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Puerto Rican bodybuilding champion Melvin Ortiz capped off a successful 2016 by becoming the first Latino to win the WNBF Men's Physique competition in Los Angeles. The win was recognized by Puerto Rico media outlets as part of year-end achievement roundups.

Ortiz, a native of Loiza, Puerto Rico, currently reside in upstate New York was crowned the winner of the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation contest in California last November. The organization prides itself on featuring athletes devoid of anabolic steroid use due to self-proclaimed “stringent drug testing” and has been active since its foundation in 1990.

After the results were announced, Ortiz beat out fellow Latino Ruben Salas in the Pro Men's Physique division of the contest. The 28-year-old capped off a successful 2016 with the title, having also been named the Spirit of America champion in Massachusetts.

Puerto Rico has seen a rise in interest for bodybuilding in recent years as competitors have begun to rise through the ranks. The sport also saw a boost in popularity when Eric Martin, brother of pop singer Ricky Martin, was crowned Mr. Puerto Rico Body Fit winner in 2013.

The island nation has a storied history of former competitors, including former champion Anibal Lopez and Yiye Avila, who also played minor league baseball and later became an Evangelical Christian writer.