Initially, let’s not fall sufferer to the concept that the bodybuilding media is one massive conglomerate of like-minded retailers as a result of that couldn’t be farther from the reality. If the web and social media have given us something, it’s true range within the area of journalism. For as a lot as I miss the magazines, they principally managed the route of the game. When you weren’t in FLEX, Muscle Magazine, MD, or Iron Man, you have been principally not on the radar. You had ESPN and FOX cowl choose contests and it’s possible you’ll even have had some mainstream print protection, however for probably the most half the magazines dominated the day. These days, the web covers a large spectrum of stories and commentary websites. You may learn from retailers all around the world. I wouldn’t brush the press with the identical brush, however in the case of Martin, all bets are off.
Whereas everybody agrees that The Martian has all of the makings of a future Mr. Olympia, there’s no scarcity of speaking heads trying to take a shot at him. Whether or not they make movies, pen op ed articles, or make the rounds showing on present after present that may have them. They’ve plain hostility in direction of this competitor. And it appears the higher he does, the angrier they get.
I do know many readers need me to call names, however you recognize the individuals I’m speaking about. I believe a few of you simply wish to see drama. And I’ll be the primary to concede that drama does qualify as leisure. In truth, for some, it’s probably the most entertaining sideshow within the sport. Don’t get me fallacious, I’ve been there and performed that, however I refuse to provide press to the very individuals who I’m criticizing. To call them and level out their shortcomings provides them extra clout. So, let’s simply agree that there’s an plain animus in opposition to Martin and people voices have a tendency to manage the dialog.
Only in the near past Fitzwater visitor posed on the Department Warren Basic, drawing criticism from the aforementioned solid of characters. They accused him of being “not on time” regardless of the competition being almost 100 days out from the Olympia. Additionally they used the bottom grade video they might discover. And from that video that pulled a nonetheless body of Martin talking to the viewers. You may accuse me of fanboying Martin all you need, however the actuality of the matter is that they seemed for the least flattering picture they might discover after which took that to press. They may have taken a nonetheless from the posing routine, albeit on a low-res video, to no less than exhibiting The Martian flexed or in a pose. However that might have been too truthful. There’s nothing truthful, a lot much less goal about these gunning for Maritn. They usually don’t care. They wish to see him fail. That’s their modus operandi they usually put on it proudly.
Lots of people are nonetheless upset with Martin over the run-in over in Prague some years in the past. Extra individuals are nonetheless hung up on this 12 months’s Arnold Basic. Ought to Martin have celebrated Nick dropping to Andrew? Perhaps not, however these guys have been in a heated rivalry. Why was everybody so upset? Perhaps they didn’t desire a throwback to the 2014 O? I might see that, however these guys weren’t getting bodily. Plus, Nick had been an asshat to Martin over time. Even after Nick barely “beat” Fitzwater on the extremely controversial 2024 New York Professional, Walker by no means acknowledged Martin as a competitor on his stage. That might be seen as poor sportsmanship however Nick can do no fallacious within the eyes of numerous media retailers. They like him as a result of they’ll get hits off him. They get hits off Fitzwater too, however they like rallying behind Nick due to the freak issue. Martin has a much more aesthetically pleasing physique. He has no weak factors and he’s a superb poser, however the retailers relatively deny him press over guys like Nick. To every, their very own, proper? However what they appear to hate most is seeing Martin rise just like the phoenix.
After Columbus this 12 months, a lot of the media got here collectively and created a shitstorm that resulted in Martin dropping all his sponsors and even doubtlessly dealing with some form of suspension from the Federation. He didn’t break any guidelines, however they tried their hardest to sideline him and run him out of the game.
Sadly, a lot of Fitzwater’s sponsors have been weak as water. A lot of them folded like an affordable swimsuit earlier than the media stress. One key level that must be stated about these spineless corporations is that they didn’t even maintain for every week or perhaps a few days. All of them dropped Martin in a matter of hours. I’d say inside 24hrs Martin misplaced or knew he was going to lose that overwhelming majority of his backers. Whereas his enemies celebrated, most individuals thought this was it for Martin, no less than for 2026. They’d all however written him off for the upcoming Arnold Basic UK. They figured he’d discover a option to again out of it. These guys have been banking on the truth that with out sponsors and with the information of Martin’s self-imposed break from social media, that he was performed for. Not solely have been they fallacious, however Martin hit the stage on the Arnold UK, acquired High 4, and gained the help of a truckload of extra followers. He’s not excellent – nobody is. He’s solely human. That stated, his phrase is his bond.
Martin Fitzwater is old-fashioned. When he commits to a contest, he competes. And it goes with out saying, however he doesn’t simply compete, he brings his finest.
As quickly as phrase acquired out that Martin was doing visitor posing appearances, I’m positive that many retailers marked their calendars, hoping for any footage and/or images they might use to jam him up. I have to give large kudos to Nick’s Power & Energy. Nick Miller was in a position to procure a high-res video and confirmed us the place Martin actually is physique-wise. Miller additionally identified that the body making the rounds was of Martin talking to the group – as if the mic in hand weren’t sufficient. He wasn’t posing or holding in his midsection, he was addressing an viewers, answering questions, and dare I say – perhaps even laughing out loud. This what bodybuilding has change into – no completely different than the mainstream media with their hit items.
Martin is on monitor. He’s visitor posed since and he’s visitor posing this weekend, too!! There’s no want for him to compete anymore earlier than the O. He’s already certified and has performed two Arnold Classics. He’s saving his finest for the Olympia. That’s what you name doing the enterprise of bodybuilding. Plain and easy – no nonsense.
The haters aren’t going to go away. It doesn’t matter what Martin says or does, they’ll be gunning for him. Martin is aware of this, however one of the best payback is getting higher and higher, and that’s precisely what he’s all about.
Do you assume a time will come when the tide turns? When Martin’s haters flip into followers? All I can say is, don’t consider every little thing you see or hear – particularly within the health trade. Demand extra, THEN determine.
As all the time, I hope you loved studying my article right here at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. Please remember to copy and paste a hyperlink to this text for all of your social media feeds. It’s sure to generate full of life dialog.
Writer Bio:
Christian I. Duque is the proprietor of StrengthAddicts.com, a physique and energy web site based in 2008. He has labored for plenty of bodybuilding web sites, together with RX Muscle and Muscular Growth. Christian has written almost 1,000 revealed articles for IronMag Weblog, in addition to articles for StrengthAddicts, RX Muscle, and others. By day, he’s additionally a licensed legal professional working towards within the areas of household legislation, immigration, and prison protection.
