Kai Greene

Last updated

Kai Greene
Bodybuilder
Kai Greene IFBB 2009 Australia 5.jpg
Greene posing in March 2009
Personal info
NicknameMr. Getting It Done
The Predator
Born (1975-07-12) July 12, 1975 (age 48)
New York City, U.S.
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm) [1]
WeightContest: 267 lb (121 kg)
Off season: 300 lb (140 kg) [1]
Professional career
Pro-debut
  • IFBB New York Pro
  • 2005
Best win

Leslie Kai Greene (born July 12, 1975) is an American professional bodybuilder, actor, and artist. He came second in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 editions of the IFBB's Mr. Olympia competition and has not competed in it since, as well as not competing at all since winning the 2016 Arnold Classic, though he never formally announced his retirement. [2] He is often regarded as the best bodybuilder to have never won Mr. Olympia. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Early life

Leslie Kai Greene [6] [7] was born in New York City's Brooklyn borough on July 12, 1975. [8] From the age of six, he was raised in foster care and residential treatment centers in Brooklyn. [9] His online biography states that his rapid physical growth and development drew the attention of his seventh grade English teacher, and since his behavior in school was troublesome, he was inspired to enter teenage bodybuilding competitions as an outlet. [10] He contradicted this claim in the documentary Kai (2022), in which he said that he started bodybuilding during his teenage years to appear less like a potential victim to other residents at the treatment center and that his interest was bolstered by an employee at the center giving him a copy of Arnold Schwarzenegger's book The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, which he also used to learn how to read. [6]

Bodybuilding career

National Physique Committee and New York Pro

Greene began bodybuilding full-time while working at the Johnny Lats Gym in New York, where he started training under Jakob Panotas in 1996. He competed in the National Physique Committee (NPC) and aimed to move into the IFBB; he later perceived his success in the NPC as mixed, primarily because he won the 1999 NPC Team Universe competition but then took a five-year hiatus before re-emerging to win the 2004 NPC Team Universe, which qualified him for the IFBB. [11] In 2011, he began working with preparation coach George Farah and won that year's New York Pro Championship.

Mr. Olympia

Greene's third place finish at the 2011 Mr. Olympia qualified him for the 2012 competition. He would go on to place second at Mr. Olympia in 2012, 2013, and 2014, behind Phil Heath each time. [12] Their rivalry was popular and the 2014 Mr. Olympia became notable for the two antagonizing each other onstage, culminating in a heated exchange during the prejudging phrase. [13]

Greene did not compete in the 2015 Mr. Olympia for undisclosed reasons, though he issued a statement to say that "there is a lot more going on behind the scenes that [he] cannot discuss". He also posted a YouTube video, which is now private, in which he discussed how the experience made him feel like his career was being forced to end against his will before breaking down in tears. [14] Olympia officials allegedly denied any claims that he was banned from competing, but confirmed that he did not register despite being reminded to do so several times since May of that year. Greene requested an extension on the registration period and was given an extra two months, but did not meet this deadline either. [15]

Greene won the 2016 Arnold Classic, which he had also won in 2009 and 2010, but has not competed in bodybuilding since. [2] He declined a special offer to compete in the 2017 Mr. Olympia without having to re-qualify. [2]

In the documentary Kai (2022), Greene stated that he was not allowed to sign up for the 2015 Mr. Olympia because he had started his supplement company Dynamik Muscle while still under contract with Wieder Publications, which also operates Mr. Olympia. [6] [7] The company then sued him for breach of contract and withheld his contract, which was reported to be worth six figures, while still using his name and likeness to promote the competition. [6] [7]

Documentaries

Greene starred in the documentary Overkill (2010), which documented his preparation for his first appearance at the 2009 Mr. Olympia. The sequel Redemption (2010) showcased his training and philosophies for the 2010 Arnold Classic, which he won for the second year in a row. He starred in the documentary Generation Iron (2013), which detailed the lead-up to and events of the 2012 Mr. Olympia competition. He was also featured in the sequels Generation Iron 2 (2017) and Generation Iron 3 (2018), as well as Kai (2022), his own documentary by the same team chronicling his life story. [6]

Technique

Greene has often discussed the "mind-muscle connection". In an article published by Flex , he explained, "The mind-muscle connection is the number one factor in training. You develop it over time by posing your muscle, and also by paying close attention to how your muscles feel when you work them. Eventually, you get to where your mind can read the feedback your muscles are providing, and your muscles can react to the stimulus your mind is providing. Practice posing between sets or anytime. And feel your muscles working throughout your sets. Eventually, your mind and muscles will speak the same language and communicate back and forth." [16]

Sponsors and endorsements

Greene was sponsored by Flex . He launched a supplement brand called Dynamik Muscle in 2015, and a training program called The 5P in May 2016. [17] The latter is named after the acronym for his motto, "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance". [18] He is sponsored by sportswear company Ryderwear, who have released lines of signature clothing and footwear in his name, and he signed a deal with sports supplement and clothing company REDCON1 in 2020. [19]

