Flex Wheeler: A Bodybuilding Philosophy

The world was in shock in late 2019 when Kenneth “Flex” Wheeler had a partial leg amputation. Despite this drawback, he returned to the gym and had a successful recovery. Fans can still see him doing leg presses and heart-pounding workouts. 

Flex is considered one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He won the Arnold Classic four times, published a book, and had a successful career in bodybuilding and martial arts. His remarkable physique earned him the name “The Sultan of Symmetry” and inspired millions of athletes across generations. 

Yet, few know that Wheeler had to overcome endless setbacks to get where he is today. 

The 55-year old bodybuilding legend grew up in poverty and experienced child abuse. His struggles and accomplishments were documented in the video Dare2Dream: The Flex Wheeler Story and his book, Flex Ability: A Story of Strength and Survival. 

Before his retirement at age 37, Flex won 16 out of the 33 pro contests he participated in. In 2017, he made a comeback at the annual Mr. Olympia. The IFBB Professional League says that he had one of the most aesthetic physiques in bodybuilding. 

Flex is living proof that you can achieve whatever your mind can conceive. Today, we’ll share his life story, including his struggles, career highlights, training philosophy, and more. Let’s dive in! 

Who Is Flex Wheeler?

Kenneth “Flex” Wheeler is one of the most prolific bodybuilders of the ’90s. He was born in Fresno, California on August 23, 1965, and started training in martial arts in childhood. Flex discovered his passion for weight training when he was just a teenager. 

The bodybuilding legend competed for the first time in 1983 and had his IFBB pro debut in 1993. Over the years, he won the Iron Pro five times and the Arnold Classic four times. His bodybuilding career reached new heights when he won the Night of Champions in 1996. 

What you may not know is that Flex had a tough life. As a child, he was abused and developed suicidal tendencies. Later, he had a car accident that nearly left him paralyzed. 

But that’s not all. Wheeler was forced to retire from bodybuilding at the age of 37 because of kidney disease. He was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an aggressive disorder that causes scarring of the kidneys. 

These setbacks didn’t stop him from achieving his dreams. 

After quitting a successful bodybuilding career, Flex returned to his old passion—martial arts. Since then, he competed in about 70 fights and worked as director of media and PR for a sports nutrition company. 

Flex Ability: A Story of Strength and Survival, his biography, was published in 2004. The book shares his perspective on life, religion, sports, and other aspects that contributed to his personal development. It also reveals never-before-told secrets about the challenges he faced and how he managed to find the strength to make it through.

Quick Facts 

• Full name: Kenneth Wheeler
• Nickname: Flex Wheeler, The Sultan of Symmetry, Flex
• Birthdate: August 23, 1965
• Birthplace: Fresno, California
• Age: 55
• Off-season weight: 265 to 275 lbs 
• Competition weight: 212 to 240 lbs
• Height: 5’9″
• Chest: 56″
• Biceps: 24″
• Waist: 33″
• Thighs: 31″
• Nationality: American 
• Career: Former IFBB professional bodybuilder, entrepreneur 
• Family: spouse—Madeline Wheeler; children—Nia and Darius; siblings—Sharalene (sister) and Darnell (brother); parents—Gloria (mother) and Owen Webster (father)

How Flex Wheeler Became “the Sultan of Symmetry”

Wheeler often described himself as a martial artist first, bodybuilder second. In childhood, he dreamed of making a career in martial arts, but life had other plans for him. 

He started to lift weights around the same time he learned martial arts and competed in his first bodybuilding contest at the age of 19. Two years later, he got first place at the AAU Teen Mr. America. His nickname, “Flex,” comes from his outstanding flexibility. 

As far as his bodybuilding career goes, he just went with the flow. Flex said in an interview for Generation Iron that he was very skinny as a child. One day some bodybuilders from his city told him that he had great genetics and pushed him to join a local gym. 

Back then, Flex had no idea that one could make a career in bodybuilding. 

