New: Flex: Schwarzenegger Cymru

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-My name is Julian Lewis Jones.

-I'm an actor

-and television presenter.

-My path in life could have followed

-a very different path.

-I'm here on Venice Beach

-in Los Angeles, California.

-It's very close to Hollywood.

-I came here back in 1989,

-many years ago, not as an actor...

-..but as a bodybuilding coach.

-As it turned out,

-acting won out in the end.

-One lad from Wales moved out here

-ten years ago...

-..and has shot to the top

-of the bodybuilding world.

-Flex Lewis!

-Pain, no, I don't feel pain.

-I love it.

-You wouldn't think

-that he was born on this planet.

-He's a freak. I don't know

-if his mother had the wrong baby.

-He's the bodybuilding equivalent to

-Gareth Bale. Nobody in Wales knows.

-What I done was, I bought the Arnold

-encyclopaedia. That's how I won.

-Thank you.

-Mr Olympia is the biggest...

-..professional bodybuilding

-competition in the world.

-James "Flex" Lewis has won four

-consecutive trophies.

-In this programme...

-..I join Flex on his road to attempt

-to win Olympia for the fifth time.

-I also look at bodybuilding's

-influence on the people of Wales.

-How much weight have you lost?

-How much weight have you lost?

-

-Just over seven stone.

-Seven stone?

-I'll also look

-at the influence Flex has had.

-Seeing a Welsh lad climb to the

-level that he has...

-..is inspiring for lads like us.

-Flex Lewis!

-James "Flex" Lewis grew up

-in this house in Hafen...

-..a small village near Llanelli.

-A town with

-a strong sporting heritage.

-Flex is from a working-class family.

-We've got coal miners and steel

-factory workers in our family.

-My father still works

-in the steel factory.

-He's been there nearly forty years.

-Flex has avoided the careers

-of his forebears.

-Wales is no longer his home.

-He's made his home out in Florida

-in the United States.

-In the city of Boca Raton, Florida

-my journey begins.

-I'm quite excited to meet Flex.

-It's an important period for him.

-It's the build-up

-to the next Olympia.

-I'm very lucky

-that I get to see him today.

-Bodybuilders can be

-a bit particular...

-..about people coming to see them

-during this period.

-At this time,

-the diet and training intensify.

-I'm meeting Flex at his gym.

-But I can't see a big sign anywhere.

-This doesn't look like a gym,

-although Flex's name is there.

-So...

-..give it a go!

-Hello?

-Ah, right, this is it.

-I've found the gym.

-It's quite a bit bigger

-than I expected. It's huge.

-Wow, it's like a church

-or something.

-It's so quiet here.

-The silence doesn't last.

-There's one thing on Flex's mind,

-the big competition.

-Mr Olympia 2016.

-It's less than a month away.

-Flex is training his legs today.

-Flex has a determined look...

-..as he completes 20 sets

-of leg extensions.

-The fear, for me,

-is losing everything.

-It's the fire that

-burns me every time.

-I think that keeps me

-going and going and going.

-The bar keeps going

-higher and higher and higher.

-This is Flex's personal gym.

-Nobody can interrupt him

-without an invitation.

-One thing is clear from looking

-around and that's Flex's patriotism.

-After training the quads,

-he has to train the hamstrings.

-Weightlifting isn't the only thing

-in the regime.

-After doing one set, say leg curls,

-Flex would head over to the bench.

-It's just a regular weights bench.

-He put a band around his legs.

-That gave him resistance

-as he stepped up.

-That worked his hamstrings.

-It's something you see more often

-in rugby players and athletes.

-It shocks the muscle.

-If he does the same thing

-all the time...

-..the muscles

-don't develop in the same way.

-He tries to apply extreme detail

-to every muscle he has.

-Not every exercise

-requires a machine or band...

-..just more space.

-Joining Flex outside are his friend,

-Eric and his brother, Luke.

-For me, it was more like torture

-in this heat in Florida.

-I watched them make these lunges...

