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Shawn Ray – The Best Bodybuilder to Never Win Mr. Olympia

Shawn Ray burst onto the professional bodybuilding scene in 1988 at the International Federation of BodyBuilder’s Night of Champions. He performed in over 30 competitions throughout his career, placing in the top five in all but one competition. He currently holds the title to the most Flex Magazine covers of any bodybuilder in the history of the magazine. In addition to Flex Magazine, he has appeared in fitness and bodybuilding magazines worldwide, as well as videos and documentaries. He is even mentioned in The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding.

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In 2003, two years after retiring from competition, he was voted “Best Bodybuilder to Never Win Mr. Olympia.” While he placed in the top 5 for 12 years running, he never won the title. However, no other bodybuilder has ever placed as a top 5 finalist as many times as Shawn Ray. In looking at his stage performances in competition, there are only two competitors Ray did not beat when pitted toe-to-toe. Those two bodybuilders were Lee Haney and Dorian Yates, competitors who outweighed him by almost 50 lbs each and stood almost a half a foot taller than Ray’s 5’7”, 210lb. competition size.

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Shawn Ray, although retired, has stayed involved in the bodybuilding community. He has hosted or co-hosted shows for ESPN such as Flex Magazine Workout, as well as serving as commentator for the ESPN broadcast of numerous bodybuilding competitions. For a time, he published and made available a book on his bodybuilding techniques called The Shawn Ray Way. While his professional career is one of records, titles, and many near misses for the Mr. Olympia title, since his retirement there have been a host of controversies, rumors, and questioning of past competitions and steroid use. However, the same can be said of virtually any successful professional bodybuilder.

Accomplishments

Mr. Olympia
1988 Mr. Olympia – 13th Place
1990 Mr. Olympia – 3rd Place
1991 Mr. Olympia – 5th Place
1992 Mr. Olympia – 4th Place
1993 Mr. Olympia – 3rd Place
1994 Mr. Olympia – 2nd Place
1995 Mr. Olympia – 4th Place
1996 Mr. Olympia – 2nd Place
1997 Mr. Olympia – 3rd Place
1998 Mr. Olympia – 5th Place
1999 Mr. Olympia – 5th Place
2000 Mr. Olympia – 4th Place
2001 Mr. Olympia – 4th Place

Other Achievements

1983 California Gold Cup
1984 Mr. Teenage Los Angeles (Short & Overall)
1984 Teenage Mr. California
1985 Teenage Mr. Orange County
1985 Teenage National Championships
1985 Jr. World Championships
1986 Jr. National Championships 12thPlace Light heavy)
1987 Mr. California (Lightheavy & Overall)
1987 National Championships (Lightheavy & Overall)
1990 Pro Ironman Champion
1990 Arnold Classic Champion (lost title due to failing drug test)
1991 Arnold Classic Champion
Inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame of professional bodybuilding in January 2007.
In October 2003, El Dorado High School inducted Shawn into its “Football Hall of Fame”In 1983, Shawn set the school’s all-time Rushing record and record for Longest Run from Scrimmage (98 yards), both of which still stand.

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