Shawn Ray

In a 2005 interview, Ray said, "the two influences that were the main reasons that I got into bodybuilding in the first place, was bodybuilders Chris Dickerson and Bob Paris."[1] In a 1990 documentary, Ray cited François Benfatto as a major inspiration, along with Paris.

In over 30 major bodybuilding competitions, Ray only failed once to place in the top five. Signing his first professional bodybuilding sponsor contract in 1988, Ray has been featured in six video documentaries; Lifestyles of the Fit & Famous (Biopic), Final Countdown (Contest Prep for Olympia 1998), Inside & Out- Behind the Muscle, a look at his daily life on the Pro Circuit, To The Extreme (Training Video) Best of Shawn Ray (History of Shawn Ray). "Fitness After 40" which is a biographical and documentary instyle, showcases Shawn's life after the competitive stage being married with his first child while getting back on the Horse and getting in shape.

He is mentioned in The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Bill Dobbins and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ray also wrote a book about how to become a bodybuilder, named The Shawn Ray Way. Ray has appeared on more Flexible Magazine covers than any bodybuilder in history and has also featured in many fitness and bodybuilding magazines worldwide. Shawn was a co-host on Flex Magazine Workout on ESPN for 5 years as well as hosting bodybuilding competitions for ESPN as a commentator for 8 years.[2]

Shawn was the Co-Master of Ceremonies for the 2006 and 2007 Mr. Olympia Competitions held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shawn is the creator of the only charity fundraiser for professional bodybuilding, Vyo Tech Nutritionals presents: Shawn Ray's CHOC Hospital Golf Invitational. Over the last ten years with the help of other pro fitness, figure and bodybuilding champions, as well as supplement companies and magazines, Shawn has helped raise and donate over $55,000.00 to the Children's Hospital of Orange County by hosting this event annually at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, CA.

Shawn was the first professional bodybuilder to fail the drug testing at the Arnold Classic, which was when he first lost the title in 1990. He went on to win the title again in 1991.

Ray retired from competitive bodybuilding in 2001 and is now working with a shaker manufacturer company from Sweden called SmartShake. He placed in the top five at the Mr. Olympia competition for twelve consecutive years from 1990 to 2001, two of those being first runner-up finishes.

He promoted the Shawn Ray Colorado Pro/Am Classic Contest-Expo, held in Denver, Colorado in 2006 and 2007.[3] Shawn also produced a DVD titled 'Fitness after 40' in which Shawn tries to get back into shape. Shawn is now a Feature Writer for Muscular Development Magazine and the Host of MD Radio and MDTV as an Interviewer. He is also making a video documentary called Evolution of Bodybuilding – The Movie"

As of 2016, Shawn is in charge of media coverage of The Arnold Classic Sports Festival on behalf of Muscular Development Magazine. In 2017 he announced his retirement from Muscular Development to join the Generation Iron network as a Senior Analyst and Producer. He has since left Generation Iron to pursue his own coverage of bodybuilding via Shawn Ray TV.[4]

Ray is a prominent spokesman, master of ceremonies and expert commentator for IFBB Pro League & NPC shows, most notably the Mr. Olympia. Shawn is currently the Editor in Chief of DigitalMuscle.com, International Representative of top Fitness Equipment Company, Realleader USA and leading ambassador of S-Force Watches while he continues to promote Hawaii's largest contest, NPC Shawn Ray Hawaiian Classic in Honolulu! Shawn received the Ben Weider "Lifetime Achievement Award" in the summer of 2020 for his contributions to the sport and as an athlete on behalf of the Ben Weider family, promoter, Tim Gardner, Dan Solomon and Ron Wilkins.

Ray has become well known for his outspoken nature, and is often criticised for only focusing on bodybuilding stars from the 1990s era, rather than learning more about newer competitors he is supposed to be commentating on. In late 2020 a petition began to circulate on change.org and social media asking for Ray to be removed as a commentator at IFBB shows, and replaced by Canadian IFBB professional Fouad Abiad (although Abiad did not endorse this).