The Wellness division has been a fan-favorite since becoming a part of the IFBB Pro League in 2020, and a big reason for its popularity is its standard-bearer, Francielle Mattos.
Mattos has been the world champion of the division since she won the first-ever Wellness Olympia in 2021. She doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon, as evidenced by her dominance on the stage at the 2023 Olympia in Orlando, FL.
New fans may wonder how she reached her division’s mountaintop so quickly. For that answer, we look back at her early career and her rise to the top of the Wellness world.
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Early Life and Background
According to Famous Birthdays, Mattos was born in Toledo, Brazil, on Aug. 26, 1986. She is married with two children and still calls Brazil her home. Bodybuilding is a popular sport in her home country — arguably bigger than in the U.S. — and she’s become a celebrity there, thanks to her unmatched success on the stage.
In a video on the Olympia TV YouTube channel, Mattos said that she got passionate about fitness after going to the gym as a way to overcome postpartum depression. That was what led her to take the training to the next level and step on stage.
Francielle Mattos’ Contest History
Prior to joining the IFBB Pro League, Mattos competed in the rival IFBB Elite Pro in 2018. In 2019, she opted to switch affiliations, meaning that she had to earn pro status all over again.
Mattos won both the 2019 Arnold Amateur South America contest and the 2020 Arnold Amateur in Columbus, OH, with the latter earning her an IFBB Pro League card.
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She’s undefeated as a pro as of November 2023, with three straight Wellness Olympia titles from 2021 to 2023. Following her win at the 2023 contest, she remains the only champion in the division’s short history. Mattos’ professional contest history is below, courtesy of NPC News Online.
2020
- Musclecontest Nacional Pro — 1st
2021
- Wellness Olympia — 1st
2022
- Wellness Olympia — 1st
2023
- Wellness Olympia — 1st
Training
The Wellness division emphasizes the lower body, so competitors’ glutes and thighs must have more muscularity than in other divisions like Bikini. That means Mattos trains her glutes as well as the rest of her lower body with serious intensity so she can present her best physique on the Olympia stage.
This video from Olympia TV shows her training her lower body in the early stages of her 2022 Olympia prep. Sets and reps weren’t shared in the video, but you can see the exercises she utilizes below.
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- Sumo Squats on Blocks
- Barbell Stiff Leg Deadlifts
- Bulgarian Split Squats
- Barbell Glute Bridges
- Side Leg Lift
- Cable Glute Kickback
Social Media and Business
Mattos’ most popular social media resource is her Instagram, where she has over 1 million followers as of November 2023. Her YouTube channel has almost 39,000 subscribers. She is also sponsored or connected to numerous businesses, including supplement sponsors Integral Medica, Darc Sport, and Dr. Peanut. She actively promotes all these brands on all of her platforms.
Future
It’s believed that Mattos is committed to the 2024 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 10-13. This would be her quest for a fourth title, and she’s still in her prime as a physique athlete. Many fans and experts expect her to retain her title once again in Sin City.
Featured Image: @franciellemattos on Instagram
