Victor martinez, the 2007 mr. Olympia, and what could’ve been
He’s never been the biggest guy, though he’s pretty damn big. He’s never been the leanest guy, but he’s usually lean enough. And he’s never flexed one body part that wows you, but together they all do. Since his pro debut 16 years ago, Victor Martinez has utilized his classical combination of shape and size to etch out a remarkable career much greater than his tally of six pro titles. And yet the past decade was also marred with a pang of melancholy for what could’ve been. This year marks the 10th anniversaries of both the Dominican Dominator’s greatest win and his greatest loss.
THE RISE
Born in the Dominican Republic on July 29, 1973, Martinez won a New York City bodybuilding contest when he was a teenager. He rose through the East Coast muscle ranks but didn’t enter his first pro qualifier until he was 27 in 2000, when, seven months after taking his class but not the overall at the lowly Junior USA, he won the NPC Nationals. Seemingly rushing out of the shadows to beat pre-contest favorite Troy Alves, Martinez was suddenly bodybuilding’s next big thing. At 5'9" and 225, he had it all—quads, lats, pecs, arms, abs—but what was best was the way everything flowed together for a pleasingly symmetrical physique. His shape could make bigger Goliaths look like bags of parts.
Still, he struggled with his conditioning his first two years in the IFBB Pro League and suffered embarrassingly low placings as a result. (Wait, wasn’t Victor in that show?) He won his first pro title in 2003 over a weak lineup and another in 2004 against a stronger cast. The Olympia is where rankings truly get sorted out, and his fifth in 2005 was an eye-opener. The following year, when he was third behind only Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman, this New Yorker had quickly climbed to a bronze place in bodybuilding’s ruling trinity. Could Martinez seize the crown?
Denne historien er fra March 2017-utgaven av Flex.
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Denne historien er fra March 2017-utgaven av Flex.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Compounded Interest
The collective power of compound exercises.
After The O
The post-O tour and the champ’s visit down under.
Structure
Family time, Kevin Levrone, and thoughts about the Vegas shooting.
The Great Indoors
HOW DOES THE CHAMP PREFER TO SPEND HIS FREE TIME?
Squat Less?
You Don't Need The So-called King Of Exercises To Build Tree Trunks.
Olympia Win, Take 7
Following a Seventh Mr. Olympia Victory— Tying Him With the “goat,” Arnold Schwarzenegger— Phil Heath Put His Win in Historical Perspective as Only He Can.
Under Pressure
My Reflections on Finishing Seventh at the Mr. Olympia— and What I Will Do to Break Into the Top Five.
The Other Guys
A Look at the Pros Rounding Out the 2017 212 Olympia’s Top Five.
"That Good"
Fresh Off a Hands-down Olympia Victory That Ties Him With Dorian Yates on the All-time List, Phil Heath Talks About His Latest Statement Win.
The Pec'ing Order
One of the Most Popular Bodybuilders in Ifbb History Is Older, Wiser—and Still a Force in the Pro Ranks. Here, Dominican Dominator Victor Martinez Takes on Chest Training While Revealing His Competitive Plans for 2017.