-..from one end of the car park

-to the other.

-What came across for me was the

-discipline in Flex's movement.

-Every single step was the same.

-Flex stepped up on stage

-for the first time in 2003.

-He competed in the

-Junior Mr Wales event.

-He won on that night.

-In the same year, he won the title

-of Junior Mr Britain too.

-A year later, he added

-the Junior Mr Universe title.

-The most famous bodybuilding

-competition in the world...

-..for young bodybuilders.

-Flex left his mark

-on the bodybuilding world.

-His early career drew the attention

-of Hywel Griffiths.

-He's been coaching bodybuilders

-for 30 years.

-He was coming up at that time...

-..I remember looking at him

-thinking he looked different.

-He was a different breed.

-He's a thoroughbred.

-He's got the balance.

-He's symmetrical.

-If you put a ruler on him, his

-chest, both sides are the same size.

-His arms are the same size.

-His legs are gigantic.

-The bottoms are huge.

-Everything is... he's just perfect.

-That's an opinion that's shared by

-a bodybuilding world master...

-..Arnie.

-Right, Flex, let's hear it.

-You have no weak points,

-you're perfectly proportioned...

-..and you have

-a fantastic posing routine.

-Mark Price Flex's old

-training partner...

-..has been at Flex's side

-from the start.

-Back in 2004 we did an expo

-in Barry near Cardiff.

-I told my friend who'd been

-a bodybuilder for years...

-..I told him wait until you see him.

-No, no.

-Wait until you see this lad.

-How old is he? He's 19.

-I got phone calls again and again

-asking who he was.

-He can't come from Llanelli.

-He does.

-Flex's achievements

-were an eye-opener...

-..for one of his former teachers

-at Bryngwyn school.

-Seeing him in the gym and on

-the rugby field is one thing.

-Seeing him on his own on stage

-doing the routine.

-The 12-year-old who arrived at this

-school was shy and unassuming.

-If you'd have seen him on stage at

-that time, he was enjoying himself.

-That was his home then for the next

-ten to fifteen years.

-The man himself didn't feel too

-comfortable before his first show.

-I ended up stepping on stage

-a bag of nerves the day of the show.

-Something inside me thought these

-people don't really know who I am.

-You can go on stage, not cocky,

-but like an alter ego.

-It just clicked.

-One, two, three, come on.

-One, two, three.

-One, two, three, up.

-Back at the gym, Flex is in the

-middle of the day's second session.

-He's concentrating on his chest.

-Having taken his T-shirt off, Flex's

-incredible shape is even clearer.

-It's the end of the session

-and there's only one task left.

-He strips off for the camera.

-Awaiting the photos over 4,000 miles

-away in Tenby is Neil Hill...

-..Flex's coach from the start.

-Getting the best

-out of each other...

-..with the fact that he's obviously

-overseas hasn't hindered us.

-How did the weekend go with your

-guest appearance?

-As long as I get my photos

-every week from him...

-..and I get my updates

-and his weight.

-I'll make those changes daily.

-This last picture is a side profile.

-If you look here,

-we see a definite line here.

-It's separating his thigh

-with his hamstring.

-You can see the fine lines and

-refinement in these areas here.

-That tells me his fat levels really

-are pretty close to contest point.

-Neil saw Flex when he was young.

-He knew he'd be fantastic.

-He got a hold of him and pulled him

-in and took him under his wing.

-Fair play, I think he's paid him

-back by staying at his side.

-He was confident, yes.

-He once said in the kitchen

-at Neil's house...

-.."when you go to America

-and make it."

-That stuck in my head.

-"When."

-Not "if" or "maybe", "when".

-It's just the fact that he has

-this shape and this structure...

-..it really oozes

-beauty and charisma.

-When he's on that stage...

-..that's the difference

-between everybody and himself.

-He shines out

-like a diamond...

-..that's more polished

-than anything else on stage.

-.

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-I'm on a journey

-in the United States.

-I'm here to see the preparations...

-..of the bodybuilder Flex Lewis

-from Llanelli.

