Muscle + Maturity

Owning Mistakes, Overcoming Returning to Form, Victor Martinez, 43, Is Attacking the Sport—and Life— With New Vigor and Perspective.

- Eric Velazquz

HISTORY’S BEST BODYBUILDERS— defined in this case as those who enjoyed success over a relatively long period of time—have been blessed by two things, one more obvious than the other. The first is an exceptional genetic blueprint that boasts among other traits a perfect skeletal structure, a naturally narrow waist and a volcano-hot metabolism that incinerates unwanted body fat around the clock. But the second factor is more nebulous and perhaps more elusive: extraordinary luck. That’s because consistent placings are also the by-product of injury-free training, a stress-free home life, and relatively few distractions.

Victor Martinez has the double-helix half of the equation down. The other half? Not so much. Still, despite a spate of potentially career-ending injuries and a steady stream of personal chaos, he has remained a consistent top-10 fixture on the IFBB circuit. A win at this year’s Baltimore Pro, his first such placing since 2013, thrust him back into the spotlight and, perhaps, back into the Olympia’s coveted top 6. (NOTE: As of press time, the Olympia was still weeks out.)

An accomplishment like that would be fine by Martinez, but his goals are much simpler: to train intelligently and with intensity, to live life simply but efficiently, and to beat Dexter Jackson, who serves as both rival and inspiration to the Dominican Dominator.

LOOKING BACK, FORWARD

Martinez, who was once anointed by Ronnie Coleman as a future Mr. O, nearly fulfilled that prophecy in 2007 when he finished a close second to Jay Cutler in the Olympia. Many observers felt that he was sharper and had better lines than Cutler, who had been sick for days leading up to the show. Ever the sportsman, Martinez let it be. Fans opined that it was his best condition ever, but he feels otherwise.