Estonia’s big names before and after the gym

Not all of Estonia’s big names were born with stage-ready physiques and medals. Here is an honest look at how well-known bodybuilders and fitness athletes found their way to the gym, what got them started and what the beginning looked like before the big change.

One started in cycling, another in karate or wrestling, a third went to train at a friend’s invitation. That is exactly what makes the story a good one: there is more than one road to the gym.

Why did Estonia’s big names end up in the gym?

From the outside, bodybuilding and fitness often look like a field only the genetically gifted can succeed in. Real life is different. Some had a sports background before the gym, some were skinny, some simply wanted to look better, and some were searching for a new goal.

Marek “Bonsuna” Kalmus said plainly that bodybuilding was the logical next step in their athletic path. By the age of 19 they were already too big and strong for a cyclist: they weighed 95 kg of lean mass at a height of 192 cm. On the track they specialized in the 1 km standing-start time trial, but the bikes could no longer take it. Strongman competitions came later, along with the Estonian Strongman title in ’98. The decisive push came from A. Schwarzenegger in the film “Predator”.

Dmitri “Raudpats” Uiba also started early. In the first photo they were 23 years old and weighed 78 kg. After a break, they trained for 2 months and gained 5 kg. They first went to the gym at around 13 years old. At 15 they bench-pressed 85 kg and squatted 120 kg. Between 17 and 22 they didn’t train much, but by the second photo, at age 33, they had 10 years of continuous training behind them. Body weight was 117 kg, arm circumference 51 cm and thigh close to 80 cm. The photo had been taken 3 months earlier.

Janar “Oskar” Rückenberg’s reason will sound familiar to many: Arnold Schwarzenegger. At around 14 they saw the film “Commando” and realized they wanted a physique like that. Team sports didn’t appeal to them. In strength sports, they were largely responsible for their own successes and failures.

Estonia’s big names started out very differently

Marek “Maross” Morozov recalled that the first picture was taken in 1995. Body weight was 73 kg at the time, age 22 and height 176 cm. They admitted honestly that they had no clue about the gym yet. Weight stayed at around 73-75 kg, and in 1996 things were the same. They started gym training in autumn 1997 at what was then the Forum Sport club, under coach Fred Antson. A year later, they and Fred were both coaches at the same club. The second picture was taken in early May, when consistent training had added up to almost 12 years. Body weight was 98 kg, and for the competition in early October the plan was to be around 10 kg lighter.

Imre “Vend Vähk” Vähi’s photo story is a sign of its time. The first pictures were taken only in 1997, 5 years after they started gym training in 1992. Back then people didn’t walk around with cameras the way they do today. One old gray picture even dates from 1983, when they were 5-6 years old. They came to the gym after basic school, having done karate with varying success. The plan was to continue with wrestling or martial arts, but in the meantime they wanted to build more muscle in the gym. Others soon started saying the gym suited them. And so they went.

Ott “Champion” Kiivikas began training regularly and systematically in the gym in autumn 1993. They liked hauling the barbell around and being able to focus on themselves. A simple start, a very long road.

Jüri “Jurok” Leinvald wrestled as a youngster. They were usually the skinniest and tallest in their weight category. That is where the goal came from: to get big and strong.

Gerbel “Skaut” Mikk highlighted freedom. In their youth they had tried many different sports, but the gym stuck because it doesn’t require a fixed time or a team. They liked the independence, the feeling of strength and the way muscles work. Honestly, for many people this is the gym’s strongest appeal: you see what work does to your body.

What can you learn from their stories?

Ivo “Mr Shape” Pärle started at vocational school together with today’s strongman Gert Gor¨anov. Since they hadn’t been given much height, they wanted to grow in width. There were no role models back then; later they named, for example, the absolute European champion Hristomir Hristov, whom they had seen at competitions themselves.

Indrek Viska described their beginning in grand terms: they took up bodybuilding in order to become Mr. Olympia. They later called it a dream belonging to the realm of utopia. Still, the goal remained, only its shape changed: the biggest dream became winning a world title in classic bodybuilding.

