Mr. Olympia runner-up Shawn Rhoden minces no words when talking about his latest clash with champ Phil Heath. Here, he looks back on his near miss while revealing his plans for bringing up his chest in 2017.
“IS PHIL BEATABLE?”
Shawn Rhoden pauses, then chuckles as he gathers his thoughts on the loaded question just posed to him.
After a long moment of reflection, he smiles—the grin of a man who has so often stared down adversity, setbacks, and near misses with resilience and aplomb. “Ahhh…you can quote me on this. I don’t think Phil won the last three Olympias. As far as Phil being beatable, the answer is 100 percent yes. I’ve seen his best, and that’s behind him. I will get what’s mine sooner than later.”
That from the man who, over the past five Olympia contests, has given the six-time champion the most sustained challenge. Third in 2012, fourth in 2013, third twice more in 2015 and 2016, and runner-up this past September at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. On the most recent scorecards, Heath earned straight firsts across the prejudging and final rounds, but Rhoden didn’t quite see it playing out that way.
“Having been in a position to be so close at the last three Olympias, I’m at the point where I just don’t give a shit anymore about being politically correct,” the 41-year-old Jamaica native asserts. “Back in 2011 and 2012, I could say, ‘Wow,’ when Phil walked out. But the past few Olympics, there's nothing that impressive—there’s nothing that said this guy’s going to be hard to beat. I feel at this last Olympia that I beat him.”
Still, Rhoden’s not dwelling on the past. The Sandow still resides in Arvada, CO, with no recourse to nudge it from Heath’s firm grasp for now. The only way forward is to come in stronger, bigger, better, and even more complete in 2017. And that’s exactly what Flexatron plans on doing.
CROSS(OVERS) TO BEAR
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Esta historia es de la edición February 2017 de Flex.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Compounded Interest
The collective power of compound exercises.
After The O
The post-O tour and the champ’s visit down under.
Structure
Family time, Kevin Levrone, and thoughts about the Vegas shooting.
The Great Indoors
HOW DOES THE CHAMP PREFER TO SPEND HIS FREE TIME?
Squat Less?
You Don't Need The So-called King Of Exercises To Build Tree Trunks.
Olympia Win, Take 7
Following a Seventh Mr. Olympia Victory— Tying Him With the “goat,” Arnold Schwarzenegger— Phil Heath Put His Win in Historical Perspective as Only He Can.
Under Pressure
My Reflections on Finishing Seventh at the Mr. Olympia— and What I Will Do to Break Into the Top Five.
The Other Guys
A Look at the Pros Rounding Out the 2017 212 Olympia’s Top Five.
"That Good"
Fresh Off a Hands-down Olympia Victory That Ties Him With Dorian Yates on the All-time List, Phil Heath Talks About His Latest Statement Win.
The Pec'ing Order
One of the Most Popular Bodybuilders in Ifbb History Is Older, Wiser—and Still a Force in the Pro Ranks. Here, Dominican Dominator Victor Martinez Takes on Chest Training While Revealing His Competitive Plans for 2017.
