lee mccutcheon priest

Lee Andrew McCutcheon, known professionally as Lee Priest, was born on July 6, 1972, in Newcastle, Australia. His introduction to bodybuilding began at an early age, influenced by his mother, who was also a competitor. Priest started training at 12 under his grandfather’s guidance, competing for the first time at 13 and securing a victory. This early success set the foundation for a distinguished career, winning the IFBB Mr. Australia title at ages 16, 17, 18, and 19. At 17, he placed 4th in the World’s Championship. His talent was recognized during the Niagara Falls Championships at 20, leading to him becoming one of the youngest individuals to earn an IFBB pro card. Priest moved to California at this time, having gained over 70 pounds of muscle during his teenage years.

Priest maintained a successful career within the IFBB for 16 years. A significant achievement came in 2006 when he won the Ironman Pro, a title he had pursued for a decade, consistently placing second or third. Following a hiatus from competitive bodybuilding, Priest made a comeback in 2013, winning the overall title at the NABBA Mr. Universe as an amateur. Beyond bodybuilding, Priest is also an accomplished racing enthusiast and champion race car driver, starting with road and circle track racing in 2002 and transitioning to drag racing in 2004. He secured the Rookie of the Year title in 2005 and won the SCEDA Racing Championship in Lancaster, California, in 2006.

In 2014, Priest joined MuscleSport Magazine, contributing a monthly column both online and in print, and was featured on the cover of their Winter 2015 issue. The “Lee Priest Classic” professional bodybuilding competition was established in his honor, with events held in Sydney, Australia (2015), and the UK (2015), sanctioned by NABBA International and the World Fitness Federation (WFF) International. Priest has also expanded into entertainment, starring in the 2018 horror short film “Round Trip.”