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Uncovering “Rags to Riches” Story of an Elite Powerlifter Born in Poverty Who Now Pranks People at the Gym in Disguise and Earns Millions

Published 05/13/2023, 8:20 AM EDT

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Ukrainian bodybuilder and content creator, Vladimir Shmondenko a.k.a Anatoly has recently gone viral for his antics at the gym. The powerlifter enjoys pranking fellow gym-goers in the fitness arena. He often takes up different get-ups to hide his true identity. He later shares the successful prank videos on his social media. The wholesome content has led to a sudden spike in his popularity, thereby, making him one of the favorite content creators.

Owing to his popularity, Anatoly is now living a comfortable life full of riches. However, this wasn’t the case from the get-go. Shmondenko wasn’t born with a silver spoon, instead, he built himself up from scratch. Recently, another popular content creator named Roberto Nickson shared the inspiring story of Vladimir Shmondenko’s life.

The Story of the Elite Powerlifter and Prankster

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As per the information shared by Roberto Nickson, Vladimir Shmondenko was born in a small village in Ukraine. The population of his village consisted of merely 200 people. The famous powerlifter was just 14 when he first discovered the world of fitness and training through the Internet. Narrating his story, Nickson said, “…what’s most impressive about Vladimir is his story. Rags to riches, against all odds.”

 

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A post shared by Roberto Nickson (@rpnickson)

Nickson further added, “He got access to the internet at age 14 and he fell in love with American bodybuilders and bloggers.” Following the exposure to the new world, Shmondenko realized he wasn’t destined to work on a farm. Therefore, he started training using old parts from Soviet-era tractors, wood, and bricks.

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Just like that, he created his own gym. Furthermore, he started eating eggs and cottage cheese from farms, seven times a day to gain mass. Eventually, on 20 December 2015, Vladimir Shmondenko uploaded his first video on YouTube. The rest, as they say, is history.

Efforts spelled success for Vladimir Shmondenko

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Though hailing from a small village, through his years of hard work and dedication, Vladimir Shmondenko is now world famous. In his caption, Nickson added, “You can’t go anywhere on the Internet these days without running into @vladimirshmondenko and his addicting and hilarious gym videos.”

“But the story of how Anatoly got to where he is, is a story of pure grit, determination and passion. Yet another reminder that you just need to start. Hard work and consistency over a long period of time will always yield positive results,” he concluded.

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Watch this story: Bodybuilding Legend Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares Valuable Advice With Beginners

True to Roberto Nickson’s words, Anatoly’s story is indeed an inspirational tale. Lack of gym facilities or modern equipment couldn’t stop the Ukrainian bodybuilder from achieving his dream.

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Written by:

Aaradhana Singh

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Aaradhana Singh is a sports writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in American sports. With a background in Journalism and Mass Communication, Aaradhana has honed her craft through years of experience working as an editor and writer for various reputable publications before joining the esteemed team at EssentiallySports. As a sports enthusiast at heart, Aaradhana's passion for the industry is evident in her work.
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Edited by:

Brandon Gabriel