Jose María Mete Bueriberi is a Spanish IFBB Pro bodybuilder who rebuilt his career in public, division by division. 🏆
He first made his name in Classic Physique, winning four verified pro shows in 2019 and 2021. Then he tested himself in the heavier 212 division, returned to Classic for one more big runner-up finish, and finally settled in 212.
That second chapter peaked in 2025. He won three 212 pro shows in a single summer and then stepped onto the Mr. Olympia stage for the first time, finishing 13th in the 212 division.
Jose María Mete Bueriberi Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jose María Mete Bueriberi |
| Nickname | Madelman (as reported in the earlier profile) |
| Represents | Spain |
| Born | Equatorial Guinea (as reported in the earlier profile) |
| Date of birth | Not published |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (as reported in the earlier profile) |
| Current division | Men’s 212 Bodybuilding (2024–2026) |
| Earlier division | Men’s Classic Physique |
| Verified pro wins | 7 |
| Olympia appearances | 1 — 2025, 212, 13th place |
| Best result | 1st place (seven verified pro wins) |
| Latest verified result | 2nd, 212, 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro |
Early Life and Start in Bodybuilding
The earlier profile reports that Jose María was born in Equatorial Guinea and later moved to Spain, where his passion for bodybuilding took hold. He is said to have started training in the gym with friends in 2007.
Those early-life details come from the earlier profile only and could not be re-verified from independent sources for this refresh, so they are presented here as reported background rather than newly confirmed facts.
What is certain is the shape of his competitive rise. By the end of the 2010s he was already a pro-level Classic Physique contender, and his breakthrough win came at the 2019 San Marino Pro.
Classic Physique Breakthrough
Jose María won the Men’s Classic Physique title at the 2019 San Marino Pro, topping the official NPC News Online scorecard for that show. That victory put him firmly on the European pro map.
His best season in Classic Physique came in 2021. He won the Bigman Weekend Pro in Spain, the KO Pro in Egypt, and the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, and he added a third-place finish at the Europa Pro behind Fabian Mayr and Ramon Dino.
Those 2021 results were strong enough to put him on the qualified list for the 2021 Classic Physique Olympia. He does not, however, appear in the final 2021 Olympia Classic Physique scorecard, so that year is counted here as a qualification only — not as an Olympia appearance.
The Arnold Classic UK — and a Division Switch
The old version of this article still said Jose María “will debut” at the 2022 Arnold Classic UK in Classic Physique. That preview framing is now out of date, and the division was wrong too.
He did compete at the 2022 Arnold Classic UK in Birmingham, but in the 212 division, where he finished 7th. The Classic Physique title there went to Michael Daboul, and Jose María does not appear in that division’s final results.
No result was found for Jose María at the Arnold Classic in Ohio (Columbus). His verified Arnold appearance is the UK show only, and it was in 212 — an early sign of where his career was heading.
One More Classic High, Then the Move to 212
After a quiet 2022 on the results sheets, Jose María returned to Classic Physique for the 2023 Europa Pro Championships in Spain. He finished second there, behind Wesley Vissers, in a final that drew praise for the contrast between Vissers’ long lines and Jose María’s dense, compact build.
That runner-up finish was his last verified Classic Physique result. From 2024 onward, every verified result for him is in 212, starting with fourth place at the 2024 Europa Pro in London, behind winner Muzi Maluleke.
The move made sense for a compact, heavily muscled athlete. In 212, the weight cap rewards density and condition rather than the height-linked weight limits of Classic Physique, and Jose María’s physique fit the new brief.
The 2025 Breakthrough: Three Wins and an Olympia Debut 🌟
2025 was the defining year of his career so far. He won the 212 title at the Mr. Big Evolution Portugal Pro, beating Roman Iushchenko into second place, and that win secured his place at the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
He did not stop there. On July 12, 2025, he won the 212 division at the Euro Muscle Pro in Amsterdam, again ahead of Iushchenko, this time by a single point. Then, on August 23, 2025, he won the Etenon Spain Pro in Torremolinos, his third pro victory of the year.
