What sport do you do?
I do bodybuilding.
Which sports club do you work at, and what kind of advice can people get from you?
I train at the Reval–Sport sports club and represent it at competitions. I’m also a youth group coach, focusing primarily on preparing competitive athletes. For the average person, I’m available on the Fitness.ee portal, where I put together online nutrition and training programs and also answer various questions in the forum. I also run quite a lot of nutrition seminars and training days; the upcoming dates are 9, 16 and 26 March.
How did you get into the sport, and how long have you been at it?
I’ve been going to the gym regularly since 1993, so since I was 18. I came to the sport by chance, as many things in this world happen. I used to go to the gym now and then alongside other sports, and I started to like it, and that’s how it went. Eventually my training partners noticed my potential too, and one competitor, Ruslan Tsekun, suggested I try bodybuilding competitions – and I started to like that too!
Where did you study, and what are your educational background and experience?
I studied at Viljandi Secondary School No. 5, Viljandi Secondary School No. 1 and Viljandi Vocational Secondary School, which I graduated from in 1996 (construction specialty). Later I’ve completed many courses and seminars related to training or nutrition, and I’ve also done a lot of self-education through specialist literature.
Is this sport more of a job or a hobby for you?
I’d say work and hobby go hand in hand, because the Fitness.ee portal is also part of promoting and developing the sport, so that information is available to everyone, regardless of where they live. Sport alone doesn’t put food on the table; you still have to go to work.
What are your biggest achievements from competitions?
12x Estonian absolute champion in bodybuilding, 2-time Nordic champion, silver at the European Championships in 2005, silver at the World Games in 2009, 5th place at the World Championships in 2004.
Are bodybuilders born or made?
Both, really. To reach the very top you definitely need genetic prerequisites, i.e. parents with “good” genes – that’s the part that concerns birth – and the other part is work and the will to achieve something. Put those two together and you achieve success.
Who is your coach?
For years I trained under Olev Annus, and in recent years I’ve worked with Indrek Otsus. With the free routines, I’ve been helped by Kaie Kõrb and Viesturs Jansons.
Is it possible to reach the world top in bodybuilding while training completely clean?
Yes, it is possible to reach the world top in amateur bodybuilding. By “clean” we mean doping-free sport. I’ve proven this through my own career.
How do you feel about the use of banned substances? Have you tried them yourself and experienced their harmfulness firsthand?
My attitude toward their use is exactly the same as that of WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency). I haven’t tried banned substances myself, and I don’t intend to in the future.
What do you do outside of work and training?
There isn’t much of that time; in my free time I try to spend a lot of it with my family.
What are your goals for the future?
To become world champion among amateurs.
How do you assess the average Estonian’s interest in fitness for health?
It seems that interest is on the rise, because more and more people can be seen on fitness trails and in sports halls. If the state created even more favorable conditions for it, it could grow by leaps and bounds.
Where do you find the motivation to push yourself, and the energy?
It just comes, because once you’re used to being in shape, you don’t want to let yourself go soft. That is the motivation: to be in good shape all the time, because it brings inner satisfaction.
How many supplements do you take, and what does your daily nutrition look like?
I take supplements in moderation: in the mornings I add Hera80 protein to my porridge, I take a vitamin and mineral complex (Vita–min), before training Beta–alanine, during training BCAA explode, after training HTR mixed with Dextro, and in the evening before bed Joint+ for the joints, omega-3 and the mineral complex MZB. I eat regular meals 4 times a day, and healthily as usual: dairy products, chicken, healthy eggs, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. You can find a more detailed overview in my blog.
What is your worst habit?
Hard to say; everyone thinks they’re ideal, so you might have to ask people close to me. I’m certainly no saint.
How do you relax and rest?
Once a year I try to rest by the Black Sea in Alushta, where we have relatives. Smaller getaways come up with competition trips. On weekends I try not to work, and then two days at home is just the right amount for recharging my batteries.
What did you want to be as a child?
For a while, a sailor and a long-haul truck driver.
Do you remember any particularly vivid moment from school PE class?
PE was of course one of my favorite lessons, and I don’t remember it ever being below a 5 on my report card. Unfortunately, nothing noteworthy comes to mind.
Can we expect a new generation in bodybuilding and fitness in Estonia, and how strong will it be?
Definitely, and what shows it is that last year a European Championships medal and a World Championships final place both came from the juniors. Imre Vähi is doing good work with young people in Southern Estonia, and I’m trying to do the same in Northern Estonia. It’s a matter of time before some new talented youngsters emerge. What matters more here is that they stay with the sport.
Would you have your child start preparing for gym sports, and if so, at what age?
A good time to start is around 15-16. I started at exactly that age myself, and muscle mass growth really does begin more intensively in puberty. That certainly doesn’t mean that, for example, 25–30 is too late to start thinking about competitive sport.
Who embodies ideal form for you?
At different times it has been different top performers in the sport; at the moment there’s nobody I constantly hold up as a role model.
Which part of your body are you most satisfied with?
You can’t be satisfied with anything, otherwise you stop progressing. There are simply body parts that respond to training more easily, and in my case those are definitely the chest, calves and back.
If you could go back in time, what would you do differently in your life?
There is nothing to regret here; I think I’ve been following quite the right path.
What would you wish for a beginner recreational athlete?
Above all, consistency, because it’s the key to success.
Author:Turg.Fitness.ee
Come and train! ArtGym
