The extreme bodybuilding community has been rocked by another tragic death, highlighting the brutal and often fatal consequences of using dangerous substances to achieve a monstrous physique.
The Real-Life Popeye's Fatal Choice
Arlindo de Souza, a Brazilian social media personality famed for his 29-inch biceps and dubbed the 'real-life Popeye', died this week at the age of just 55. His family believe his death was caused by multiple organ failure.
De Souza's colossal arms were widely reported to be the result of injecting synthol, a hazardous mix of mineral oil and alcohol designed to inflate muscle size without adding strength. He had previously spoken out about the dangers after his friend, Paulinho, died from using the same substance.
"I advise everyone to never take this oil," de Souza said after his friend's passing. "I've stopped taking it... There is always a desire to start again, but I'm managing to control myself."
A Trail of Devastating Consequences
De Souza's story is not an isolated incident. It forms part of a disturbing pattern of bodybuilders suffering severe health crises after using synthol in pursuit of impossible proportions.
Kirill Tereshin, known as the 'Russian Popeye' or 'Bazooka Arms', now faces the potential of a double amputation after years of injecting the oil into his arms. With over 260,000 Instagram followers, the influencer and MMA fighter has recently been seen with one arm heavily bandaged.
Medical reports indicate he requires skin grafts, but his "extremely poor test results" have prevented surgery. Doctors warned as far back as 2018 that he risked future amputation due to likely abscesses and inflammation.
In another notorious case, American bodybuilder Gregg Valentino famously suffered an exploded bicep after a synthol-related infection. Reusing a needle led to an abscess that ruptured, causing pus and blood to flow from his arm. He required emergency hospital treatment to drain the synthol, going from 21-inch biceps to a peak of 28 inches before the disaster.
Valentino, who starred in a documentary titled 'The Man Whose Arms Exploded', now sports a more natural physique and has become an outspoken, if controversial, figure in the bodybuilding world.
Warnings Ignored With Fatal Results
The ultimate price for synthol use has been paid by several individuals. Fellow Brazilian Valdir Segato also died at the age of 55 in 2022, reportedly from a heart attack. He had openly used synthol injections to grow his biceps to 23 inches, amassing 1.7 million TikTok followers.
Despite doctors urging him to stop, Segato was defiant. "It's my decision to use it because I want to, because I like to," he said in 2016. A neighbour later commented that the only person Segato harmed was himself through the use of the oil.
These cases expose a dark subculture where the pursuit of extreme aesthetic goals overrides stark medical warnings. The substances used do not enhance performance or genuine muscular strength but create a dangerous, artificial facade with potentially life-ending consequences.
