A Phil Heath comeback is the stuff of dreams for bodybuilding enthusiasts, and it's a notion he's not ruled out entirely. Despite retiring from competitive bodybuilding following his 3rd place finish at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, the former seven-time champion has managed to keep himself within striking distance of his old championship, despite dismissing calls from fans who’ve been clamoring to see him take another shot at tying the record of eight Mr. Olympia wins, which is currently held by Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman .
Recently, Heath mused about a return to the Olympia, but with one condition – it would have to be a single-day event.
While most divisions wrap up the prejudging and finals in a single day, the Men's Open is an exception. The prejudging unfolds on Friday night, with the finals scheduled for the following day.
While Heath hasn't etched anything in stone, he's hinted at a potential return if the Olympia reverted to its one-day format.
In a candid conversation with Bryce Henson, Heath delved into various aspects of his career and retirement, inevitably touching on the prospect of a comeback.
Heath recognized the unique challenges of a two-day event, particularly in terms of maintaining peak condition. If the Olympia reverted to its original one-day structure, the seven-time champion might seriously contemplate a return.
Phil Heath went on to dissect the distinctions between one and two-day events, citing Ronnie Coleman's defeat to Jay Cutler in 2006. That year marked the first time a reigning champion competed in a two-day show.
“...HE’S AN EIGHT-TIME MR. OLYMPIA BUT I STILL PERSONALLY FELT LIKE HE’S THE FIRST SO HE DIDN’T KNOW PROBABLY HOW TO PEAK FOR TWO DAYS. THAT’S HARD BECAUSE YOU’VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.”
While it's improbable that the Olympia would revert to a one-day affair, considering the buzz that it would generate if Phil Heath were to grace the stage for a comeback, and the sweeping rule changes that we’ve seen go into effect across multiple divisions in the 2023 season, it might not be too far-fetched to see the contest revert back to its one day format, which might enough to entice Phil back to the stage for one last dance.
