The sport of bodybuilding is filled with tragic and inspiring stories from the golden era to the modern era. Roelly Winklaar is no different. A prominent figure in the realm of bodybuilding, Winklaar has been vocal about the ups and downs in personal and professional life. In his early days, he faced a lot of challenges and tough situations that pushed him closer to bodybuilding.

During his youth, he had a life-threatening accident that brutally hurt his arms and eyes. The accident was so bad that he couldn’t work out for almost two years. Notably, he fought through the pain, and slowly began his training again. The process wasn’t easy, but he didn’t let the hard times define him. Instead, with his sheer dedication he turned things around and made a name for himself in the realm of bodybuilding.

A brutal car accident made Roelly Winklaar stop training for almost two years

The Dutch bodybuilder’s life was filled with obstacles. After coming back home from the World Champion show in Shanghai in 2005, he met with a horrific accident. Which was difficult for him because he had stopped training for almost two years. While talking to former bodybuilder William Bonac, talked about his brutal accident.

Bonac posted a video on his YouTube channel on 14 March 2023, during their conversation 46-year-old bodybuilder said, “I got in a very bad car accident, very bad accident, where I almost lost my eyes and half of my arm was–damaged.” Winklaar continued, “And I stopped with the sport because I can’t even move my shoulder, and I think that’s part of that whole thing that I have now too. But I stay like one year and a half, don’t train.”

Winklaar mentioned in this podcast video, “I was not serious in the sport [at the time]. I wasn’t serious in the sport.” But a couple of years after his accident, one of the most famous teenage bodybuilders from Curaçao jokingly called him a skinny person. After hearing this negative comment about him, he challenged himself. With his sheer dedication and commitment, he became a pro bodybuilder in 2009.

After going through a shoulder injury, he has stopped training

However, the accident wasn’t the end of his hurdles in 2022 the bodybuilder uploaded a video on his YouTube channel titled “Shoulder surgery in Brazil.” Winklaar said in the video, “I want to explain to everybody what’s happening with me and hope everybody [doesn’t] ask me things. I hope everybody sees this so they don’t ask me more about what’s happening to me. I don’t train for more than a year. I don’t train anymore. Why?”

He updated his fans by saying “Because I have a shoulder injury that’s going on for two years. Last year it completely stopped. I had to stop because of too much pain.” Because of his shoulder injury, he wasn’t training for a year he further said, “have a lot of pain and restriction of the range of motion.”  This five-hour-long surgery was a success, but he hasn’t stepped on stage since 2021. For two years he hasn’t taken part in any competition. The last he participated in Romanian Pro in 2021. Despite having a beast-like physique Winklaar never won any Olympia or Arnold Classic trophies.

Regardless of giving tough competition he never won the Olympia title

With his skills and talent, he competed and gave tough competitions to the big names in the industry like seven times Mr. Olympia Phil Heath and others. In 2018, he made a strong impact at the prestigious event, securing his third place behind Heath and Rhoden. Although he earned the People’s Champ award. Notably, his initial fascination was not bodybuilding instead he wanted to pursue his career as a soccer player. But he never got selected for the team, which devastated him. After struggling for two years, Winklaar’s friend approached him and forced him to train with him, he resisted but eventually began his training.

READ MORE:  “[Don’t] Ask Me Things”: Bodybuilder Coming Out of Shoulder Surgery Remains Uncertain of His Comeback, Claiming He Is in “Too Much Pain”

Winklaar’s story is similar to the bodybuilding GOAT Ronnie Coleman. Within two weeks of training, he showed significant growth. Due to his evident progress, his gym owner made an offer, if he participated in any contest, the gym owner would cover the expenses related to his training. That motivated him to push himself into the hardcore regime and begin his bodybuilding career.  To date he took part in Olympia’s contest, he first took part in 2010 and placed 14th, and in his last Olympia appearance in 2021, he finished 11th. However, he has not competed in 2 years, the speculation of his retirement emerged.

He does not want to retire from the sport!

In one of his throwback appearances on the Manace Podcast in May 2023, along with Dennis James, Chris Cormier, and Milos Sarcev, he opened up about his retirement rumors. Sarcev stressed his retirement plans jokingly. To which he replied by saying, “I can’t answer that no, I don’t want to retire. I don’t want to retire. I don’t want to retire but with the injuries that I have I think I can do better to be my best back on stage.”

James asked him more about his injury “So, Roelly what exactly was the problem at your shoulder what’s the injury? He illustrated the rotator cuff, and said, “It’s done. It’s too much, third grade.” Cormier further asked him if it happened due to soccer or gym workout. “No, it’s it’s from only from the gym from all the years of heavy training,” said the beast. After his surgery in 2020, he began his training

“I started training back again and exactly um all my last shows and um 2021 I I don’t want to eat well like I don’t exactly know to him that’s why our place look very bad.” What do you think of his hurdles and the comeback story? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

WATCH THIS STORY: Veteran Bodybuilder Who Was once Suspended By IFBB Says There’s No Point In Taking Advice From Bodybuilding Judges