Christina Alev’s start was quite different. They had simply had enough of sitting around. Before August 2007, their last workouts were about 16 years in the past. They wanted the best possible beach body but got even more. At first they went 4 times a week and were one of the most exemplary. At the Rakvere teacher training school, the girls went to train together as a group, but Christina was the only one who kept going. That man was quite keen to coach Christina, but the old broken link has been removed from here.

Ahti “Dexter” Jakson started training on a cardiologist’s advice because their heart was weak. As time went on, they liked training more and more. Later the idea came up of showing others what years of lifting iron does to the body. Competitions gave them a target, and by their own account, they pushed 110% in training.

Laura /Rosin/ Reisalu ended up in the gym entirely by chance. A coworker joined a sports club and asked Laura along for company. That was where it all began. Laura started training actively at the beginning of 2005.

Marek /Mr Mesi/ Liiv’s answer was short and in true Marek style: “Because I’m an idiot, you know, a bit nuts. Someone with a sound mind wouldn’t take it up, would they?” Some comments need no further explanation.

Estonia’s big names and a lesson in consistency

Taavi /Käpp/ Koovit was an athlete all their life: athletics, javelin throw, high jump. In the youth category, Taavi’s name was said to hold the third- or fourth-best javelin result of all time. The gym simply happened to be on the way. Taavi picked up a dumbbell and the muscle started to grow. The sport suited them, as the title of European champion proved. Taavi added that the same could have happened with checkers, had they started playing it and discovered they were a real hotshot.

Annika /Aktivist/ Summel’s sporting path began in high school. Annika’s desk mate was a strong skier, and the stories about training camps and competitions sounded exciting. Annika also spoke about a hard period: 10-12 years ago they struggled with anorexia, at 16-18 years old, and the lowest weight was 40 point something. To get life back on track, after high school Annika chose a job that demanded a lot of physical load, good shape and proper eating. They recovered. During their time in higher education Annika was an aerobics instructor, and later also took up dancing. The gym bug stuck, though, from a beginner course in Paikuse in 1999. In 2006, Arnold Tokko invited Annika to a training camp, where they met Joker, who became a training partner and life partner. From then on, the goals became more concrete.

Marko /Joker/ Tooming, like many others, became captivated by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Predator came first, with Conan right after it. Back then Marko didn’t yet know what you have to do to build muscle. Later Marko saw Ain Paavo perform at the Mustvee summer days. It was a direct experience: the man jumped off the stage, came out among the crowd, looked people in the eye and struck a powerful trapezius pose. At vocational school Marko started to gather knowledge. Marko recalled that the flood of information was huge and the only thing known for certain was to lift a kettlebell.

Argo /Tantsutäht/ Ader’s story began with volleyball. The coach mentioned that Argo’s hips were wider than their shoulders. That was enough to head to the gym. Argo first visited a gym in Klaipeda, Lithuania, while on a work placement at a maritime school’s ship repair yard. The body responded extremely fast: in 6 months the arm gained 6cm in circumference and the leg gained 10cm. Then it was clear the sport suited them.

A practical takeaway for beginners

What these stories have in common isn’t a perfect start. What they share is that each person found a reason to keep going. Some had a role model, some a health worry, some a hunger to compete, and some simply a feeling that they wanted to do something with their body.

If you’re a beginner, don’t compare your first month with someone else’s tenth year. Training works when you show up, eat enough, recover and let the work add up over time. A big change may not be visible at first. But every set you lift, every good night’s sleep and every sensible meal moves you forward.

A simple truth: you don’t have to walk into the gym as a finished athlete. The gym is precisely the place where an athlete can gradually emerge.

FAQ: Estonia’s big names and the gym

Do you need special genetics for bodybuilding?

Good genetics help, but judging by these stories, not everyone’s start was the same. Far more important were consistency, finding the right sport and the desire to keep moving forward.

Can you start going to the gym if you’re in poor shape?

Yes. The point of several of these stories is exactly that people started from wherever they were. You don’t need stage condition or great strength at the beginning. What you need is a sensible plan and patience.

What helps you stick with the gym long term?

Find a reason that is your own. For some it is health, for some it is how they feel, for others it is competition. Once the reason is clear, it’s easier to show up on the hard days too.

Author: Joker

Source: Turg.Fitness.ee

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