Other work

Acting

Greene (left) with Aaron Warr (middle) and Toney Freeman (right) in College Debts (2015) My Guaranteed Student Loan.jpg
Greene (left) with Aaron Warr (middle) and Toney Freeman (right) in College Debts (2015)

Greene portrayed a male stripper in the comedy film College Debts (2015) and a villain who fights the protagonist during the opening sequence of the martial arts film Crazy Fist (2018). In January 2017, it was announced that he had signed with The Gersh Agency. [20] He played Funshine in the second season of the Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things (2017) [21] and appeared in the Indian action-thriller film Pogaru (2021). [22]

Art

Greene is an avid artist who often creates self-portraits to help himself build and maintain his ideal physique. [23] [24] In August 2011, he exhibited some of his work to the public; at the exhibition, he stated, "As a professional bodybuilder, I'm a master sculptor. The art show made me realize that I've always been an artist: my medium the human physique. My life is what I make it, just like the art I've produced on canvas and on stage. This art show makes this statement. I'm celebrating some personal accomplishments and my own artistic expression." [25]

Podcasting

In November 2015, Greene and fitness model Krystal Lavenne began co-hosting the weekly Generation Iron podcast, in which they discussed various topics while answering questions sent in by fans. [26] [27] Greene left the podcast at an unknown point in time.

In October 2020, Greene began hosting his own podcast called Getting It Done. [28]

Other

In 2021, Greene became the face of a gaming cryptocurrency called Grapefruit Supercoin. [29]

Controversies

Before his bodybuilding career took off, Greene was often financially destitute and resorted to working as a stripper at some of New York's gay nightclubs; after one particularly bad night in which he made no money and was worried about not being able to eat, he accepted a lucrative offer from a man who hired him to appear in a video that featured him fornicating with a grapefruit. [6] [30] The video, which later leaked online, has often been rumoured to be a behind-the-scenes reason Greene has never won the Mr. Olympia competition. [6] Greene addressed the video in the documentary Kai (2022), which also featured bodybuilders such as Phil Heath and Víctor Martínez defending Greene's decision to make the video and denouncing the criticism he received online. [6]

Contest history

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Olympia</span> Recurring sporting event

Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest in the open division at Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend—an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually and is sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League. Joe Weider created the contest to enable the amateur Mr. Universe winners to continue competing and to earn money. The first Mr. Olympia was held on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, with Larry Scott winning his first of two straight titles. The equivalent female title is Ms. Olympia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergio Oliva</span> Cuban bodybuilder (1941–2012)

Sergio Oliva, often known by his epithet The Myth, was a Cuban-American bodybuilder. He won the Mr. Olympia title three times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samir Bannout</span> Lebanese bodybuilder

Samir Bannout is a Lebanese former professional bodybuilder and coach. He won the 1983 Mr. Olympia title, and is the first Middle Eastern bodybuilder to win the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Cutler (bodybuilder)</span> American bodybuilder (born 1973)

Jason Isaac Cutler known professionally as Jay Cutler is an American retired professional bodybuilder. An IFBB Pro League bodybuilder, Cutler is a four-time Mr. Olympia winner, having won in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010; and a six-time runner-up, the most in history. He also won consecutive Arnold Classic titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004. In 2021, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iris Kyle</span> American bodybuilder (born 1974)

Iris Floyd Kyle is an African-Indian American professional female bodybuilder. She is currently the most successful, female or male, professional bodybuilder ever. She has a total of twenty professional bodybuilding titles, with ten overall and two heavyweight Ms. Olympia titles and seven overall and one heavyweight Ms. International titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robby Robinson (bodybuilder)</span> American former professional bodybuilder

Robby Robinson is an American former professional bodybuilder. Known early in his career as Robin Robinson, he is also known as The Black Prince and Mr Lifestyle. He won various competitions including Mr America, IFBB Mr. World, Mr Universe, Masters Olympia, and other titles of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB), and appeared in several films over a 27-year career as a professional bodybuilder, retiring from competition in 2001 at the age of 55.

Lee Andrew McCutcheon is a competitive bodybuilder. He is a former International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) professional bodybuilder and a current National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (NABBA) professional athlete.

Robert Michael Tschigerillo is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexter Jackson (bodybuilder)</span> American bodybuilder

Dexter "The Blade" Jackson is an American retired IFBB Pro League professional bodybuilder and the 2008 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding and 2012 Masters Mr. Olympia champion. With 29 wins, Jackson has the most professional men's bodybuilding titles. He has the distinction of winning the Arnold Classic a record five times. After winning the Arnold Classic in 2015, he placed second in the 2015 Mr. Olympia. He is from Jacksonville, Florida. He retired from professional bodybuilding following the 2020 Mr. Olympia.