-He's looking to win his fifth

-consecutive Mr Olympia trophy.

-I've seen how hard

-he works in the gym.

-What he does at home

-is just as important.

-Getting the right diet

-is imperative for a bodybuilder.

-Flex is married to a dietician,

-Ali Lewis.

-She's also a former bodybuilder.

-No less, no more.

-That small, little extra bit that

-you might put in your mouth...

-..15g, that's OK, that's not

-programmed in to your diet.

-What he eats

-is so incredibly important.

-They have to bring the fat content

-of the body down.

-That makes their skin

-as thin as it can be.

-That's what gives them such

-definition on stage.

-Flex does get time

-now and then to relax...

-..and to be a father

-to his daughter, Adiena.

-Even in his spare time, that

-competitive edge is still there.

-Shot!

-Well done, lad.

-The winner takes it all.

-Go, go.

-Spending time with Flex...

-..reminds me of my own memories

-of weightlifting.

-I live in Carmarthenshire these days

-but I grew up on Anglesey.

-I'm crossing Menai Bridge. I'm

-off to see the island I grew up on.

-This is where the journey started,

-I started weightlifting...

-..I took an interest in fitness

-and bodybuilding.

-I don't get a lot of opportunities

-to come home.

-This is nice.

-The end of my journey is the little

-village of Moelfre.

-It's on the eastern side

-of the island.

-At the local community school,

-my weightlifting life began.

-I haven't been

-in this building since 1990.

-That's when I left to attend...

-..the Royal Welsh College

-of Music and Drama.

-That's a local hero, Dick Evans.

-He was a lifeboat man.

-This is the hall at Moelfre school.

-It looks a lot smaller

-than it felt somehow.

-I haven't grown that much.

-We'd do weight training

-in half the hall.

-In the other half,

-the lads would be boxing.

-This is where we kept the weights.

-There was a storeroom here.

-We had to pull out

-these big chipboards.

-We'd pull those out and the

-dumb-bells, plates and bars.

-Everyone would carry those

-through here.

-We'd bring the boards out

-and place them on the floor.

-We'd use the wall bars,

-move them out.

-We'd use the benches.

-And then we'd train.

-The reason I started was

-because I'd been ill as a child.

-I couldn't exercise between the age

-of 7 and around 16, I think.

-The specialist at the hospital

-in Bangor...

-..said weightlifting might help me

-strengthen my body.

-As I came here to train with the

-lads, my confidence grew...

-..and it made me who I am today,

-I think.

-It was an important period for me

-as a young lad.

-I'm on the way now to the Enzone gym

-in Bodffordd on Anglesey.

-I'm going to meet Mark Humphreys.

-Mark set up his own business.

-It was a weightlifting

-and fitness business.

-He's a bodybuilder and weightlifter.

-He himself has competed.

-Three, two, one, sprints, go!

-Keep going, keep going, keep going,

-keep going, keep going, keep going.

-I've been lifting weight

-since I was around 16.

-It all started

-after I got ill when I was 15.

-I was diagnosed with cancer.

-It was a way for me

-regain my health, really.

-Looking back, I took it more

-seriously as the years passed.

-At first, I got into competing.

-Then, I just fell into the business.

-People would ask if I could train

-them up to get a good shape.

-I got fed up one day

-and thought I'll do my own thing.

-The business has expanded

-quite a bit since it opened.

-70% of his customers are women.

-Mark has noticed in an increase

-in the popularity of bodybuilding.

-How much of an influence

-has Flex had?

-He had a huge influence on me.

-He is one of my idols.

-All the Welsh lads

-are very proud of him.

-This is where the business happens.

-There he is, the man himself.

-Here are some photos

-of what we did recently.

-We did a 24-hour marathon session.

-It was for a little lad who was ill.

-He had the same illness as me.

-We raised over 5,000.

-He comes here

-to train at the gym too.

-He said when he's better he wanted

-to be like me. He's here now.

-Three, two, one.

