{"id":16289,"date":"2026-03-25T03:29:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T03:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=16289"},"modified":"2026-03-25T03:29:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T03:29:31","slug":"bodybuilding-legend-reveals-he-needs-kidney-donor-as-he-opens-up-on-terrifying-health-battle-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=16289","title":{"rendered":"Bodybuilding legend reveals he needs kidney donor as he opens up on terrifying health battle"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER<\/a> <\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n

Published:<\/span>

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Legendary bodybuilder Lee Haney has issued a plea for help after learning that he needs a living kidney donor.<\/p>\n

Concern for the 66-year-old, an eight-time winner of Mr. Olympia, has swelled since his children revealed that their dad’s kidney is ‘failing.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a public call for help, Joshua and Olympia Haney said: ‘First time sharing this\u2014my dad needs a kidney donor. Please keep him in your prayers and share if you can.<\/p>\n

‘He is a Blessing to so many others and breathes life into all he does… there is more work to do.’<\/p>\n

The post on Monday included details from the legendary bodybuilder, who revealed that he was told more than 25 years ago that he would one day need a kidney transplant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Through faith, proper nutrition, and exercise, I was blessed to delay it for many years,’ Haney said.\u00a0‘Now my kidney is failing, and I’m prayerfully hoping to find a living donor.’<\/p>\n

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\"Legendary <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Legendary bodybuilder Lee Haney has revealed that he needs a living kidney donor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"The <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The 66-year-old became an eight-time winner of Mr. Olympia during his remarkable career<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The news sparked an outpouring of support and well-wishes. On Tuesday, however, Haney insisted he is still ‘alive and well’ as he tried to allay fears over his health.<\/p>\n

‘It\u2019s appalling to see how fast rumors can spread,’ he wrote. ‘Yes, I am in need of a living kidney donor as communicated by my two awesome children.\u00a0<\/span>Many of you have sent prayers my way, and I appreciate them deeply. My approach is to be proactive as I face this current challenge.’<\/p>\n

He added: ‘Thank you all for being genuinely concerned… I am still well and fully functional. I\u2019m not needed in heaven at the time.’<\/p>\n

Only Ronnie Coleman has amassed as many Mr. Olympia titles (eight) as Haney, who dominated the competition from 1984-91.<\/p>\n

The 5ft 11in bodybuilder, a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina,\u00a0was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He earlier served as chair of\u00a0the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in Bill Clinton’s administration.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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