William Bonac argues that bodybuilding lacks the camaraderie it once had. In a recent video on Jan. 20, 2026, he revealed that his passion for the sport has faded.
William Bonac has remained a top-tier Men’s Open threat for over a decade. In 2018 and 2020, he picked up the biggest victories of his career, having earned gold at the prestigious Arnold Classic. Bonac came incredibly close to earning the Mr. Olympia title in 2019, but fell short against Brandon Curry.
Bonac has remained active lately. To earn his ticket to the 2025 Mr. Olympia, he nailed down gold at the Detroit Pro. When he stormed Vegas, “The Conqueror” took ninth place against an extremely stacked lineup. With time to reflect, he joined the UNWRACKED Podcast to discuss where his head is at ahead of the next season.
William Bonac’s Passion for Bodybuilding is Fading, Says There’s No ‘Brotherhood’
In the video, Bonac expressed excitement about possibly retiring.
“10 years ago or maybe six or seven years ago, if you told me do you want to retire, I’d say hell no. If you ask me right now, William, do you want to retire? I can’t wait,” he shared. “I even get emotional talking about this. I love bodybuilding. Bodybuilding saved my life.”
He specified that if he really wanted to, he could compete until his 60s.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
“I know there are a lot of people out there who love bodybuilding with a passion as well, but right now, if you asked me, and it’s not because of my age, because Dexter could have did it till he was almost 50 years old. I’m 43 years old. To me, I’m still young, but the people in bodybuilding see me as the old guy. I’m hungry and young in spirit and heart.”
“I’ve never felt like an old man or the way they describe me. I could continue this even to my 60s, but I don’t have nothing to prove to nobody. The way I see bodybuilding is going… my passion for it, my love for it is fading.”
According to Bonac, bodybuilding is different now and lacks the brotherhood it once had:
“Now it’s different. Now, it’s so everybody is so focused. It’s like winning the lottery. You understand? It’s everybody, each one for himself. There is no brotherhood. I don’t see no more of the brotherhood. I don’t know if it’s like individually, but it’s different now.”
In addition to leading his own career, Bonac has guided athletes from other bodybuilding divisions. He linked up with 2024 Arnold Classic champ Wesley Vissers. They pushed through a heavy leg day workout, with Bonac offering “The Dutch Oak” training tips.
Bonac hopes to see brotherhood return in bodybuilding. He believes athletes are focused more on individual accomplishments rather than enjoying the moment.
RELATED: Kali Muscle Mocks William Bonac, Andrew jacked For Steroids, ‘Motherfu**rs Can’t Breathe’
Watch the full video from the UNWRACKED PODCAST YouTube channel below:
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