-There's a wide mix of people

-using the gym.

-Youngster Alex Phillips

-is one of them.

-He's been training for two years.

-He's transformed his body.

-How much have you lost?

-Just over seven stone.

-Just over seven stone.

-

-Seven stone?

-I played for North Wales

-and when selection came up...

-..I was told I was too big.

-It clicked from there.

-How much do you weigh now?

-How much do you weigh now?

-

-I'm just around 13 stone now.

-So you were around 20 stone.

-My confidence is the best it's been

-and my life is much better.

-Gethin Jones has been competing

-for quite a few years.

-I've been training for eight years.

-I've competed four times.

-At what weight do you compete?

-At what weight do you compete?

-

-90 kgs.

-That's not far off Flex.

-The weight isn't, no,

-but the quality is!

-We might weigh the same, but if you

-saw him next to me, he's better.

-Seeing a Welsh lad at that level

-is inspiring for lads like us.

-Yes, a boost. If I work hard enough.

-If I put 100% in...

-..I won't get to his level,

-but it shows you it's possible.

-Medwen Richards didn't start

-weightlifting.

-I started off in the house.

-I was doing it myself.

-In front of the TV?

-I was in the bedroom doing a little

-bit of dumb-bells.

-Mark says you have six kids.

-Mark says you have six kids.

-

-Yes.

-After a workout, I feel a boost.

-I feel happier.

-A lot have told me I should compete

-and go into that part.

-I'm playing with the idea

-at the moment.

-Mark is pushing me a little.

-Medwen would join

-a whole host of girls...

-..who've made the transition

-from the gym to the stage.

-Delyth Lloyd is a local girl

-who's had success in that field.

-I've competed in six competitions...

-..over the past three years.

-There are four categories

-for women at the moment.

-I do the category

-that's called Body Fitness.

-That obviously means

-not putting too much muscle on.

-They like you to be toned with a

-little muscle but still feminine.

-It's very hard to keep

-to a routine at the moment.

-I've got a one-year-old child,

-I'm a full-time teacher...

-..I'm doing a masters degree and

-I'm trying to train other people.

-Some people say they're too busy

-and use that as an excuse...

-..but since it's a part of my life,

-I find time to go...

-..whether at 6.30am or 8.00pm

-after Harri goes to bed.

-When I started ten years ago...

-..I don't think a lot of my family

-and friends had heard of it before.

-They'd ask what was I doing.

-There weren't many women competing

-around here.

-By now, you go to the gym

-and see a lot more women.

-They've realized

-that training in the gym...

-..and lifting weights

-doesn't pack on muscle.

-Before heading back home,

-I'm going to meet two old friends...

-..who lifted weights with me all

-those years ago at Moelfre school.

-Eifion...

-..and Lish.

-Alright, lads?

-When are you getting

-the real weights out?

-What is this? A Jane Fonda workout.

-Alright lad?

-Alright lad?

-

-How are you?

-Alright, Lish?

-Alright, Lish?

-

-Alright, Jules?

-It's great having Julian

-back at the gym.

-We haven't been

-to the gym together in years.

-I think it was in Bangor.

-I started not long after Eifion.

-His brother Arwyn had started,

-and then Eifion, then I joined them.

-Julian was there.

-It was fun to learn something new.

-We'd never done

-anything of the sort.

-Julian was much bigger

-than us at school.

-He was like a giant at school

-compared to us.

-We were always looking up at him!

-We all knew pretty much every line

-of the film Pumping Iron.

-We'd quote it at each other.

-Pumping Iron is a popular film

-that took a look...

-..behind the scenes

-of bodybuilding in the 1970s.

-The film had a Welsh connection...

-..Paul Grant, the successful

-bodybuilder from Swansea appeared.

-This was the golden age

-of bodybuilding.

-The stars started transferring

-from the stage to the big screen.

-Lou Ferrigno appeared

-as the Incredible Hulk.

-The man who made the biggest impact

-on both bodybuilding...

