Kai Greene Gives “Rushmore” of NYC Bodybuilders during Knicks’ Historic Run: Victor Martinez “Original King of New York”
With the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the latest episode of Generation Iron’s Exclusive Podcast the “Kai Green Effect” took a detour over the Brooklyn Bridge – where Kai Green gave his “Rushmore” of NYC bodybuilders, inspired by the Knicks’ historic run.
Kai Greene reflected on the athletes who shaped the city’s rich bodybuilding history. While several names came up throughout the conversation, including the “Incredible Hulk” himself, Greene spent considerable time praising GI’s own Victor Martinez, while also making sure current standout Akim Williams received recognition for carrying New York bodybuilding into the modern era.
Kai Greene Remembers Victor Martinez’s Rise
When discussing New York bodybuilding legends, Greene immediately pointed to Victor Martinez.
The former Arnold Classic champion was one of the athletes Greene watched rise through the local New York scene before becoming an international bodybuilding star. Greene recalled seeing Martinez train in local gyms and compete in amateur contests before eventually taking the professional ranks by storm.
Greene described a memorable moment during one of New York’s legendary amateur bodybuilding contests, recalling the first time he truly understood just how special Martinez was becoming.
“I remember the first time seeing it at the amateur show and hearing a hush fall across the audience.”
According to Greene, Martinez had transformed from a familiar face in the gym into a larger-than-life presence once he stepped on stage.
One moment in particular stuck with him.
As the crowd stared at Martinez’s physique, a loud voice suddenly broke the silence.
“Vic, you look bulletproof, man!”
Greene laughed while remembering the moment, noting that the fan had perfectly captured what everyone in attendance was already thinking.
“Quietly he expressed what everyone in the audience was saying to themselves. Damn, Vic looked amazing.”
Greene said he took pride in watching Martinez’s rise from local competitor to one of bodybuilding’s biggest stars.
“He was on the way to really showing some major star power. And he did… For me, that’s always, always, always an original king of New York when it comes to the bodybuilding scene.”
Kai Greene Says Akim Williams Deserves Recognition
While much of the discussion focused on bodybuilding legends, Greene also made it clear that today’s competitors deserve recognition as well.
When Akim Williams’ name was brought up during the conversation, Greene immediately agreed that the longtime IFBB Pro belongs among the athletes who have represented New York bodybuilding at the highest level.
Rather than focusing exclusively on retired legends, Greene argued that competitors who continue to carry the torch should also be celebrated.
“If we don’t celebrate somebody who belongs there now, you know what I mean, has been now competing for the better part of more than a decade, he deserves the current.”
Williams has become one of the most recognizable Men’s Open competitors associated with New York over the last decade. Known for his incredible size and powerful physique, Williams has earned multiple Olympia appearances while remaining a fixture in the professional ranks.
Greene’s comments highlighted the importance of recognizing both the pioneers who built New York bodybuilding and the athletes continuing to represent the city today.
New York’s Bodybuilding Legacy Runs Deep
Beyond Martinez and Williams, Greene and Generation Iron Co-Founder Vlad Yudin discussed several other notable names connected to New York bodybuilding, including Lou Ferrigno, Juan Morel, Sadik Hadzovic, John DeLaRosa, Desmond Miller, and Orville Burke.
Still, it was Martinez who generated the most passionate response from Greene.
The story served as a reminder that long before social media transformed bodybuilding, New York gyms and local contests helped produce some of the sport’s most influential athletes.
And according to Greene, Victor Martinez remains one of the greatest examples of that tradition.
For those who witnessed his rise firsthand, Martinez wasn’t just another competitor. He was, as Greene put it, one of the original kings of New York bodybuilding.
Featured image via Instagram @akim_bkbeast_williams, @dominicandominator
