decided to pursue a career as a professional bodybuilder.
Teen Mr. America for 1979
At the age of 19, two years later, Lee had made significant strides. He was prepared for a fight.
In 1979, Lee competed in his first big competition, Teen Mr. America. In his first performance, the future legend impressively won the trophy.
But his great career was just getting started.
Acquiring his Pro Card
After winning, Lee took some time off the stage to work on improving his physique. Lee returned with an amazing package after three years of strict dieting and training.
Lee Haney had his most successful year as an amateur in 1982. He began the year by winning the heavyweight division of the Junior Nationals, earning the overall championship in the process.
But after repeating his win at the senior nationals that year, he made his greatest breakthrough.
After winning the heavyweight division of the 1982 World Amateur Championships, Lee, then 23 years old, received his professional card. His risk had paid off, and he had achieved his goal of becoming a professional bodybuilder.
The Professional Life
In 1983, Lee entered an astonishing 7 matches, still on a high following his triumph. He had kept shaping his figure even though he hadn’t succeeded in winning all of them.
Lee had perhaps the best physique in the world by the conclusion of the year.
Developing into a Legend and a Record-Setter
At such a young age, Lee had done a lot by 1984. Nothing, though, came close to what he was able to accomplish after that year.
At the age of 25, Lee won Mr. Olympia in 1984, the most prestigious competition in the world. But he was only beginning.
Lee dominated the Mr. Olympia events for the following seven years. He beat Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous record of 7 times by carving his name onto the trophy.
In 1991, when Lee was 32 years old, he was already regarded as one of the finest bodybuilders in the sport’s history.
Only Ronnie Coleman has managed to match his eight Mr. Olympia titles as of 2016, indicating that he had set a high standard for aspiring athletes.
Philanthropist
After retiring from professional bodybuilding, Lee wanted to use his influence to make a difference. At the age of 35, Lee founded a charitable retreat for kids in Atlanta.
His retreat is located on a forty-acre farm and offers nature walks, a petting zoo, and an eight-week summer camp for kids between the ages of 12 and 15.
Training
When Lee was at his best, he trained three days a week. Except on leg day, he would train several muscle groups in a single session.
Exercise routine:
Day 1 – Chest and Arms
- Bench Press – 4 sets of 6-8 reps
- Dumbbell Bench Press – 3 sets of 8-10 reps
- Incline Bench Press – 4 sets of 6-8 reps
- Incline Dumbbell Bench Press – 3 sets of 8-10 reps
- Barbell Curl – 4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Preacher Curl – 4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Cable Tricep Extensions – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Skullcrushers – 4 sets of 6-8 reps
Day 2 – Legs
- Leg Extensions – 4 sets of 12-15 reps
- Leg Press – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Squats – 4-5 sets of 8-10 reps
- Leg Curl – 4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Stiff Leg Deadlift – 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps
Day 3 – Back and Shoulders
- Front Lat Pull Down – 4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Barbell or T-Bar Row – 4 sets of 6-8 reps
- Cable Rows – 4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Military Press – 4-5 sets of 6-8 reps
- Side Lateral – 4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Upright Row – 4 sets of 6-8 reps
Day 4 – Rest
Nutrition
For his physique to have enough nutrition to grow throughout his prime, Lee ate five meals a day.
Lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, leafy green vegetables, and fruit made up the bulk of his diet.
Diet Program
- Meal 1 – 2 whole eggs, 6 egg whites, 1 cup cooked oatmeal, pineapple, coffee
- Meal 2 (post-workout) – 2 chicken breasts, spinach, pineapple, 1 baked potato
- Meal 3 – Whole-wheat pancakes, coffee
- Meal 4 – Chicken breasts, green vegetables, brown rice, pineapple
- Meal 5 – Cup cooked oatmeal with fruits
Lee Haney (right) and Robby Robinson, who he admires (left).
Influences and Idols
Lee first got into training after being inspired by Hercules and Samson as a child. But as soon as he started lifting weights and reading bodybuilding publications, Robby Robinson swiftly rose to the status of his sport’s idol.
In his career, Lee has cited a variety of athletes as major influences. He particularly values Bob Paris’ aesthetic body and Mike Katz’s portrayal of the family guy in the documentary “Pumping Iron.”
Each of these rivals helped Lee advance toward his current status as a legend.
How Can Lee Haney Teach Us something?
Lee has shown us that we should never be frightened to pursue our goals. At age 12, he asked his parents for his first set of weights and started working out to build his body.
From Lee’s tale, we may learn that sometimes taking chances is necessary for success. He dropped out of college, giving up his scholarship and degree, to follow his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder.
He outperformed all of his predictions and rose to the top of the sport as one of the greatest bodybuilders ever.