-..and the silver screen

-was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

-He was the king of bodybuilding.

-He changed the whole way

-people saw bodybuilding.

-He put a new stamp on bodybuilding.

-Arnold became an actor, of course.

-I fell into acting somehow.

-Weightlifting as a young man

-must have had some effect.

-The understanding, respect and love

-for weightlifting...

-..and bodybuilding has been with me

-since I was a small boy.

-If I come home, I go and see Eifion

-and Paul and train with them.

-It's in my blood.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-The Olympia competition

-is getting nearer.

-There's a huge weight on Flex's

-shoulders to defend his title.

-Despite living out in the US

-for several years...

-..he does get time

-to come home now and again.

-That doesn't mean a rest

-from the gym.

-Back home again, are you?

-How's things?

-Weightlifting wasn't the only sport

-Flex excelled at as a young man.

-He was very talented

-at a number of sports.

-Athletics, gymnastics, rugby.

-When we did gymnastics

-in Years 9, 10 and 11...

-..he was a big lad even back then.

-When you had to support him

-physically in gymnastics...

-..you knew there was plenty of meat

-on those legs then.

-Life away from school was busy too.

-He liked to do pigeon racing.

-He was good at that too.

-He did mobile discos.

-He did furniture removal.

-He was doing this before he was 17.

-You look at Flex and struggle

-to believe that he raced pigeons.

-It just doesn't fit.

-Flex was a gifted rugby player.

-He appeared on the wing

-for Llanelli schools.

-The Scarlets continue

-to play an important part in life.

-I've not played on this field.

-I've been invited

-and they've been very good to me.

-Every time I've won, I come back.

-A couple of players,

-once they know I'm here...

-..as much as I tried to hide,

-once they get wind that I'm here...

-..I always end up in the changing

-room, somehow with my top off.

-My nickname, Flex,

-believe it or not, came from rugby.

-It came from being flexible

-and getting out of tackles.

-I got that nickname

-at six years old.

-He had a successful season

-with Llanelli Schools.

-He played for Dyfed after that

-against the Welsh development squad.

-But a few months before, he broke

-his elbow on a motorbike.

-That put him out

-for three or four months.

-That's when he started

-lifting weights...

-..when we were trying

-to get him fit.

-My colleague, Mr Owen,

-got him lifting weights.

-One arm was broken.

-We got him to work

-on his other arm and his legs.

-He got a taste

-for weightlifting then.

-The rest is history.

-At the time,

-when he badly damaged his arm...

-..we thought it was a case

-of his rugby career gone.

-At the time, he was on the shortlist

-or in the squad for Wales Under 16.

-Obviously, that went out of

-the window because of his injury.

-As they say, as one door closes,

-another door opens.

-I was really self-conscious

-about it.

-One arm was pretty big

-just from rugby and gymnastic days.

-This arm just deteriorated

-because I was like this in a cast.

-I was half an inch away

-from losing my arm.

-Flex comes from a close-knit family.

-They've been by his side since the

-start of his bodybuilding career.

-I've been to see him four times.

-There were two competitions in Wales

-and the rest were further.

-It's worth seeing him do the motions

-and the rest of it!

-His back, the first time I saw it

-when he was doing his show...

-..it was flat and then he flexed it

-and all the muscles came out.

-There were two women coming down

-the road and I said to him...

-.."look at these two coming,

-I'd like to be your age."

-He picked me up and held me

-above his head. I was like a tomato!

-The girls were laughing.

-I couldn't believe it.

-He's made it.

-I'm rather proud of him.

-Flex is one of the bodybuilding

-world's biggest stars.

-He's a hero for supporters

-all over the world.

-Back in Wales, he hasn't received

-much attention for his success.

-He's up there on the same level

-as rugby players...

-..like Gareth Edwards and JPR.

-In bodybuilding,

-he is the same as Gareth Bale.

-But nobody in Wales knows who he is.

-I don't think a lot of people

-look at bodybuilding as a sport.

-But if you compare it

-to things in the Olympics...

