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Oliver Lee Bateman

Oliver Bateman is a contributing writer to MEL Magazine. He writes about the extreme sides of fitness, the weirder sides of MMA and pro wrestling, and the unorthodox lifestyles of professional athletes. His writing on these topics has appeared in publications such as the Paris Review, the Atlantic, and the New Republic. Ever since he was a little kid, he's been really good at exercising.

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The Fake Strongmen of Instagram

The weights are phony, but the money is real

Celebs and Politicians Can’t Stop Stealing Athletic Valor

Rep. Madison Cawthorn isn’t the first and won’t be the last. When the stakes are low and the going gets tough, the weak get deceptive — especially when they think no one will bother investigating

How Conspiracy Theories Took Over Pro Fighting

QAnon has entered the ring. A sizable crew of WWE and MMA pros are suddenly dabbling in antisemitic, fringe-right narratives

The Buff Boys of the Peanut Butter Platoon

Danny Hodge Was the Last of the ‘Natural’ Strongmen

The Sidesplitting History of the ‘Coregasm’

‘BEEF BROS’ Gives Us the Leftist Himbo Superheroes We Need

John Fetterman’s Big Moment

Try as You Might, There Is No Redemption for Chris Benoit

These Fans Created Fantasy Leagues That Don’t Need Actual Sports

There’s Nothing Stopping Athletes From Doping Like Crazy Now

What You Need to Get a Decent At-Home Workout Under Quarantine