William Martins is a Brazilian IFBB Pro League bodybuilder in the Men’s Open division — a competitor who built his name the hard way, one placing at a time. 🇧🇷
He has never won a pro show, and he has never stood on the Mr. Olympia stage. What he has done is arguably just as telling: across six pro seasons he kept finishing within striking distance of the podium, including two fourth places at his home country’s biggest show, the Arnold Classic South America.
This refreshed biography sticks to his verified contest record — and clears up the stats and stories the old version of this page got wrong or simply made up. 💪
📋 William Martins Quick Facts
| Full Name | William Martins |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Division | Men’s Open Bodybuilding |
| IFBB Pro Card | 2019 — Musclecontest Brazil Championships |
| Pro Debut | 2021 Puerto Rico Pro (7th) |
| Pro Wins | 0 |
| Best Pro Results | 3rd — 2021 Mr Big Evolution Pro; 3rd — 2022 Musclecontest Brazil Pro |
| Arnold Classic South America | 4th in 2022 and 4th in 2024 |
| Mr. Olympia Appearances | 0 |
| Last Verified Contest | 2024 Arnold Classic South America (4th) |
| Status in 2026 | No pro contest recorded since April 2024; works as a coach and content creator |
🎯 The Amateur Climb and the 2019 Pro Card
Martins first appeared in the official record in August 2018, taking second place in Men’s Bodybuilding at the Musclecontest Brazil Pro Qualifier.
The following spring he tested himself against a bigger field at the 2019 Arnold Amateur South America and came away with third place — proof he belonged near the top of the Brazilian amateur scene.
His breakthrough arrived in August 2019. At the NPC Worldwide Musclecontest Brazil Championships, Martins won his class and earned his IFBB Pro card, joining the professional ranks in the Men’s Open division. 🏆
⏳ A Debut Delayed — Puerto Rico 2021
The plan was to make his pro debut at home, at the Arnold Classic South America in 2020. The pandemic had other ideas: the show was postponed, and Martins’ first pro season went on hold with it.
He finally stepped onto a pro stage on June 26, 2021, at the Puerto Rico Pro, where he placed seventh in a deep Open line-up.
A month later he travelled to Portugal for the Mr Big Evolution Pro and took third place — the first pro podium of his career, and a sign that the long wait had not been wasted. 🥉
🏟️ 2022: Fourth in São Paulo and a Home Podium
Martins opened his 2022 season at the Arnold Classic South America in São Paulo. He placed fourth in a show won by Rafael Brandao, finishing just ahead of Emir Omeragic in fifth.
Weeks later he was back on a Brazilian stage at the Musclecontest Brazil Pro, where he placed third — his second pro podium in two seasons.
He closed the year in Italy at the Tsunami Cup Pro with a sixth-place finish, completing a busy three-show campaign across two continents.
✈️ 2023–2024: Reno, Then One More Run at the Arnold
In October 2023 Martins travelled to the United States for the Legion Sports Fest Pro in Reno, where he placed eleventh — a tough result in one of the season’s stronger Open fields.
For 2024 he linked up with veteran coach Chad Nicholls and aimed everything at one show: the Arnold Classic South America in São Paulo.
The bet nearly paid off. In April 2024 Martins placed fourth, behind winner Rafael Brandao, runner-up Tonio Burton and third-placed Ugolnikov Vitalii — matching the best Arnold result of his career on home soil. 🔥
📜 William Martins Contest Record
| Year | Contest | Level | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Musclecontest Brazil Pro Qualifier | Amateur | 2nd |
| 2019 | Arnold Amateur South America | Amateur | 3rd |
| 2019 | Musclecontest Brazil Championships | Amateur | 1st — pro card earned |
| 2021 | Puerto Rico Pro | Pro | 7th |
| 2021 | Mr Big Evolution Pro | Pro | 3rd |
| 2022 | Arnold Classic South America | Pro | 4th |
| 2022 | Musclecontest Brazil Pro | Pro | 3rd |
| 2022 | Tsunami Cup Pro | Pro | 6th |
| 2023 | Legion Sports Fest Pro | Pro | 11th |
| 2024 | Arnold Classic South America | Pro | 4th |
Read the table honestly and a clear picture emerges: seven pro shows, two podiums, two Arnold top-fours — and the win that would have carried him to the Olympia always one or two placings out of reach.
📍 William Martins in 2026
As of October 2026, Martins has not appeared in an IFBB Pro League contest since that fourth-place finish at the 2024 Arnold Classic South America.
He has made no retirement announcement, and no comeback show has been confirmed. Away from the stage, he remains part of the Brazilian fitness scene as a coach and through his training content online. 🎥
Whether the story has another chapter is an open question. What is already on the record is a career built on consistency: a pro card earned at home, podiums on two continents, and two near-misses at one of the sport’s biggest titles.
❓ William Martins FAQ
Has William Martins ever won a pro show?
No. In seven IFBB Pro League appearances his best results are two third-place finishes — the 2021 Mr Big Evolution Pro and the 2022 Musclecontest Brazil Pro — and two fourth places at the Arnold Classic South America.
Has William Martins competed at Mr. Olympia?
No. He has zero Olympia appearances. Because he never won a pro show, he never secured an Olympia qualification.
When did William Martins turn pro?
In August 2019, when he won his class at the NPC Worldwide Musclecontest Brazil Championships. His pro debut came two years later, at the 2021 Puerto Rico Pro, after the pandemic postponed his planned 2020 debut.
What is William Martins’ best result?
By placing, his two third-place pro finishes. By prestige, his fourth places at the Arnold Classic South America in 2022 and 2024 — one of the biggest shows in the sport — are the standout results of his career.
How old is William Martins, and how tall is he?
His date of birth and height are not documented by the IFBB Pro League, NPC News Online or major bodybuilding outlets. Older versions of this page printed an age, height, weight and measurements without any source — those numbers were unverified, so they have been removed rather than repeated.
Is William Martins still competing in 2026?
He has not announced his retirement, but he has no recorded pro contest in 2025 or 2026. His most recent verified appearance is the 2024 Arnold Classic South America, where he placed fourth.
🏁 Final Word
William Martins never got the fairy-tale win — but not many pros can say they finished fourth at the Arnold Classic South America twice, six years into a career that began with a pro card won in front of a home crowd.
If he does return to the stage, the target is obvious and unchanged: the first pro win that has eluded him since 2021. 🔥