-..he works just as hard as they do.

-People look at bodybuilders...

-..and think that they're using

-something to help them.

-It's not fair.

-They don't realize how hard it is...

-..to get where they are

-and to build all that muscle.

-There are people who think they're

-on drugs and that's not fair.

-In 2016, the first Flex Lewis

-Welsh Classic competition was held.

-It's a stage for the next generation

-of bodybuilders.

-I pride myself now on coming back...

-..and giving as much as I can

-back to the sport.

-There's realistic goals

-and unrealistic goals.

-If I said to myself at

-19 years old, I'd have this show...

-..it was unrealistic.

-You go for those realistic goals

-to achieve...

-..and you keep on moving the bar up

-and up and up until you've got it.

-It's nice now that finally, he's

-getting some recognition here.

-It's on his doorstep and people

-can appreciate the effort...

-..and self-discipline he required...

-..and the attention to detail

-required to reach that level.

-Flex's journey started

-on Venice Beach in Los Angeles.

-It's a place that's associated

-with bodybuilding.

-This is where I came years ago...

-..to try and nurture a career

-as a bodybuilding coach.

-There's one building here

-that's a big draw to bodybuilders.

-We're closing in

-on the famous Gold's Gym.

-We're in Venice, California,

-the Mecca of bodybuilding.

-This is where the careers of people

-like Arnold Schwarzenegger...

-..and Franco Columbu started.

-Gold's Gym was founded

-over 50 years ago.

-By now, they've got gyms

-all over the world.

-The gym at Venice Beach

-was the first one.

-It's like a shrine

-to bodybuilders from the past.

-It was one of the main locations

-shot in the film Pumping Iron.

-Here we are at Gold's Venice.

-It's a cathedral or Mecca

-for bodybuilding.

-When I worked at Gold's in London,

-I'd seen the film Pumping Iron.

-I'd seen Gold's on the TV.

-I'd seen it in that film.

-My ambition was to come and work

-here at Gold's Venice.

-This gym is important

-to a lot of people.

-People come here

-from all over the world.

-There were people outside who'd come

-all the way from Norway.

-There was someone from Germany

-buying clothes here.

-This is where Flex came.

-Junior Champion, James Lewis!

-When I won the British, images from

-that show ended up on the Internet.

-That's how a gentleman called

-Ed Connors...

-..one of the business partners

-who owned Gold's Gym heard of me.

-He ended up contacting me.

-He was a scout.

-I was rubbing shoulders with some of

-the biggest names in Hollywood.

-In terms of my bodybuilding

-progressing...

-..it was just a hamster wheel,

-I was a tourist.

-When I was out there, more doors

-closed in my face than opened.

-He hasn't had it easy.

-It's been tough.

-When he turned professional,

-it was different then.

-He had more financial backing then.

-Before he was professional,

-he had to do it himself.

-You can see how important

-Arnold Schwarzenegger is...

-..to the history and development

-of bodybuilding.

-These are images from Pumping Iron.

-Arnold is doing

-bent over rows there.

-That's Dave Draper

-training with Arnold.

-This is from

-the Mr Olympia competition.

-Arnold was in first place,

-Serge Nubret from France was second.

-This guy was the same height

-as Flex, Franco Columbu.

-Arnold was 6'2".

-Franco was about

-the same height as Flex.

-The big competition

-was between these two.

-As Arnold was taller,

-he always took the title.

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

-is a massive inspiration.

-He came over to America on a dream.

-Myself and Arnie's paths

-have crossed numerous times.

-One of the more memorable times...

-..was when I won his show in

-Columbus, Ohio, the Arnold Classic.

-We had a little bit of

-tongue-in-cheek banter on stage.

-This is something we all needed,

-thank you.

-Thank you, let me ask you

-the question again...

-..how did you do it?

-You can see why I came here

-27 years ago.

-It's like a paradise.

-The sun, sea and beach are here.

-The weather is fantastic.

-Coming back on this journey

-to follow Flex's success...

-..was important to me.

