17 Facts About Flex Wheeler

Kenneth "Flex" Wheeler was born on August 23,1965 and is an American retired IFBB professional bodybuilder.

Flex Wheeler won the Arnold Classic a then-record four times and was once described by Arnold Schwarzenegger as one of the greatest bodybuilders he had ever seen.

Ronnie Coleman has stated that Wheeler was the best bodybuilder he competed against.

Flex Wheeler struggled in school due to dyslexia, but excelled in sports.

Flex Wheeler began training in martial arts, and started bodybuilding as a teenager after discovering weight training.

Flex Wheeler competed for the first time in 1983, but it was not until 1989 that he secured a first-place trophy at the NPC Mr California Championships.

Flex Wheeler placed second at the 1993 Mr Olympia, narrowly missing a win.

Flex Wheeler is a 5-time Ironman Pro winner, 4-time Arnold Classic winner, and has won the France Grand Prix, South Beach Pro Invitational, Night of Champions, and Hungarian Grand Prix.

In 1999, Flex Wheeler discovered that he had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a form of kidney disease.

Flex Wheeler announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding in 2000, but continued to compete until 2003.

Flex Wheeler made a comeback at the 2017 Mr Olympia, competing in the Classic Physique division, and finished at 15th place.

In 2007, Flex Wheeler was interviewed by freelance journalist Rod Labbe for Ironman Magazine's Legends of Bodybuilding series.

Flex Wheeler served in an executive position as the Director of Media and Public Relations for the sports nutrition company All American EFX, based out of Bakersfield, California.

Flex Wheeler managed their sponsored athletes and can be seen in advertisements for the company.

In October 2019, Flex Wheeler underwent amputation of his right leg below the knee due to circulatory vascular system problems.

Some medical professionals assert that what led to the need for Flex Wheeler's lower leg amputation was an accumulation of pre-existing medical conditions involving the Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis he acquired hereditarily, leg injuries he received in his martial arts training, his car crash in 1994, and his kidney transplant in 2003, which together long-term resulted in the circulation issues.

Flex Wheeler is brand ambassador of HEMPE pain gels which he says help with his leg amputation pain.