He rather saw it as a way to become more disciplined and avoid the problems that many teens have, like joining a gang or dealing drugs. Although he was a late bloomer, he gained the confidence needed to pursue a bodybuilding career after winning his first contest. 

Wheeler enjoyed being a bodybuilder in the first few years of his career, but later he realized that it was a job in itself—one that allowed him to make a living and pay the bills. Even so, he was motivated enough to give his best and reach his full potential.

As he told Generation Iron, “When you switch from being an athlete to taking care of yourself and your family, it changes everything—it changes your whole mentality, and the way you look at things. Somehow it steals away the love of the game because you find out that it’s a business behind it.”

Bodybuilding Career Highlights

Flex won about half of the contests he participated in, notes Muscle & Fitness. Here are some of his most notable victories: 

• 1985: Teen America, 1st place
• 1989: NPC Contra Costa, 1st place 
• 1989: NPC California Championships, 1st place (light-heavyweight)
• 1991: NPC USA Championships, 2nd place (heavyweight)
• 1992: NPC USA Championships, 1st place (overall and heavyweight)
• 1993: IFBB Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic, 1st place
• 1993: IFBB Mr. Olympia, 2nd place
• 1995: IFBB South Beach Pro, 1st place
• 1996: IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational, 1st place
• 1996: IFBB Night of Champions, 1st place
• 1997: IFBB Arnold Classic, 1st place
• 1998: Arnold Classic, 1st place
• 2000: IFBB Arnold Classic, 1st place

In 2017, Wheeler competed in the Mr. Olympia Classic Physique and ranked 15th. Although the champion retired in 2003, he still had the incredible stage presence that made him popular in the ’90s. See our post to find out more about the 2017 Mr. Olympia results! 

Although Flex has never won Mr. Olympia, he doesn’t feel sorry about it. In an interview for Generation Iron, he made it clear that true greatness doesn’t come from a trophy but your legacy and personal accomplishments. He also admits that if he won the title, he wouldn’t have been able to handle himself.

Accomplishments 

• Won 16 out of the 33 bodybuilding contests he participated in
• Overcame major setbacks, including a severe car crash, kidney disease, and leg amputation
• Competed against some of the greatest bodybuilders of all time
• Received the Ben Weider Lifetime Achievement Award
• Launched a collection of luxury fitness shoes
• Served in an executive position for a sports nutrition company
• Developed his own sports supplements 
• Built a legacy that will last forever

Social Media Presence 

Flex has over 620,000 followers on Instagram and 162,000 Facebook fans. His YouTube channel features only five videos, but it still has more than 7,000 subscribers. 

Let’s start with his Instagram page. Here you’ll find a video that tells his life story, as well as family photos, training videos, and images from his younger years. Flex also keeps his fans up-to-date with his workouts and future plans. 

This video, for instance, shows the 55-year-old champion training with battle ropes. He’s wearing a prosthetic leg, but this doesn’t stop him from giving it all in the gym. In another video, you can see him training his chest prior to the 1989 Mr. California. 

His latest posts suggest that he’s planning to launch a line of sports supplements called the Flex Wheeler Signature Series, but it’s unclear when his products will be available to the public. So far, he released a collection of luxury fitness shoes that are custom crafted in Italy. 

Wheeler’s Facebook page features throwback pictures, product updates, and photos of the athletes he’s promoting. Sometimes, he posts inspirational messages to motivate aspiring athletes through the power of example. 

“Not even breaking my neck C5 and C6 could keep me away from competing less than two years later… Never stop fighting for your dreams.” (Wheeler’s Facebook page)

Interested to find out more? Here’s how to connect with Flex online:

• Instagram: @officialflexwheeler
• Facebook: @FlexWheelerr
• Twitter: @Flex_Wheeler
• YouTube: Flex Wheeler
• Personal website: Official Flex Wheeler (coming soon)

His Childhood Was a Nightmare 

Flex Wheeler has made a reputation for himself as one of the toughest bodybuilders. Perhaps it’s his rough childhood that contributed to his personal development and motivated him to fight for his dreams. 

