Is bodybuilding a true sport of grit and iron, or just a high-stakes beauty pageant with more muscles Bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray has officially stirred the pot, reigniting one of the most polarizing debates in fitness history On December 20, 2025, Ray sat down with fellow icon Milos Sarcev for a healthy but heated which is the debate, ultimately comparing the Mr Olympia stage to a Miss Universe contest.
Shawn Ray’s Perspective:
During the exchange, Shawn Ray argued that bodybuilding lacks the which is the objective “scoring” seen in traditional sports like basketball or sprinting. Instead, it relies on subjective aesthetic appeal.
- Subjective Judging: Unlike a race where the first person across the line wins, which is the bodybuilding winners are chosen based on a judge’s preference for symmetry, mass, and “the look.”
- The “Crown” Factor: Much like a pageant, the field is whittled down from 50 to a which is the final few until one “beautiful” contestant is crowned.
No Strength Requirement:
Ray noted that despite the massive weights moved in the gym, “nobody has ever which is the asked me how much I can lift when I stand on the Olympia stage.”
Milos Sarcev Fires Back:
Milos “The Mind” Sarcev, known for his scientific approach to training and legendary which is the career, was visibly frustrated by the comparison Sarcev argued that the discipline, the physical toll, and the competitive nature of the “Men’s Open” category qualify it as a legitimate sport.
The Prep as Performance:
The grueling months of “bone-dry” conditioning and extreme dieting are athletic feats which is the in themselves.
The Evolution of the Game:
For Sarcev, the “sport” was established long ago, and reducing it to a pageant diminishes which is the the work athletes put into their physiques.
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