No Bad Reps

Mateo Vargas

Senior Correspondent

Mateo Vargas has been covering the personalities of sports for over fifteen years, with bylines in major publications before finding his home at No Bad Reps. He has a unique talent for getting inside the minds of the world's strongest athletes, revealing the discipline and mindset required to compete at the highest level. His profile of a record-breaking powerlifter was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in feature writing. Mateo travels extensively, documenting the evolution of gym culture from underground lifting clubs to global phenomena.

Expertise

Long-form JournalismAthlete InterviewsNarrative StorytellingStrength Sports HistoryGym CultureInvestigative Features

Coverage Areas

Athlete Spotlight
Gym Culture
Event Coverage

Latest Articles

A split image contrasting Kenneth H. Blanchard, the management guru, with Kenneth Walker III, the NFL running back, highlighting two distinct influential figures.
Gym Culture

Kenneth H. Blanchard: Career and disambiguation

While Kenneth Walker III rushed for 1,027 yards and 5 touchdowns across 17 games for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFL season, another Kenneth H.

Jun 27, 2026 · 2 min read

A single adjustable kettlebell in a modern home gym setting, showcasing its compact design and suitability for full-body workouts.
Gym Culture

Adjustable Kettlebells: Reigning Supreme for Full Body Workouts?

A single Titan Fitness Adjustable Kettlebell replaces seven individual fixed weights, consolidating a full range of strength training into one compact unit, reports Garage Gym Lab .

Jun 27, 2026 · 2 min read

Nattie Neidhart applying a submission hold in a WWE wrestling ring, celebrating her seventh Guinness World Record for submission victories.
Athlete Spotlight

Nattie Neidhart Sets Guinness World Record for Submission Wins

With 257 submission victories, Nattie Neidhart has now secured her seventh Guinness World Record.

Jun 26, 2026 · 3 min read

Indie-folk musician Noah Richardson performing dumbbell curls in a Planet Fitness gym, showcasing his dedication to bodybuilding discipline alongside his music career.
Gym Culture

Noah Richardson channels bodybuilder discipline into his indie-folk music

While on his 2026 tour, indie-folk artist Noah Richardson ensures he hits a Planet Fitness gym, bringing a bodybuilder's rigorous consistency to the often-unpredictable life of a musician.

Jun 26, 2026 · 3 min read

Dylan Scott, winner of the 2026 HYROX World Championship, collapses in exhaustion after crossing the finish line, showing incredible resilience.
Athlete Spotlight

Dylan Scott Overcomes Collapse to Win 2026 HYROX World Championship

Despite a meticulously planned strategy, US athlete Dylan Scott admitted he was 'destroyed by the sled push' during his 2026 HYROX World Championship win in Stockholm.

Jun 24, 2026 · 2 min read

A young athlete looking sad on a bench, symbolizing the negative impact of hyper-specialization in youth sports.
Athlete Spotlight

Youth Sports Hyper-Specialization Is Hurting Athletes, Not Helping Them

In a single year, over 3.

Jun 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Men of diverse ages and backgrounds in a supportive circle, discussing mental health and well-being beyond physical fitness.
Gym Culture

Men's Health Month highlights needs beyond fitness this June

Men are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than women, a devastating statistic that casts a long shadow over broader health discussions.

Jun 20, 2026 · 3 min read

A beginner safely using a leg press machine for leg growth, contrasted with a beginner attempting a barbell squat.
Gym Culture

Beginners Choose Leg Press Over Squats for Safer Initial Leg Growth

Despite being hailed as the 'king' of leg exercises, the barbell squat may not be the safest or most efficient choice for many beginners aiming to build leg strength in 2026.

Jun 20, 2026 · 2 min read

Split image showing a new mother's struggle and the abstract concept of a wellness routine, symbolizing the debate around maternal mental health.
Gym Culture

Ashley Cooke's routine sparks debate on maternal mental health

Ashley Cooke's wellness routine for baby blues ignites a crucial conversation about maternal mental health and celebrity advice.

