Why didn't Phil Heath defend his Mr. Olympia title for the eighth time in a row? IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger has the answer!

American professional bodybuilder Phil Heath is, like the legendary Arnold Scharzenegger, a seven-time Mr. Olympia. Unlike Arnold, however, he has dominated seven in a row, and was just a hair's breadth away from equalling the record held by the duo of Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman with their eight triumphs in a row.

The eighth win was to be Phil's eighth at this year's event, and few could have imagined that it would not be the case. But the opposite is true!
As we all know very well, Phil had to settle for second place this year, bowing to the qualities of Shawn Rhoden.

Many bodybuilding fans have speculated at length about what actually was the real reason for Phil's failure. Vlad Yudin of Generation Iron was also asking the same question, so he invited Steve Weinberger into his studio.

Steve is not only a long-time, and for the last few years, head judge of the IFBB federation, but more importantly he is one of the most respected personalities in the bodybuilding and fitness world. So who else could have the most credible information regarding Phil's loss than him, right?!

In the interview below, Steve says that before the contest he could hardly imagine anyone other than Phil Heath leaving the stage as the winner. However, as he stated, the main reason for Phil's failure was his stomach, which had been blamed on him in previous years.

Although Phil had undergone a hernia and umbilical hernia operation last year to give him sufficient control over his abdominal muscles, unfortunately Phil's belly was too wide!

Steve adds that a wide belly is simply always visible, both in frontal or side poses and in back poses. It spoils the overall balance of the figure and degrades even the best preparedness!
And it was preparedness combined with a wasp waist that led Shawn Rhoden to triumph, and there was not the slightest flaw in his physique!

Phil, in Steve's words, may yet return to the throne, which he believes would be a far stronger story than the one that could have been written earlier this year!

Steve Weinberger on Phil Heath's loss at Mr. Olympia 2018:

What about you? Do you have the same opinion on Phil's loss as Steve? And do you believe Phil can ever return to the throne? You can discuss below the article.