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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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Coming Out as Gay Was Nothing Like Coming Out as On Steroids

Zander thought he was going to get a libido boost and a little edge in the gym. What he got was a gender-affirming experience.

Is Fancy Weightlifting Gear Cheating? Not If Your Bros Don’t Care

Your heavy-duty bench shirt doesn't bother me, brah

At the Gym With a Couple of ‘American Ninja Warriors’

Are they pro athlete? Weekend warrior? Reality TV star? Or on the ground floor of the next niche sport that becomes a behemoth?

Butterbean Hasn’t Gone Anywhere. You Just Haven’t Been Looking Hard Enough

The Wrestler Who Has Gone Full Frankenstein to Bring His Career Back From the Dead

Talking to the Men Who Photoshop Female Bodybuilders Into Hulk-Sized ‘Fuck Warriors’

Inside the Guts of the World’s Strongest Men

This Pro Wrestler’s Signature Move Is Being One of Your Girlfriend’s Favorite ‘Bachelorette’…

Buff v. Swole v. Brolic: Where Do We Get All of Our Goofy Muscle Terms From?

The Perilous, Secret World of Steroids for Female Bodybuilders

The Best Thing About the WWE Right Now Is the Guy You Hated on ‘The Real World’

The Untold Story of the Burpee