Victor Martinez? Oh yeah, he’s that guy that should have won the 2007 Mr. Olympia, right?
The Dominican Dominator is equally famous for the inventory of adverse events he’s faced in his 18 years as a pro bodybuilder: near career ending injuries, incarceration, the deaths of his parents, losses of a gym and a restaurant, and the brutal murder of his sister. Through it all, Victor never gave up on his dream of being the best bodybuilder in the world. An inspiration to Latinos the world over as well as anyone who’s dealt with struggles and setbacks, Victor’s physique at its best is close to perfection. Martinez is one of those rare specimens who combine mass with ideal shape and structure, with the coveted round muscle bellies and tiny joints that are hard to find even among the pro ranks. I spoke with Victor a couple of weeks shy of his 46 th birthday to talk about his present, past and future.
I need to start with the question on everyone’s mind, with only two more shows left to qualify for the 2018 Mr. Olympia. Are you getting ready for either the Spain or Tampa shows, or are you taking this entire season off?
Spain ain’t gonna happen, because I got a baby coming next week. I’ll go see Steve Weinberger about the Tampa Pro. I’ve been training and prepping. Ideally, I would just do the Arnold Classic next March. This year is the first time in a while where I’ve had with no real headaches or issues. I’m looking pretty good.
So the rumors that you’re retired are false?
Yes, that all started because I used the word “retired” at one point in one interview, and that’s what stuck in people’s heads. Eventually retirement comes for everybody, but I’m not there just yet.
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