The end of real men? Bodybuilding faces a bizarre trend

Forget sweat, blood and iron. Forget monstrous muscles and testosterone-fuelled podiums. The world of bodybuilding, once the domain of real men, is plunging into bizarre absurdity. For a new phenomenon has burst onto the scene that literally spits in the face of the sport's traditional values: men who contort on stage like women.

From Schwarzenegger to... this?

Imagine legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Ronnie Coleman. Men who sculpted their bodies out of steel in garage gyms and whose names are synonymous with strength and masculinity. Now imagine if they were watching today's competition. They'd probably think they were in the wrong movie.

While they used to stun the world with their brutal muscle mass, today some competitions, especially in Brazil, are applauding something completely different. In fact, a "men's wellness" category has been created and it's just as crazy as it sounds.

A parody of fitness or a new reality?

As soon as the hundred-legged dudes leave the stage, they are replaced by men in tight swimsuits, who smile lasciviously and wiggle their hips in poses copied from bikini fitness. The line between male and female is blurred, and the viewer with keener eyes is suddenly unsure whether he is looking at a man imitating a woman or a woman who has forgotten she is a woman.

The organisers, of course, bandy empty platitudes about 'inclusivity' and 'giving space to all'. But what are they really giving space to? The degradation of a sport that has always been about strength and symmetry into a spectacle of theatricality and effeminacy?

The King of Bizarro and his followers

This controversial trend already has its king - a multiple champion named San Moraes. He brags about his "evolution" on social media, and his winning routines, full of ass-twisting, are a nightmare for many old-school fans. Jokes have been circulating the internet claiming that you don't need muscles to succeed in this category, but rather perfect makeup, a manicure and the ability to walk in heels.

Whatever we think of it, one thing is certain. This trend is the nail in the coffin of classic bodybuilding. Even if it sticks in smaller federations for now, it's a dangerous precedent that shows just how far the modern fitness scene is willing to go in its quest to shock. The question is what comes next. Men's synchronized swimming on the podium? Let's be surprised.