Victor Martinez not even 40 years old, and he’s endured enough drama for five lifetimes. But whatever curve balls life has thrown at Victor, he rose above it all. The trials and travails of Victor have included a 2003 felony conviction for which he spent 90 days in jail; losing the 2007 Mr. Olympia, which many thought he deserved to win; the barbaric murder of his sister in 2009; being incarcerated for seven months with the threat of deportation hanging over his head, before being released in April 2012; and most recently, suffering the career threatening injury of breaking his arm last September. But this is Victor Martinez we’re talking about – no ordinary bodybuilder, and an extraordinary man.
There is a silver lining to Victor’s story: he is an iron warrior, with a will to bounce back and persevere no matter what’s on his plate. Victor has been through hell, which makes his comeback at this year’s New York Pro on May 25th a story of blood and guts, a testament to his willpower and one of most eagerly anticipated appearances of any pro on a bodybuilding stage in years. Victor is the favorite to win this year’s New York Pro, because he’s a damned good bodybuilder and also because the New York Pro is an opportunity for Victor to show the world what he’s got. “This is it, man: the supreme competitive battle of my career. I’ve never been more driven because I know what’s at stake,” Victor tells Peter McGough. Peter’s exclusive interview looks at the relationship between Victor and second-year pro Jon De La Rosa, who have forged what may be bodybuilding’s strongest friendship. When they stand together for the first time at this year’s New York Pro, Both men for very different reasons – will be at a crucial career crossroads.
Antoine Vaillant won the overall Canadian Championships in 2012, and earned the right to turn pro – after six years in the amateur ranks in his native Canada. The Pros are a whole new ball game, the major leagues if you will, and every man stepping up to that plate for the first time has something to prove – that he deserves to stand among the best in the world. In “Stepping Up to the Big Leagues! Antoine Vaillant prepares for his IFBB debut at the New York Pro”, Antoine talks about his prep for his pro debut and how he’s gearing up to make a major impact.
Juan Morel displayed a sick physique at last year’s New York Pro. You want an X-frame? Morel had it – super –wide shoulder span tapering down to a tiny waist, full, round arms and flaring quads. Morel placed fourth, and then went on to his first pro win at the Europa Battles of Champions in Hartford, Connecticut. In “Diesel Redux: Juan ‘Diesel’ Morel Is Ready to Do Damage at the New York Pro.” We take a look at his training and diet. With another solid off-season behind him, no one is underestimating what Juan Morel is capable of this year.
Team MD athletes Dexter Jackson and Flex Wheeler have the distinction of being the only four-time Arnold Classic champions in the history of the contest. In “Flex and Dex! The Only Two 4-Time Arnold Classic Champs Reminisce”, Flex talks to Dexter about how it feels to tie Flex’s record, his memories of Arnold shows past, and how this fourth win was something he never thought would be possible.
New Team MD athlete Cedric McMillan says that winning is not what drives him, but that didn’t stop Cedric from winning the New York Pro last year and being among those favored to win this year. He is a man who started out with very little, and for whom bodybuilding is a personal journey. As Dan Solomon explains in “The Curious Case of Cedric McMillan.” Cedric competes for reasons that most of his rivals couldn’t possibly understand. “Anyone who questions my hunger doesn’t really know me,” Cedric says.
2013 Bikini International champion India Paulino is a tomboy who wears lingerie well…when she wears anything at all. In “Three Sheets to the Win,” this month’s Major Distraction India returns to MD for a romp between the sheets. India will also return on May 25th to defend her New York Pro crown.
At MD, we pride ourselves in bringing you the best magazine and website in the bodybuilding universe. So we are very pleased that the King of Bodybuilding Arnold Schwarzenegger, praised our efforts during an exclusive interview. Read what Arnold had to say about MD in “The Terminator Takes His Hat Off to US” and check out the sidebar, “Why MD is #1.” Thank you, Arnold, for acknowledging our work at MD. “Arnold Corner,” a new column with Arnold, debuts this month in MD.
It is with deep sadness that I must acknowledge the passing of Joe Weider. He was a great man…a legend…an icon. The father of modern bodybuilding, there will never be another Joe Weider – ever! His accomplishments in bodybuilding are second to none. Joe and his brother Ben started the biggest and best bodybuilding federation in the world, now known as the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness (IFBB). And they created a multimillion-dollar fitness publishing empire. Joe Weider transformed the lives of many, and we are all forever grateful. My prayers and condolences go out to his wife Betty and the Weider family, and Joe’s many friends. May he rest in peace. He will be dearly missed and always remembered.
Muscular Development will have an exclusive feature of Joe Weider “The Untold Stories” by Peter McGough next month. Peter’s “True Brit” column of this month’s issue looks back at Joe’s Legacy.
The rest of the book is packed to the binder as usual – with all the latest cutting-edge research and information on bodybuilding by the industry experts and insiders who make it all happen. See you next month!
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