Former professional bodybuilder Shawn Ray competed in Mr Olympia 13 times and is one of the most successful bodybuilders of all time.

Ray competed in bodybuilding competitions from his early twenties, signing his first sponsorship contract in 1988. He was a hugely successful star of the scene, appearing in documentaries and being chosen for profiles and interviews as he was a compelling and engaging competitor. Some of the films he has starred in include Lifestyles of the Fit and Famous, Final Countdown, To the Extreme and his own work out video Fitness after 40. He competed in more than 30 major bodybuiliding competitions, only finishing outside of the top five once in his whole career. Ray has appeared on the front cover of Flexible Magazine more times than any other bodybuilder, and has even written his own book on how he achieved his physique called The Shawn Ray Way. He competed in Mr Olympia 13 times and finished in the top five for twelve years in a row before his retirement in 2001.

Since his retirement from the sport, Ray has gone on to be a sports commentator, covering The Arnold Classic Sports Festival and the Generation Iron network, as well as being master of ceremonies and commentator for the IFBB Pro League and NPC shows. He is a legendary figure in the world of bodybuilding and continues to be a key part of the sport despite retiring nearly 20 years ago.