Legendary bodybuilder Phil Heath is widely regarded to have presented one of the best physiques of any competitor in the Men’s Open division. Although he moved on from professional competition years ago, he has kept up with regular training. In a recent Instagram live, Heath shared his thoughts on making a potential comeback at any show outside of the Mr. Olympia.
Phil Heath first gained attention for his freakish size and 3D muscle shape in the mid-2000s. He turned heads with his insane build and took the bronze medal in his Mr. Olympia debut in 2008. After narrowly missing out on the top prize to four-time champion Jay Cutler, Heath came back stronger than ever to secure his maiden Sandow trophy at the 2011 Mr. Olympia.
Heath proved to be a dominant champion who managed to ward off budding talent and firmly held on to the throne for seven years in a row. He took to the sidelines after a final outing at the 2020 Mr. Olympia in third place. Ultimately, Heath managed to tie Arnold Schwarzenegger’s total of seven Mr. Olympia wins.
Earlier this year, Heath collaborated with Men’s Open competitor Regan Grimes for a training session. Considering how massive Heath looked, rumors of a potential return started to float around. Grimes added fuel to the fire by joking that Heath was gearing up for the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Heath left the fans stunned with a ripped physique update six months ago. He detailed his new morning routine and recovery techniques that helped him tighten his midsection following hernia surgery five years ago.
‘The Gift’ ignited rumors of a comeback once again with a workout update five months ago. He showed off his massive physique while smashing past an intense arms training session. Then, he laid out the secrets to building his cartoonish 3D delts. He stressed the importance of targeting all three parts of the muscle group. In addition, he emphasized warming up properly before increasing weight on pressing movements.
Following the return of the 2023 Masters Olympia, Phil Heath revealed a seven-figure payday could entice him to come back. He argued that competing at most shows had no upside for him and ruled out the possibility of coming back for $100,000.
Phil Heath Says He Could Do Any Show for Potential Comeback: ‘I Don’t Have to Do the Olympia’
In an Instagram Live, Phil Heath shared his thoughts on a potential return to competition. He believes he’s not limited to returning at the Mr. Olympia stage and could be back at any other show as well.
“A lot of people ask me if I would ever get back on the stage, you know it’s funny, I was literally thinking about it yesterday, I wouldn’t have to do the Olympia to get back on stage,” said Heath. “I could do any show. That’s what’s funny. It was like the first time I had that conversation with myself. I said, ‘man, I can compete anywhere. I don’t just have to do the Olympia.’ I could have just competed last week, just to do it, and then do something else.”
It should be noted, Phil Heath revealed he weighed around 255 pounds and dismissed a comeback just two months ago. He reported positive updates in regard to his physique and indicated plans to enhance his fitness further. Then, he opened up on his training frequency and medication intake to maintain a high level of personal fitness post-retirement.
Heath has also given his breakdown of the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. He backed champion Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Samson Dauda as the frontrunners for the coveted title. Last year, Phil Heath correctly predicted that Hadi Choopan had the tools to defeat the former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay.
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Based on the latest update, Heath is pondering the prospect of competing again. While he won’t likely return this year, it’s an interesting topic for fans to wonder about and maybe a future possibility.
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