The bodybuilding legend said in an interview for London Real that he was molested as a child. He decided to share these experiences in his book to motivate others who may find themselves going through the same struggles as he did. 

“Things just happen. Everything that you have done to get you here got you here to the person you are, to be able to do what you do.” (Flex Wheeler for London Real). 

Flex has also been bullied in school due to dyslexia. These traumatic experiences resulted in suicidal tendencies, but he didn’t give up. Instead, he started to practice martial arts and channel his energy into sports. 

He Started Out as a Police Officer 

As discussed earlier, the 55-year-old athlete wasn’t interested in professional bodybuilding right from the start. He actually worked as a police officer when he was younger. 

However, his passion for sports took over. After winning his first competition, Flex focused solely on bodybuilding and made a name for himself. 

Wheeler Has Faced Major Setbacks

Flex has faced major challenges in his life, starting with a near-fatal car accident that took place in 1994. He sustained severe injuries to two cervical vertebrae, which forced him to start all over. 

Five years later, he was diagnosed with a hereditary kidney condition. These issues worsened over the next few years, forcing him to undergo a kidney transplant in 2003. His sponsors dropped him instead of showing their support.

Unfortunately, the problems didn’t stop here for Flex. 

In 2019, he had part of his right leg amputated due to circulatory difficulties. The champion is documenting his recovery process on Instagram, so you might want to check it out.

Flex Wheeler’s Training Routine 

Flex has always been a fan of old-school workouts. His training routine consisted of heavy lifting with low reps and was largely based on progressive overload. 

In a 2009 interview for Idai Makaya Publications, Wheeler said that it’s possible to achieve over 80% of your bodybuilding potential by following basic training principles. He stresses the importance of gradually increasing the weight lifted and using compound movements to build mass. 

In his opinion, the best exercises for hypertrophy and strength include classic moves like the squat, deadlift, pull-ups, rows, and presses. 

He recommends performing no more than three sets of each movement. Calf raises, bicep curls, ab work, and other isolation exercises can further shape your physique, says Flex. 

Wheeler used basic movements to gain mass and strength. His back training routine, for example, included one-arm cable rows, seated cable rows, chin-ups, and back extensions. 

Back in the ‘90s, he didn’t have access to the fancy machines that are now available in most gyms, and yet, he managed to build a remarkable physique. 

Wheeler’s Approach to Workout Nutrition 

As far as his diet goes, Wheeler is trying to keep fit and eat clean most of the time due to his kidney problems. 

Stan Efferding, one his trainees, said in an interview for Muscle & Fitness that Flex increased his calories, meal frequency, and training volume before competitions. His pre-contest diet included six meals a day, with six to eight ounces of meat and one serving of carbs per meal. 

About two weeks later, Wheeler decided to increase his portion sizes. Four weeks later, Efferding had eight daily meals. 

This approach was meant to elevate his metabolism and preserve lean mass. At the same time, it trained his body to handle more food and withstand the demands of heavy lifting. 

Flex also taught his student how to pose—and asked him to practice for 30 minutes each night until he was standing in a pool of sweat.

Never Stop Fighting for Your Dreams

Flex Wheeler hasn’t had an easy life. As a child, he was abused and bullied. Later, he had severe injuries and health problems that forced him to start all over. 

Despite these challenges, he became a bodybuilding legend and built a legacy that will inspire generations of athletes. As he says on his Facebook page, “Remember—no one can make you feel inferior without your consent!”

The 55-year-old champion doesn’t think he’s perfect. On the contrary, he believes that there’s always room for improvement. However, he encourages athletes to strive for perfection and give their best. 

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” (Flex Wheeler, Facebook)

We strongly recommend you to watch Dare2Dream: The Flex Wheeler Story or read his book to find your motivation. In the meantime, check out these crazy workouts of the ’70s, which have inspired Flex and other bodybuilding legends. 

Most importantly, don’t give up your dreams, no matter what you’re going through right now. As Flex said, it’s your experiences that make you who you are. 

How do you feel about Wheeler’s philosophy on life, training, and personal development? Would you like to share anything about him? We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts!