Over the last several months, the name Vitaliy Ugolnikov has been making its way to the western hemisphere, from Russia. Now this young bodybuilder opens up about where he got his start, and what makes him so special.
At 22 years of age, most people are finishing college, and likely hitting some parties. This is not the case for Russian bodybuilding phenom Vitaliy Ugolnikov. Instead of slacking off, he has tirelessly worked in the gym, honing his craft in the efforts to chase his dream as a bodybuilder. So far that seems to be working out, as his Instagram will tell you.
FitnessVolt had the pleasure of catching up with this exciting young prospect, in order to get to know him a bit better. Here we discussed his start to the sport, what his goals are moving forward, his inspirations and more.
How long have you been competing in bodybuilding, and how did you get involved in the sport?
“I started powerlifting at the age of 16,” Ugolnikov said. “Later I realized that I liked bodybuilding more, because I like getting a pump. I read a lot of fitness literature and got smarter about training. I first competed at the age of 18, and I have been doing bodybuilding for 4 years altogether.”
What division do you compete in, and where have you competed?
“I compete in the IFBB Amateur Federation,” Vitaliy responded. “I have performed only 4 times, and at the moment I am the youngest and most promising bodybuilding champion of my home country of Russia.”
Do you plan on going for your IFBB Pro Card, and if so, when?
“Yes, I plan to get a Pro card when I can perform abroad. In order to perform abroad I need sponsors, but at the moment I do not have any sponsorship.”
You have been getting a lot of hype recently, because of your massive physique. How do you find yourself dealing with change in your public profile?
“People are very surprised by my body, I’m a freak and I realized it a long time ago,” Ugolnikov admitted. “We do not like big guys in Russia, so I dream of moving to a another country some day.”
How do you split your training?
“I divide my workouts as follows:
Day 1: Back
Day 2: Chest
Day 3: Legs
Day 4: Shoulders
Day 5: Arms/AbsThe rest of the days are rest days.”
What is your secret to becoming a mass monsters at such a young age?
“The secret of my size is that I eat a lot,” Vitaliy Ugolnikov explained. “The body needs nutrients for building. This is important for muscle growth. I try to eat 8 times a day.”
Who are your inspirations for your physique and training?
“My idols are Vince Taylor and Kai Greene. They are both bright personalities with excellent proportions.”
What do you feel is your strongest attribute, and what makes you different from everyone else?
“My strongest quality is a mad desire to get better,” said Vitaliy. “So I focus on my mind a lot, too, which helps me not make many mistakes. I look at many athletes and do not repeat their mistakes.”
What are your goals for your bodybuilding career?
“I still only have a little experience, so for now my goal is to become a world champion.”
All things considered, it would really appear that Vitaliy Ugolnikov is going to be a force to be reckoned with moving forward. He is not anywhere near his physical prime but he already shows a lot of the same characteristics of someone like Dennis Wolf. The future seems bright for this young Russian bodybuilder.
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