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by Christian Duque<\/em><\/p>\n First and foremost, Martin Fitzwater has become the most talked about bodybuilder on the pro circuit to date. There\u2019s a very real reason for this as his star has continued to climb since winning in Detroit, getting robbed in New York in 2024, winning twice in Prague and placing Top 5 at the 2025 Olympia. Fitzwater, or The Martian as he\u2019s called by a growing army of international fans, keeps his head low and does the business of bodybuilding. He\u2019s a competitor with a huge heart who does not engage in the kind of petty squabbles that bog down so many competitors. He\u2019s openly happy, even supportive, of his fellow competitors. And this mindset isn\u2019t limited to when he\u2019s winning or receiving top honors. Martin is legitimately happy, even in defeat, and that\u2019s quite rare. A lot of people just don\u2019t know what to make of him. Media commentators pick on him often. There are those who are bold \u2013 being cruel to his face, while others employ passive-aggressive tactics. I can see them all, as Martin has become my favorite bodybuilder since the late great Shawn \u201cFlexatron\u201d Rhoden. Flexatron was also targeted by the same type of people who today go after Martin. So why all the efforts at undermining Fitzwater? It\u2019s because he\u2019s the next great champion. Otherwise, he\u2019d be out of sight and out of mind. That\u2019s bodybuilding for ya.<\/p>\n As I said, Martin Fitzwater is the most talked about bodybuilder on the planet. The recent non-incident with Giles \u201cTiger\u201d Thomas at the 2025 EVLS Prague Pro is another example of the distances Fitzwater\u2019s haters will go. I just hope that if he defends his Prague Pro title and makes it a 3-peat in 2026, that the promoter of that contest will show him the respect he deserves and ensure that he competes in a friendly environment. Otherwise, I suspect he might skip their show altogether. I mean, wouldn\u2019t you? After the shitshow following an inadvertent phone tap, would you want to go back? Especially, since for next year\u2019s Prague Pro, Martin may be Mr. Olympia. Hopefully the promoter in Prague gets his head out of his ass and does right by The Martian.<\/p>\n Martin Fitzwater IS the next Mr. Olympia. It should happen in 2026, but it may take another 1-2 years. Either way is fine. Bodybuilding is not a race, rather, it\u2019s a marathon. If Martin were to move up from 5th to 4th at the 2026 Olympia, that would be a step in the right direction. If he went from 5th to 3rd, that would be huge!! As long as he remains in the Top 6 \u2013 at that level and continues winning big shows \u2013 his future is set. That said, Martin\u2019s rise won\u2019t take that long. At least not based on his trajectory and not based on his potential. Much like Brandon Curry did in 2018, I suspect that Fitzwater will use his Top 5 placing in 2025 as a springboard to winning the title in 2026.<\/p>\n But here we are, four paragraphs in, and we still haven\u2019t talked about the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH. Martin will be doing the contest, as well as a second Arnold Classic. For all intents and purposes, however, the original is the big ticket. The Arnold Classic is the 2nd most prestigious bodybuilding contest on the calendar. In terms of prize money, it exceeds the Olympia, but its value in terms of bragging rights is crucial. In recent years, Arnold winners have included Samson, Hadi, Brandon and Derek \u2013 all Mr. Olympia champions. Ramy tried his hand at winning the Arnold after losing his second Olympia defense, and placed 5th. The Arnold is as competitive as it gets and would be the perfect springboard for Martin. If he placed Top 5 in the O and then Top 3 in Columbus, he would be in a strategic position to win the 2026 Olympia. Hell, more than strategic, he would be arguably the #1 or #2 contender in terms of public opinion. On a much lesser note in terms of standing for the 2026 Olympia, if he was able to defeat his nemesis Nick \u201cThe Mutant\u201d Walker that would settle a running joke. It would finally put to rest a rivalry that lives in the head of many celebrated writers and at least one supplement company owner and media celeb, Fouad Abiad of Hostile Supps.<\/p>\n
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