With Santi Aragon Retiring at 33, Can We Expect More Athletes to Walk Away Early?

Santi Aragon retires from competitive bodybuilding.

Santi Aragon, 212 and Classic Physique veteran, has decided to retire at the age of 33. The bodybuilder sites that he wished to walk away on his own terms with his health intact.

Competing as a professional athlete can be quite the daunting thing. It can take a considerable toll on the physical body. Bodybuilding in particular can be especially taxing for the athletes. To push your body to the limit then cut down a tremendous amount of water weight and step on stage dried out and depleted can be truly challenging for the average person.

So when athletes state that they’re leaving competing behind it usually comes as no surprise. After all you can only stay in the game so long before it has diminishing returns…unless your name is Dexter Jackson that is. But it appears that the latest athlete to retire from the sport is doing so at a relatively young age.

212 and Classic Physique competitor Santi Aragon is walking away from competition. Aragon still at the height of his powers is choosing to call it quits at 33 years of age. The great news is that Aragon isn’t retiring due to health concerns. The bodybuilder made it clear that he’s walking away from the sport at a high point rather than going too long.

Leaving The Sport Behind

Santi Aragon wrote this message on his Instagram post addressing his retirement.

I am formally announcing my retirement from the bodybuilding stage. It’s been something that I have been wanting to do for the past year. I am walking away from the stage on my own terms and was not forced in anyway to do so. As time goes on, your priorities in life change. My priorities are my future, my health and my family. Bodybuilding was getting in the way of those 3 things which I hold dear to my heart. Bodybuilding has brought me so much joy the last 10 years. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve traveled to and all the life lessons I can take with me into the future. I am very grateful for the last 10 years and all of the people that were a part of it. Just because I’m retired from competing, does not mean I am disappearing from the fitness world. Your boy has to look peeled come summer time 😂 Love all you ❤️

Santi Aragon is still healthy and fit, but walking away may be a good move. The recent string of bodybuilders who have passed away in recent years is certainly raising some alarms. These deaths have certainly put many athletes on notice. At the end of the day all we have is our health and it appears that rather than push on for too long Aragon is choosing to walk away with his head held high and with all his faculties intact.

What do you think of Santi Aragon retiring at age 33?

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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

Jonathan Salmon
Managing editor of Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. He has been writing about bodybuilding, combat sports, and strength sports for over 8 years. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.