Ott Kiivikas: height, records and his journey
Ott Kiivikas is one of the best-known names in Estonian bodybuilding. Here you’ll find his key details, measurements, personal records and thoughts on training, motivation and life, preserved in an old questionnaire.
Why Ott Kiivikas matters in Estonian bodybuilding
Talk about Estonian bodybuilding and Ott Kiivikas soon comes up. He is more than a competitor whose name appears on results sheets. For many recreational athletes, he was the person who first brought bodybuilding to their attention.
His full name is Ott Kivikas. He was born on 10.09.1977 in Viljandi. At the time of the questionnaire, he was living in Tallinn. His listed clubs were Planet Sport and Reval-Sport, and he represented the latter. Relationship status: living with a partner.
Bodybuilder Ott Kiivikas is 174cm tall. His competition weight ranged from 87.5 – 91kg, with an off-season weight of up to 106kg. These figures give you a good idea of the difference between stage condition and a regular training phase. Bodybuilding is about more than getting bigger. It is also about peaking at the right time.
The questionnaire lists his measurements as biceps: 45 – 48cm, chest: around 130cm, waist: 77cm in competition, thigh: 66 – 72cm and calf: 47 – 51cm. These are dry numbers, but in bodybuilding they say a lot. On stage, judges assess the whole package: proportions, symmetry, conditioning and how the athlete presents it all.
Ott Kiivikas and his results on stage
His listed achievements were: 5x overall Estonian champion, 3x overall cup winner, 7th place at the World Championships, 8th place at the European Championships x2 and 6th place at the Junior European Championships. That is more than one standout season. A record like that takes years of work.
To be honest, consistency is precisely what beginners often underestimate. Asked about disappointment in bodybuilding, Ott Kiivikas was direct: results do not come overnight. It sounds simple, but you only really understand it in the gym once those rapid early gains are over and the work becomes routine.
Asked how much bodybuilding had influenced his personal life, he replied that it had made a considerable difference: he probably would not be filling in the questionnaire if he were not involved in bodybuilding. That says a lot. For some people, working out is part of the day. For others, it becomes the backbone of their life.
He named some big names as his role models: Coleman, Yates, Schwartz. He drew motivation from bodybuilding literature and films. That is a sign of the times. Before short videos on social media, people looked for ideas in magazines, training videos and what other athletes were doing.
Training, personal records and strengths
So what does a bodybuilder actually say when the subject turns to success? Kiivikas made the most important point very clear: you have to have your head in the right place, or nothing will happen. That is no empty slogan. Diet, rep after rep and contest preparation take mental resilience.
His personal records were impressive: back squat 200kg x10, deadlift 210kg x10, bench press 185kg. These results show that his training involved more than chasing a pump and looking in the mirror. He had a solid foundation of strength.
He identified the large muscle groups as the strongest parts of his physique: chest, back and legs in their entirety. His weaker areas were his biceps and shoulders. This kind of self-assessment is essential in bodybuilding. Every athlete would like to talk only about their strengths, but weaknesses quickly show on stage.
His goal was simple: to go as far as possible. And why bodybuilding? He had tried other sports, but doubted he would rank among the top 10 amateurs in Europe or the world in basketball or handball. It is a practical answer. He found the sport that best brought together his hard work and his build.
The person behind the name
The questionnaire also includes some more everyday details. Workplace: Oü Robocop. Hobbies and interests: sports, computers. His greatest fear has a humorous ring to it: what if I start growing taller one day? His biggest shortcoming: I tend to forget things. The person he admired most was his daughter. His greatest achievement outside bodybuilding was the birth of his daughter.
He admired people who kept their word. What bothered him most was when people failed to keep their promises. That fits an athlete’s mindset well. If your training plan calls for work, you do it. If you make a promise, keep your word.
His favorites included season: spring; newspaper: Slõ; films: action or comedy, and, for bodybuilding, a Coleman training video. Drink: water. Time of day: 6.30, when I get up every day. Singer: Bocelli Andrea. Car brand: H ummer. He preferred heavy music in the gym, but otherwise also enjoyed listening to Estonian music.
His favorite day of the week was Friday, his favorite actor Andrus Vaarik, his preferred TV viewing sports programs, and his favorite athlete Gert Kanter, whom he described as a very dedicated man, adding that he would soon win an Olympic medal too. As for food, he said his favorite was something he did not eat every day, so some kind of junk food.
Ott Kiivikas, Marek Kalmus and a wish for readers
Speaking about Marek Kalmus, Ott Kivikas said that when he started bodybuilding, Kalmus was undoubtedly a major role model among Estonian bodybuilders. His idols changed over time, but his assessment remained respectful: a fiercely dedicated athlete trying to succeed in sport despite limited opportunities.
He also described Marek Kalmus as a very outspoken person. That may not always have worked in his favor, but he has certainly left a lasting mark on the history of Estonian bodybuilding. It sounds like an old-school athlete’s assessment: direct, without much sugarcoating.
His hope was that readers would find inspiration while visiting Amazon.ee and make their way to the gym—and later, perhaps, onto the bodybuilding stage. The simple truth is that stories like these can give someone that first nudge. Not everyone makes it to the stage. But starting to work out begins with a single decision.
FAQ: Ott Kiivikas
How tall is Ott Kiivikas?
According to the questionnaire, bodybuilder Ott Kiivikas is 174cm tall. The same source lists his competition weight as 87.5 – 91kg and his off-season weight as up to 106kg.
What were Ott Kiivikas’s personal records?
The records listed are a back squat of 200kg x10, a deadlift of 210kg x10 and a bench press of 185kg. These were the records he reported himself in the questionnaire.
What did he consider the foundation of success in bodybuilding?
He emphasized the mental side: you need to have your head in the right place. In his view, there is no point in hoping for success if your mind is not working with your body.
Source: WHO – physical activity.
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