At the 2025 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, he made his long-awaited Olympia debut in the 212 division and finished 13th, behind winner Keone Pearson. It was not a podium finish, but reaching the Olympia stage — after qualifying in Classic back in 2021 without a final placing — closed a long circle in his career.
2026: Still a 212 Contender
Jose María stayed active in 2026. At the Empro Classic Spain Pro in Alicante on June 21, 2026, he finished second in the 212 division, behind fellow Spaniard Angel Calderon Frias.
He did not appear in the final results of the 2026 Mr. Olympia 212 division, held in Las Vegas in September 2026, so his Olympia record remains a single appearance: 2025, 13th place.
His recent run shows a veteran still chasing the top of a deep European 212 field, with Peter Molnar among the familiar names he has shared stages with over the years. Like Molnar, Jose María has moved between divisions in search of the best fit — and in 212, he has found his most consistent winning form.
Life Away From the Stage
The earlier profile reported that Jose María is married to Raquel Míguez González and that the couple have a daughter. As with his early-life details, that personal background comes from the earlier profile only and has not been re-verified for this refresh.
On stage, his calling card has stayed the same throughout the division changes: a dense, round, well-conditioned physique, built for close comparisons rather than flash alone. 💪
Jose María Mete Bueriberi Contest History (Verified Results)
| Year | Contest | Division | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | San Marino Pro | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2021 | Europa Pro | Classic Physique | 3rd |
| 2021 | Bigman Weekend Pro, Spain | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2021 | KO Pro, Egypt | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2021 | Romania Muscle Fest Pro | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2021 | Mr. Olympia (Classic Physique) | Qualified only | No final placing |
| 2022 | Arnold Classic UK | 212 | 7th |
| 2023 | Europa Pro Championships | Classic Physique | 2nd |
| 2024 | Europa Pro, London | 212 | 4th |
| 2025 | Mr. Big Evolution Portugal Pro | 212 | 1st |
| 2025 | Euro Muscle Pro, Amsterdam (July 12) | 212 | 1st |
| 2025 | Etenon Spain Pro, Torremolinos (Aug. 23) | 212 | 1st |
| 2025 | Mr. Olympia, Las Vegas | 212 | 13th |
| 2026 | Empro Classic Spain Pro, Alicante (June 21) | 212 | 2nd |
Note: the earlier profile also listed a 2021 Mr. Big Evolution Portugal Pro Classic Physique win, 2018 amateur wins in Italy and Hungary, and a first competition in 2016. Independent scorecards for those results were not located for this refresh, so they are not included in the verified table above. See research.md for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What division does Jose María Mete Bueriberi compete in now?
He competes in Men’s 212 Bodybuilding. His verified results from 2024 through 2026 are all in 212, after earlier success in Classic Physique.
Has Jose María Mete Bueriberi competed at the Mr. Olympia?
Yes, once. He made his Olympia debut in the 212 division at the 2025 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas and finished 13th. He qualified for the 2021 Classic Physique Olympia but has no final placing from that year.
What is Jose María Mete Bueriberi’s best result?
First place. He has seven verified pro wins, including three in 2025 alone: the Mr. Big Evolution Portugal Pro, the Euro Muscle Pro, and the Etenon Spain Pro, all in 212.
Did he compete at the Arnold Classic in Ohio?
No verified result was found for him at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. His verified Arnold appearance is the 2022 Arnold Classic UK, where he finished 7th in the 212 division.
Who beat him at the 2023 Europa Pro?
Wesley Vissers won the 2023 Europa Pro Classic Physique title, with Jose María second and German Pastor third.
What was his latest result?
Second place in the 212 division at the 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro in Alicante on June 21, 2026, behind Angel Calderon Frias. He did not appear in the 2026 Olympia 212 final results.
Bottom Line
Jose María Mete Bueriberi’s story is one of patience and reinvention. He won early in Classic Physique, waited years for his Olympia moment, and then earned it the hard way — by winning three 212 shows in one summer at an age when many athletes slow down. ✨
The 2025 Olympia debut was the reward, and the 2026 Empro runner-up finish shows the story is not finished yet. For a bodybuilder once introduced as a future Classic star, the 212 stage has become his true home.