Taavi Koovit: a determined Estonian go-getter
In this personal profile, Taavi Koovit speaks plainly and without beating around the bush: bodybuilding is a hobby, but getting into stage shape means giving 110%. The conversation covers the coach, the European Championships gold, motivation, nutrition and why Estonian bodybuilding needs more visibility.
Taavi Koovit and the road to bodybuilding
The question “Who are you?” first made Taavi Koovit laugh. “Dunno.. Damn, what kind of question is that?” came the answer, in Koovit’s own way. That tone stayed throughout the conversation: honest, dryly humorous and without unnecessary posing.
As a sport, Koovit names bodybuilding and classic bodybuilding. They have been at it for almost 20 years, or more precisely a little less than 20 years. The beginning wasn’t driven by a grand plan or a fancy slogan. Koovit simply started going to the gym. After a while, progress was good enough to enter competitions, and someone even suggested taking the sport up more seriously.
As a coach, Koovit names Fred Antson. The two have known each other for a very long time, but closer cooperation began at the end of 2007. Before that, Koovit trained alone. That says a lot about their background: first came the habit of putting in the work, then the system was added.
The biggest athletic achievement? No need for long thought here. The European Championships – gold, no doubt. The personal profile with the future European champion Taavi Koovit was recorded over two training days in Tallinn, a week before the gold at the European Championships in Ukraine.
What does Taavi Koovit do to get into stage shape?
On pre-competition shape, Koovit says briefly: big efforts. And then laughs. But the point is clear. If you’ve chosen this work, you have to see it through. Not half-heartedly, but so that you don’t have to look for excuses afterwards.
By Taavi’s own account, no athlete goes out to lose. At the same time, Koovit won’t judge their own shape. Whether it is worth a medal and which place it means is for the judges to decide. Koovit’s job is to give everything. A simple truth: what shows on stage is what you did when nobody was watching.
When it comes to future goals, Koovit is cautious. First the season has to be finished, and only then can new targets be set. Koovit also mentions the possibility of the 2011 World Championships in Tallinn. At the same time, they joke that maybe that will finally put an end to this mess. That’s athlete’s humor: hard work, lots of repetitions, but still a warm irony at one’s own expense.
Is bodybuilding a job or a hobby? The answer leans toward hobby. Koovit says they couldn’t do it if they didn’t enjoy it. That’s an important difference. If the sport became only an obligation, the reason to go to the gym every week and polish one’s shape would disappear too.
How does motivation last?
Asked about motivation, Koovit answers with a laugh and a remark that it’s a good question. The real answer is simple, though: if you like it, motivation and energy don’t run short easily. They come on their own. What you see in the mirror motivates.
That doesn’t mean everything is easy. Rather, hard work is bearable when you have chosen a sport that truly interests you. Koovit also puts it bluntly: happy are the people who get to do what they love.
According to Koovit, being the leader of this sport in Estonia is a topic of its own. Koovit doesn’t feel they have sought special attention, and doesn’t need it either. Lately there has been somewhat more interest, but in general little is known about bodybuilding in Estonia. In Koovit’s view, that’s a problem. Those who go to the gym understand what the sport is about. The wider public often sees only the end result, not the whole journey.
On nutrition and supplements, Koovit also stays down to earth. According to Koovit, you don’t need to take a lot of supplements. They make eating a little more convenient and easier, but you can’t forget about eating. The most important things are real food and consistency.
Taavi Koovit to young people and fans
To a young beginner athlete, Koovit recommends not boxing yourself into a narrow corner too early. Group training, ball games and varied movement build a good base. The main thing is that the child or young person finds their way to sport. The choices come later, when the body and the interest have already grown.
Asked about a bad habit, Koovit says with a laugh that there isn’t one. Rest is simple too: a walk with the dog, and the sun is out again. As a child, Koovit wanted to become an athlete, or at least that’s how it turns out after some thought. From PE class, what comes to mind is mostly messing around. Sport came naturally and didn’t cause any major difficulties.
Koovit has no idol who embodies the ideal shape. There is nobody to follow blindly or to look like. Of their own body, they name the arms as the part they are happiest with. If it were possible to go back in time, Koovit wouldn’t do anything differently for certain. Maybe another choice would have brought more, maybe some existing achievement would never have happened at all.
To fans, Koovit simply says: thank you. Then thinks for a long while and adds a deep bow. Without fans’ support it’s hard to do this; they add a lot of strength. Check out the fresh gallery.
FAQ: Taavi Koovit
What is Taavi Koovit’s biggest athletic achievement?
Koovit names the European Championships gold as the biggest achievement. The personal profile was recorded in Tallinn a week before the gold at the European Championships in Ukraine.
Who was Taavi Koovit’s coach?
The coach was Fred Antson. Close cooperation began at the end of 2007, although the two had known each other earlier.
What does Koovit recommend to a young beginner athlete?
Koovit recommends being versatile: group training, ball games and general movement help you find your way to sport before you have to make narrower choices.
Author: Turg.Fitness.ee
Source: WHO – physical activity.
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