Krisna "Kris" Dim is an IFBB professional bodybuilder.

Víctor Martínez is a retired International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) professional bodybuilder, and the second Dominican bodybuilder to turn professional. His career highlights were winning the Arnold Classic in 2007 and finishing runner-up at the 2007 Mr. Olympia. He signed a contract for a sponsorship deal with Maximum Human Performance which also sponsors Michael Kefalianos.

Mark James Dugdale is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder. He lives in Woodinville, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Heath</span> American bodybuilder

Phillip Jerrod Heath is an American IFBB Pro League professional bodybuilder. He is a seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, having won the competition every year from 2011 to 2017. His latest victory tied him with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the joint-second number of all-time Mr. Olympia wins, behind Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney, who are joint-first with eight wins each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toney Freeman</span> American IFBB bodybuilder

Toney Freeman is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and brand ambassador residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Gaspari</span>

Richard Gaspari is an American retired professional bodybuilder, and a former member of the IFBB. He came in second place at the 1986, 1987, and 1988 Mr. Olympia competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Curry</span> American professional bodybuilder

Brandon Curry is an American professional bodybuilder who competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League. He is the 2019 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champion.

Benjamin "Ben" Pakulski, nicknamed the Pak-Man, is a Canadian IFBB professional bodybuilder and winner of the 2008 Mr. Canada competition. In the IFBB, he finished 2nd twice in 2008. He has increased his standing in the Arnold Classic competition, placing 2nd in 2013, after a 4th-place finish in 2012 and a 10th-place finish in 2011. In the 2012 Mr. Olympia contest, his first-ever, he finished 11th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Rhoden</span> Jamaican-American bodybuilder

Shawn Rhoden was a Jamaican-American IFBB Pro professional bodybuilder and past Mr. Olympia. He won the 2018 Mr. Olympia contest by defeating seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath.

Egberton Rulove "Roelly" Etienne-Winklaar is a Curaçaoan/ Dutch IFBB professional bodybuilder. Winklaar is generally considered to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of the modern era, displaying a rare combination of massive size and excellent conditioning.

Christopher Adam Bumstead, known by his fans as CBum, is a Canadian IFBB Pro League professional bodybuilder. Bumstead is the reigning five-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique Champion, winning five consecutive titles from 2019 to 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 "Kai Greene: Height, Weight, Arms, Chest, Biography – Fitness Volt". fitnessvolt.com. September 8, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kai Greene teases fans with big announcement". November 24, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Top 6 Uncrowned Bodybuilders of All Time | Generation Iron". December 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Most Popular Bodybuilders That Never Won Mr. Olympia". October 29, 2018.
  5. ↑ "8 Bodybuilders That Never Won Mr. Olympia". October 23, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kai (2022).
  7. 1 2 3 Pinnacle Sports Media & Entertainment, Inc. v Greene. justia.com
  8. ↑ "Kai Greene - About". Facebook. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  9. ↑ I AM MORE than an ARTIST. officialkaigreene.com
  10. ↑ "Kai Greene Online Biography". April 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2004 NPC Team Universe Results". Bodybuilding.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  12. ↑ Norton, Layne (August 21, 2015) 2014 Olympia Weekend: Mr. Olympia Final Results. bodybuilding.com
  13. ↑ Merritt, Greg. "The 2014 Mr. Olympia". The Barbell. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKgXoSck8eM
  15. ↑ Kai Greene: Bodybuilder Banned From Mr. Olympia Competition, Could Lead To Major Rift In The Sport. Inquisitr.com. Retrieved on May 11, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Kai's 10 Big Back Principles". americanmediainc.com. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Kai Greene Launches The 5P's Training and Diet Program". Ectomorph Bodybuilding | Skinny Yoked. May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Kaigreene". the5p.com. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ G.R.P.F.T. G.r.a.p.e.f.r.u.i.t. H.o.l.d.e.r and PR Spokesman "KAI GREENE x REDCON1, THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS HOODIE".
  20. ↑ "Kai Greene on Instagram: "We will soon see Kai Greene on big screen Hollywood."".
  21. ↑ Frater, Patrick (February 18, 2018). "Berlin: Kai Greene Stars in 'Crazy Fist' for All Rights Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Kai Greene on Instagram: "15 hours of filming straight on day 2!"".
  23. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Kai Greene Rooftop Art Studio". YouTube .
  24. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Kai Greene "Believe" Design". YouTube .
  25. ↑ "The Art of Kai Greene". September 2, 2011.
  26. ↑ Audio « Play.It. .play.it. Retrieved on May 11, 2016.
  27. ↑ Podcast With Kai Greene: Listen to the Premiere Now!. Generation Iron. Retrieved on May 11, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Kai Greene Announces His New "Getting It Done" Podcast". October 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ https://grapefruitcoin.com
  30. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1eLZSCxpQs
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.