Slovak bodybuilding legend jailed weeks after comeback, having earlier been rescued from homelessness

Adam Cibuľa was once among Slovakia's most prominent bodybuilders, having become a five-time European champion in the sport. Two years ago, however, it emerged that his glory days were long behind him — Cibuľa had been living on the streets for an extended period, having lost both his athletic career and his home.

Following this revelation, the former champion was given a chance to turn his life around. The support he received allowed him to leave street life behind and attempt to start over.

Comeback followed by a fall

This spring, Cibuľa surprised followers by announcing his return to the competitive stage after an 11-year break. That comeback proved short-lived, however — just 16 days after returning to competition, he ended up in prison. The source report does not specify the nature of the offense that led to his imprisonment.

Cibuľa's story illustrates how steep a fall can follow even a once-successful sports career, and how fragile a comeback can be after difficult periods in life.