Some bodybuilders win over judges. Roelly Winklaar won over crowds. 💪
Known as “The Beast” and “The Dutch Beast,” the Curaçaoan/Dutch star built one of the most talked-about physiques of his era — enormous arms, cannonball delts, and a stage presence fans never forgot.
His story is not a simple rise to the top. It is a story of a late start, a long climb, a career-best peak, and then a patient wait that is still going on.
From Curaçao to Rotterdam 🌴
Roelly Winklaar was born in Curaçao. When he was four years old, his father died in a motorcycle accident, and when he was five, his mother moved the family to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
He enjoyed bodybuilding from a young age, but he only turned serious about the sport after a near-fatal car crash brought his life into focus. From that point on, his goal was clear: become a professional bodybuilder.
Much of his early progress came under coach Sibil “Grandma” Peeters, who drilled him on proper exercise technique so he could get the most out of every movement. That grounding shaped the powerful, dense physique fans later knew so well.
The Breakthrough: Pro Card, Then a First Pro Win 🏆
Winklaar earned his IFBB Pro card by winning the 2009 NPC Arnold Amateur overall — the moment that opened the door to the professional stage.
His pro debut came at the 2010 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, where he finished a surprising 7th in a deep field. He followed that with 3rd place at the 2010 Australia Pro Grand Prix.
Then came the announcement: he won the 2010 New York Pro, his first professional victory. Seemingly out of nowhere, a new star had arrived.
A Decade on the Olympia Stage 🏟️
Winklaar made his Mr. Olympia debut in 2010, finishing 14th, and went on to compete at the Olympia 10 times in total — in 2010, 2012 through 2019, and 2021.
He climbed steadily through the ranks: 7th in 2013 and 2015, 6th in 2016 and 2017, and then his career-best moment in 2018, when he finished 3rd behind Shawn Rhoden and Phil Heath.
That 2018 Olympia also brought him the first-ever Olympia People’s Champ Award — a fitting honour for a man the fans had adopted as one of their own. He returned in 2019 to finish 5th, and his last Olympia appearance came in 2021, where he placed 11th.
Like every great of his era, he measured himself against the very best. His story belongs alongside the legends of the sport — the kind of careers celebrated in our look at the legendary bodybuilders who defied time.
The Arnold Classic Chapter 🇦🇺
While the Olympia was his biggest stage, the Arnold Classic circuit gave him some of his finest days. His best finish at the Arnold Classic in Ohio was 4th, in 2018.
That same year he won the Arnold Classic Australia — his best Arnold victory and one of the defining wins of his career. He also finished 3rd at the Arnold Classic Europe in 2012.
Along the way he collected further pro wins, including the Chicago Pro in 2013 and 2014, the Nordic Pro in 2012 and 2014, and the Yamamoto Pro in 2019. He was never a one-show wonder — he was a constant presence at the top of the sport for over a decade.
The Shoulder Injury That Changed Everything 🩹
In recent years, a serious left shoulder injury — and a five-hour rotator cuff operation to repair it — stopped Winklaar’s career in its tracks. Training properly became difficult, and his physique visibly downsized.
On Dennis James’s Menace podcast, he spoke openly about the surgery, the pain, and the uncertainty that followed. Fans wondered whether they had seen the last of him on stage.
His last competition came at the 2021 Romania Pro, where he finished 9th. Since then, he has not competed — but, importantly, he has not retired either.
Still Training, Still Not Retired ⏳
That is the honest position as of 2026: Winklaar is inactive, not officially retired. On the Menace podcast in January 2025, he again refused to close the door on a comeback, while setting himself a hard standard — if he cannot beat his best, he will not step on stage.
He also ruled out a Masters Olympia run, saying those veterans are good. And through 2024 and 2025, his training updates and birthday posts showed a man still in remarkable shape, with those famous arms still very much intact.
Whether he ever competes again is genuinely unknown. What is certain is the legacy: a Curaçao kid who moved to Rotterdam, survived a crash that changed his life, and fought his way to third in the world.
For the full stats-and-records version of his career, see his biography here: Roelly Winklaar Biography. And for the standard others are measured by, read about Lee Haney, the quintessential Mr. Olympia — and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian Oak who became Mr. Olympia.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Where is Roelly Winklaar from?
He was born in Curaçao and moved with his family to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when he was five years old. He is described as a Curaçaoan/Dutch bodybuilder.
What was Roelly Winklaar’s best Mr. Olympia finish?
Third place, at the 2018 Mr. Olympia, behind Shawn Rhoden and Phil Heath. He also won the first-ever Olympia People’s Champ Award at that event.
Did Roelly Winklaar ever win the Arnold Classic?
He won the Arnold Classic Australia in 2018. His best finish at the Arnold Classic in Ohio was 4th, also in 2018. He never won the Ohio Arnold Classic or the Mr. Olympia title.
When did Roelly Winklaar last compete?
His last recorded competition was the 2021 Romania Pro, where he finished 9th. His last Mr. Olympia appearance was also in 2021, where he placed 11th.
Has Roelly Winklaar retired?
No — not officially. As of his January 2025 podcast appearance, he had not retired, but he has not competed since 2021 and has ruled out a Masters Olympia comeback. A return depends on his shoulder and on whether he feels he can beat his best.