-He's gone on in the world

-of bodybuilding.

-I gave it up really.

-I wasn't a bodybuilder like him.

-But, I was in that industry.

-I still feel as if

-I'm a part of that industry.

-So his journey is very interesting

-to me and close to my heart.

-.

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-After months of preparation,

-the big weekend has arrived.

-The Olympia competition

-is held annually in Las Vegas.

-This is the biggest bodybuilding

-competition in the world.

-You could say that

-we're climbing Everest.

-The Olympia is the peak.

-Winning the Olympia is like placing

-a flag on the top of Everest.

-It's huge in America.

-If you win the Olympia in America,

-you're immediately hero status.

-Here we are,

-I've reached Mr Olympia.

-We're at a convention centre

-in Las Vegas.

-It's been a dream of mine

-to attend Mr Olympia...

-..since I was a lad training

-on Anglesey.

-Being here today,

-supporting one of our lads...

-..Flex, who's defending

-his Mr Olympia title...

-..is a special feeling.

-I'm so excited to be here.

-It's fantastic.

-The competition itself takes place

-later in a nearby hotel.

-Here at the convention centre,

-there's a huge expo...

-..where fans can meet

-the bodybuilders...

-..and try the latest fitness goods.

-It's a chance

-to take the odd selfie.

-Including a selfie

-with Ronnie Coleman.

-He's won Mr Olympia eight times

-which is a record.

-There's so much going on here,

-all kinds of competitions.

-Anything to do with strength

-and lifting weights is here.

-We've found Flex.

-He's over there meeting people.

-He's signing autographs.

-You can see the size

-of the queue to meet him.

-They all want to meet Flex

-and want a photo with him.

-Can I have your autograph, man?

-Alright, butt?

-You're looking well, boy.

-I'm ready to rock!

-You look about ten years younger.

-You look about ten years younger.

-

-Yes, a shave helps.

-I've been here

-for the last two hours.

-It's just lines and lines.

-Constant. You get some time now,

-this afternoon.

-As soon as this is done,

-I'll lock myself in the room.

-There are two main categories of

-bodybuilders under consideration.

-The Open is open

-to men of every weight.

-The 212 has a weight

-limit of 212 lbs.

-That's a little over 15 stone.

-Flex competes in this category.

-The sun is going down in Las Vegas.

-I'm about to head into

-the big show.

-It's the prejudging for Mr Olympia.

-As you can see, the queue is huge.

-I hope Flex can do it.

-I've got a good feeling.

-Judges make their mind up mostly

-during the prejudging.

-They evaluate the bodybuilders

-over a number of poses.

-He certainly has the beef,

-a lot of mass there.

-He has the shape too.

-The smallest thing

-could lose it for him.

-If his stomach is a little

-distended, if the middle is bloated.

-That can make enough of a difference

-and cause him to lose.

-Flex is right next to Hidea.

-You can have fantastic muscles...

-..but if you don't hold yourself

-well on stage...

-..a less muscular man who's better

-at posing will look better.

-He'll do a better job

-of showing off.

-Like a magpie,

-you've got to strut your stuff.

-You've got to show them

-what you've got.

-Flex looks fantastic.

-But he's got quite a bit

-of competition.

-Yeah, this is pretty close,

-isn't it, DJ?

-This is getting interesting.

-It's been a special night here

-at Mr Olympia.

-Watching Flex compete on stage after

-all the hard work...

-..training and dieting

-and he looked fantastic on stage.

-For my eye, Flex's looked a much

-higher standard than everyone else.

-We'll be back tomorrow night.

-That was the prejudging. 80% of the

-judges' decision was made tonight.

-It's the following day,

-and Flex is back at the expo.

-He's back with his friends.

-Ali is at his side.

-Flex had a promising night

-in the prejudging.

-But he continues to be wary.

-Last night was mainly

-to get into the top five.

-If it's so close,

-they'll rejudge it again tonight.

-The long queue helps to take Flex's

-mind off the final.

