Shawn “Flexatron” Rhoden has had one hell of a year. The Jamaica-born bodybuilder shocked fans of the sport when he dethroned seven-time Olympia champion Phil “The Gift” Heath to score a Sandow at the 2018 show. Considering he finished fifth at the 2017 Olympia, no one expected him to be the one to pull off the upset—except maybe Flexatron himself.
After years of hard work, the conditioning and symmetry Rhoden brought to the stage in 2018 outclassed the competitors who simply went for sheer size. In a lineup full of bubble guts and cartoonish muscle, Flexatron’s physique was just the right mesh of old-school and modern bodybuilding ideals. Yeah, he’s huge, but the tight, chiseled core he showed off onstage was the key to his victory over Heath.
Rhoden’s surprising upset brought a whole new wave of attention to the 43-year-old bodybuilder. It also broke a record, making Rhoden the oldest Mr. Olympia ever win the title. His story is an inspiring one, and his social media presence is equally motivational for his 1.2 million Instagram followers. From stage shots to workout videos and encouraging captions, Flexatron knows how to stay engaged with fans. Check out some of his most motivational posts below, and follow him at @flexatronrhoden.
His 2018 win made Flexatron the oldest-ever Mr. O at 43 years and five months. The previous record holder was Chris Dickerson, who was 43 years and two months old when he won.
What’s more motivational than watching a longtime competitor jump up the ranks to clinch his first Mr. Olympia title and dethrone the seven-time winner? Pretty much nothing.
After the big day came and went, Rhoden still looked absolutely shredded. If those quads don’t make you want to hit legs harder this week, we don’t know what will.
In November, Rhoden shared a series of “real life” photos chronicling his road to the 2018 Olympia. Many bodybuilders shy away from photos that don’t show off their best shape, but Mr. Olympia has nothing to prove.
Even from the side, Rhoden’s entire physique was absolutely on point during the Olympia finals. By the time he had been announced as winner, most fans agreed it was well deserved.
Sure, Flexatron’s routine is probably just a little more intense than your average gym goer’s, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t employ the basics. He starts by drinking more water, cleaning up his diet, and kicking it up a notch in the gym.