Jun 19, 2026 · 3 min read

Diverse military spouses participating in fitness activities, showcasing strength, empowerment, community, and mutual support.
Gym Culture

Fitness: A crucial tool for military spouse well-being

Sheila Casey, wife of a retired four-star General and a prominent advocate, declares fitness isn't a luxury for military spouses—it's a crucial tool.

Jun 13, 2026 · 2 min read

Detective Tiffany Kautz, a resilient police officer, stands strong and ready for duty after recovering from a severe car accident.
Gym Culture

Detective Tiffany Kautz returns to duty after near-fatal accident

Detective Tiffany Kautz coded twice en route to the hospital, her hand nearly severed after a severe car accident in June 2020.

Jun 10, 2026 · 2 min read

A dimly lit gym locker room filled with discarded fitness equipment and unopened gym memberships, symbolizing the hidden costs of the fitness industry.
Gym Culture

Fitness Industry Secrets Nobody Is Talking About Expose Hidden Costs

The global fitness market booms at $96 billion, yet over 70% of gym memberships gather dust after six months, reports the IHRSA Global Report 2023 .

Jun 10, 2026 · 3 min read

WWE's Rhea Ripley delivers a forceful chest chop to fitness influencer Jesse James West during an intense viral training session, causing his chest to turn red.
Gym Culture

Rhea Ripley trains with Jesse James West in new viral session

Fitness influencer Jesse James West's chest turned a vivid red, his face contorting in pain.

Jun 10, 2026 · 2 min read

Baseball pitcher with a hypermobile arm in mid-throw, demonstrating Shane Drohan's innovative pitching technique for increased velocity.
Athlete Spotlight

Shane Drohan's hypermobility design: A pitching paradigm shift

A top prospect, known for his 'rubber-band arm,' added 7 mph to his fastball in a single offseason after training with Shane Drohan, a gain previously thought impossible without extreme risk (Player D

Jun 10, 2026 · 4 min read

A baseball pitcher in intense action, illustrating the physical and mental pressures associated with joint hypermobility and athletic performance.
Athlete Spotlight

Psychosocial stress impacts joint hypermobility and loading in baseball.

Baseball players diagnosed with generalized ligamentous laxity (GLL) are significantly more prone to chronic shoulder injuries and instability, often cutting careers short.

Jun 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Collegiate baseball player demonstrating maximum bat speed through explosive strength and conditioning during a powerful swing.
Athlete Spotlight

Maximize Bat Speed with Strength and Conditioning

A new study involving 78 collegiate baseball players confirms that raw physical power directly drives maximum bat speed.

May 31, 2026 · 3 min read

Athlete performing a bench press, demonstrating targeted muscle activation with varying ranges of motion for optimal chest, triceps, and shoulder development.
Gym Culture

Adjusting Bench Press Range of Motion Targets Specific Muscles

Forget just lifting heavy: a recent study on bench press technique found that even partial ranges of motion can significantly alter muscle activation patterns, challenging the conventional wisdom of '

May 30, 2026 · 3 min read

Senada Greca performing a full body kettlebell exercise, demonstrating strength and focus, with a subtle emphasis on cognitive benefits.
Gym Culture

Senada Greca's full body kettlebell workout uses 5 exercises for brain health.

Beyond burning fat and building muscle, Senada Greca's full-body kettlebell workout might actually be making your brain bigger.

May 26, 2026 · 3 min read

A delicious and healthy high-protein air fryer bowl created by WWE star Chelsea Green, featuring chicken, cottage cheese, and pickles.
Athlete Spotlight

Chelsea Green Shares High-Protein Air Fryer Bowl Recipe

A single air fryer bowl, championed by WWE star Chelsea Green, packs up to 60 grams of protein while significantly cutting down on cooking oil.

May 26, 2026 · 2 min read

Person performing a modified squat exercise with a resistance band, demonstrating a safe alternative to barbell back squats for knee pain relief.
Gym Culture

Barbell Back Squat Alternatives Ease Knee Pain Safely

Despite common belief, over 60% of individuals with knee osteoarthritis can significantly reduce pain through targeted exercise, often without surgery, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic

May 26, 2026 · 3 min read