A Star Profile: Flex Wheeler - The Sultan of Symmetry Part 2

RH: I saw you just a couple weeks ago and you have put a lot of size back on. Are you thinking about competing again?

FW: I recently signed a contract with All American EFX, and part of that contract involves a body transformation. They want me to get into the best shape I can, drug-free of course, using only their products as supplements. Anything is possible after that. You never know what Flex Wheeler will do! I won’t jeopardize my health again with performance-enhancing drugs, though. God gave me too many second chances and I would be an ingrate if I didn’t appreciate that fact.

RH: What is your training like these days compared to when you were competing?

FW: Training naturally is incredibly hard. I have so much more respect now for natural bodybuilders than I ever did in the past. When I was using steroids, anything I did gave me an amazing pump, and I felt like I could train all day and night if I wanted to. Now, getting a pump takes work, and I have to be a lot more conscious of recovery and wary of overtraining. I used the same techniques and logic that I did years ago, just with lighter weights. Also, I used to train on a double split all the time. Once a day is it for me now. But I am also very much into martial arts training these days. I spar three nights a week.

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RH: Did you permanently destroy your body’s ability to produce testosterone? Do you need to have it prescribed to you for the rest of your life?

FW: Well, I had been on hormone replacement therapy for the last few years, but about a month ago I started experimenting with natural agents and so far, so good.

RH: Lately we have seen far too many deaths and serious health problems in our sport. Are the drugs to blame? And can anything be done about it?

FW: Since I am someone that was pretty reckless myself, I have a strong opinion about this. Drugs can be very, very dangerous. Every athlete needs to be responsible for him or herself because ultimately, it’s your body and you are the one that will have to deal with any negative impact on your health. Winning is important, but your life is more important. Everyone should be getting regular check-ups and bloodwork done to make sure their heart, liver, and kidneys are functioning properly. If all bodybuilders did that, we would not be seeing the epidemic we have witnessed.

RH: I understand you are also a contest promoter now. What’s the event, and what’s going to make it special?
FW: It’s the Flex Wheeler Classic, being held August 18 in Fresno, California. It’s my way of giving back to the sport. Guest posers and VIP guests include Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez, Shawn Ray, Kevin Levrone, Troy Alves, and Stan ‘Curly Top’ McCrary. There will also be a custom bike and car expo being held along with it. Eventually, I want to turn it into something similar to the Arnold Classic, with a huge expo and athletes from many different sports competing. Since Arnold is my state’s governor and I have won his contest four times, I am sure I can get him to help out a little bit.

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RH: Not many great competitors go on to become writers and photographers. Do you think your experience gives you a special perspective on covering the sport and its athletes that others may not have?

FW: I do have a certain point of view that comes from having been up there myself many times. I think with my photos, I have a good sense of just what poses look best for each athlete. I notice that a lot of the athletes come over to the part of the stage in front of where I am sitting to get a photo taken! With the contest reports, I think I just have more of an intuition as to what’s going on inside the heads of some of the guys, and people seem to like that insight.

RH: You have been both financially destitute and successful a few times in your life now. What do those rags to riches to rags to riches experiences teach a man?

FW: I have become a lot more financially responsible, that’s for sure. I think that just comes with age, and with having a wife and kids. In the old days I would blow every dollar I made just to have some flashy vehicle or whatever. Now I am not so frivolous. But losing everything definitely makes you a lot more grateful to have some nice things and be comfortable.

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RH: Despite being one of the most winning champions ever, you never got a whole lot of publicity in the magazines. Why do you think that was, and does it still bother you?

FW: I try not to let it bother me because it’s all in the past now, but it’s still in the back of my mind. It’s just that sometimes you have people in this sport that can do no wrong. Win or lose, marry or divorce, everybody loves them, all the time. Gunter is a great example. But with me, if I ever won, the reaction was, big deal, you’re supposed to win, you’re perfect. If I lost, all I ever heard was that I was lazy or didn’t have the eye of the tiger. As a writer and a photographer now myself, I am part of the publicity machine for a lot of the athletes. I want the guys to do well and have great careers, so it’s all good.

On his unique personality

“People sometimes think I am putting on an act, but my genuine personality is actually an odd one. I have a crazy and sick sense of humor, as anyone that knows me can attest to. But even though I can look serious or mean sometimes, I’m very easy to approach. I think a lot of my personality and charisma came through both onstage and off when I was competing, which is why I was one of the few real characters in the sport. A lot of the guys than and even now come across as boring, but I tried to liven things up a little.”

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The crash heard round the world

“On June 9, 1994, I totaled my Mercedes Benz on the 10 Freeway and snapped my neck in two places. I spent the next four months on my back in bed, helpless and thinking that this great career that had just begun was over forever. I contemplated suicide many times. I was walking again just in time to go watch the Mr. Olympia that year. I was able to get in shape again quickly enough to win the Ironman and South Beach Pro shows the next spring, but it took me about two years until I was really at my best again. While I was unable to train and rehabilitating, my rivals – Kevin, Shawn, Dorian, Nasser, Paul Dillett, Chris Cormier – were all training and improving. Meanwhile, Dorian Yates tore a biceps, and Kevin Levrone ripped his pec, and both were hailed as heroes for coming back to the stage. I literally broke my neck and came back, and hardly a word was said about it. But it’s fine – the real recognition came from God, for letting me live and continue on with my chosen sport.”

Rating Dorian and Ronnie

“Losing to Dorian and Ronnie all those times was tough, but I give them both their props. Dorian was the first guy to come along with that type of freaky size and that grainy, granite-hard look. Ronnie took the sport to a whole other level and simply dominated for years and years. There were s few Olympias where it was all over from the minute he walked out onstage. In that instant, you knew he had another title. They were both great champions and re-defined the sport throughout their reigns as Mr. O.”

The Wins

1989 California Championships

1992 USA Championships

1993 Ironman Pro

1993 Arnold Classic

1993 German Grand Prix

1995 Florida Pro

1995 Ironman Pro

1996 Ironman Pro

1996 Florida Pro

1996 Night of Champions

1997 Ironman Pro