-Nice to meet you, Mike,

-where are you from?

-Well, the big night had arrived.

-It's the Mr Olympia finals

-at the Orleans hotel in Las Vegas.

-Flex is in there, probably preparing

-in one of the pump rooms.

-I've got my Welsh flag.

-I'm here to support our lad,

-Flex Lewis from Wales!

-Come on, my lad!

-I don't think Flex

-is going to be challenged here.

-Not today, not tonight,

-not this year.

-We will find out very soon.

-It's a battle for the title

-between these five bodybuilders.

-There isn't much between them.

-It's tight. I think we can safely

-say this is a really tight contest.

-The judges make them switch places

-to compare them.

-It's a tight competition.

-There's some doubt about Flex.

-He might have eaten

-a little too much...

-..he looks like he's not controlling

-his mid section the way he should.

-Flex still looks strong

-on many of his poses.

-The back is thick, it's wide,

-it's detailed.

-The glutes are in, the hams are in.

-Has Flex done enough

-to hold on to his title?

-To your fifth placed finisher,

-David Henry.

-Fourth place goes to

-Eduardo Correa from Brazil.

-Third place goes

-to Jose Raymond from the USA.

-It's down to the final two.

-It's between Flex and

-Ahmad Ashkanani of Kuwait for first.

-Ahmad Ashkanani.

-Flex defends his title.

-Flex defends his title.

-

-Well done.

-Five-time Olympia champion,

-Flex Lewis!

-Congratulations, James "Flex" Lewis.

-Flex has done it.

-He's a five-time Mr Olympia.

-I'm so, so happy!

-It was an incredible competition.

-He looked fantastic.

-Congratulations, James "Flex" Lewis,

-five consecutive Olympia 212 titles.

-Up on stage, when you hear

-your name being called...

-..it's a moment of...

-.."oh my goodness, I've done it."

-It's not anything I can describe

-or relive.

-It's a multitude of different

-feelings thrown at you at once.

-Relief, elation...

-Adiena joined her father on stage

-for the first time.

-Give it up for the Lewis family!

-He had a dream

-from a very young age.

-He wanted to go ahead

-and for people to see his potential.

-He had these incredible genetics.

-He also had it up here.

-If you hit that drive as a person

-to push your body...

-..where there's pain

-and it gets uncomfortable...

-..most people stop there.

-Flex keeps going.

-My journey is almost over.

-I've seen the positive difference

-bodybuilding can have on people.

-People of all backgrounds.

-And the difference it's made...

-..to the life of Wales's

-most successful bodybuilder.

-What next for Flex's career?

-I think it's up to him.

-If he wants to do another Olympia,

-I don't think anyone will catch up.

-It's up to him.

-If he wants to win 10 Olympias,

-he can.

-I'm really hoping at some point

-in the future...

-..we step into that Open class.

-I'm very confident

-that the achievements...

-..he's achieved already in 212

-will be the same in the Open class.

-Flex is a clever businessman too.

-He's got a good head for business.

-I think he'll bring out a

-clothing line and a supplement line.

-That's where the money is.

-I'm not sure,

-but he could be in films.

-Maybe on Coronation Street

-or Pobol Y Cwm.

-I'm not meant to be

-the top of the tree.

-I was told,

-"I'm never going to make it."

-So, my goal

-was to prove everybody wrong.

-We have the responsibility

-to go out and inspire others.

-In the end, we're not going to be

-judged by how much we make...

-..but by how much we give.

-I always tell bodybuilders

-around the world...

-..don't just think about your body.

-Think about going beyond that and

-all those things you can accomplish.

-And all the things you can

-contribute to the world.

-He can do anything,

-he could go into acting...

-..like Arnold Schwarzenegger and

-Lou Ferrigno and Dwayne Johnson.

-Does he carry on?

-Does he keep competing

-in the Olympia?

-Whatever he decides to do...

-..I know that after spending

-quite a bit of time with him...

-..he'll have success

-in that world too.

-It's been a pleasure to follow him.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.