VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Seven-Time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath On The Joys Of Winning – And Losing

Phil Heath reflected on his many victories – and a few losses – in the competitive world of bodybuilding, after the release of his new film Breaking Olympia: The Phil Heath Story in his new uInterview.

Heath, an esteemed professional bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro League, has secured an impressive seven consecutive victories as the esteemed Mr. Olympia champion, holding the title from 2011 to 2017.

Originally a Division One basketball player, Heath entered the world of bodybuilding in 2002.

“It’s usually not the case, right?” Heath told uInterview founder Erik Meers. “The guy that plays Division One basketball, having hopes of going to the NBA… goes to realizing that that’s just ain’t in the cards. What do I do next? And lo and behold, there’s a guy sitting next to me that’s into bodybuilding and I just start following him around. Next thing you know, I started gaining some real muscles. And I did a few competitions, and it all worked out. It’s so wild how life gives you opportunities to pivot, and I’m so thankful I did because I don’t know where I’d be, to be honest.”

Heath reflected, “My competitive spirit made me want to keep going. I’m just so fascinated over this world of health and fitness. I’m just that excited about working out.”

Over the years, Heath developed a close friendship with fellow prominent bodybuilder Jay Cutler – their profound dedication to the sport became the cornerstone of their enduring bond. Grounded in shared aspirations and a deep understanding of the sacrifices inherent to their craft, their friendship thrived outside of the public eye.

It wasn’t until Heath’s third year in the Pro League, when he had acquired sufficient mass, that Heath made his debut at Olympia, in which he went toe-to-toe with Cutler. Heath thought back, “[I realized] ‘Wait a minute, I have an opportunity to be the best in the world. He’s always going to be your friend, but you need to become Mr. Olympia. You don’t have to beat Jay Cutler.'”

Heath continued, “And you know, that was difficult at first because I’ve always been the person that wants to see everyone win. But in this sport, this is a singular thing, this isn’t a team sport like you think. So I had to talk to myself and say look, ‘You gotta take the friend out of it.’”

Heath emphasized, “In bodybuilding, there’s always someone trying to take you down.”

Breaking Olympia is available on demand on major VOD platforms.