Over the past few years, a whole crop of new names has emerged on the Estonian bodybuilding scene, but Genes-Deivid Pikani is one of the most consistent. Standing 172 cm tall and weighing 77 kg, the athlete has built up a solid medal collection in just a couple of years: a Tallinn championship title, Estonian Championships silvers and an Estonian Cup bronze. In this interview, they talk about how they got into bodybuilding, what motivates them and which principles they follow.
How Genes-Deivid Pikani got into bodybuilding
Genes-Deivid came to bodybuilding completely by chance. They had been doing strength training for about 6 years when they began to feel that their training no longer gave them enough to aim for. They needed something bigger: a new goal and, as they put it, “a crazy plan”.
They took the decisive step on the recommendation of their friend Egert Oiov. Egert sent them to Indrek Otsus, an experienced coach, who looked over Deivid’s abilities and said it straight: the prerequisites are there, let’s get started.
“In short, you could say that the environment and the right people steered me toward this sport,” is how they describe that turning point.
Achievements on the competition stage
Results in bodybuilding came quickly:
- Tallinn champion 2018
- Estonian Championships silver 2018 and 2019
- Estonian Cup bronze 2019
- World Championships 9th place 2019
9th place at the World Championships is a strong result for an Estonian bodybuilder, especially considering how short their competitive career has been.
Genes-Deivid Pikani’s training philosophy
Asked how they train, Deivid answers briefly: what matters is not the size of the weight but the quality of the execution. It’s a simple idea, yet one that gets forgotten in the gym every day.
A bar that is too heavy forces the body to compensate: the assisting muscles take over part of the work, the target muscle gets less stimulus and the risk of injury goes up. Deivid’s approach is the opposite: control the movement from start to finish, feel the muscle and don’t chase numbers on the bar.
Before bodybuilding, they did football, athletics and powerlifting. That background has given them speed, explosiveness and a foundation of strength, a combination that athletes coming from a pure bodybuilding background have to build separately.
Genes-Deivid Pikani’s nutrition and recovery
When it comes to nutrition, Deivid keeps the principles simple: they eat a varied diet and cook mostly at home. They rarely eat out. Cooking at home gives them control over ingredients and portion sizes, which matters when preparing for contest shape.
Chicken and vegetables are their favorite foods. They don’t take supplements day to day, because a varied diet covers their needs. The exception is the contest diet, where a calorie deficit can upset the balance of minerals and vitamins. In that case, they add vitamin and mineral supplements.
To unwind, they travel to different countries and read a lot. They consider books an even more important recovery tool than travel.
Genes-Deivid Pikani’s motivation and role models
Coming from Deivid, the topic of motivation sounds surprisingly down-to-earth: “If you have a real goal and the right environment supporting you, motivation isn’t hard to find.”
It’s a practical thought. Motivation isn’t a morning feeling you wait around for. It’s the result of having a clear goal and of the people around you pulling in the same direction rather than the opposite one.
As role models, they name three people: Indrek Otsus, Egert Oiov and Ott Kiivikas. All three are long-standing figures in Estonian bodybuilding, and growing alongside them is, in Deivid’s own words, one of the reasons the results have come so quickly.
Three tips for those who want to get in better shape
Finally, we asked what they would recommend to people who are only just starting their journey toward better shape.
The advice is laconic and perhaps predictable, but it deserves repeating: don’t look for easy shortcuts, because there simply aren’t any. Work, effort and dedication are the foundation of everything.
You can follow their projects on the accounts @Vormiloojad and @myfitgenes.
FAQ about Genes-Deivid Pikani
How long has Genes-Deivid Pikani been doing bodybuilding?
Before bodybuilding, they did strength training for about 6 years. They committed fully to bodybuilding from 2018, when they won their first title: the Tallinn championship title.
What are their best results?
Their strongest achievements are the Tallinn championship title in 2018, Estonian Championships silver in 2018 and 2019, Estonian Cup bronze in 2019 and 9th place at the World Championships in 2019.
Which supplements do they use?
In normal periods, they don’t take supplements separately, as a varied diet covers their needs. During a contest diet, they add vitamins and minerals to avoid deficiencies while in a calorie deficit.
Author:Turg.Fitness.ee
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