Who is Anatoly Powerlifter? (Vladimir Shmondenko)

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On TikTok recently, there is a viral trend where a person dressed as a cleaner is seen lifting heavy weights in a gym. In these videos, a man pretends to be a cleaner and pranks people at the gym by lifting heavy weights.

Many reaction videos show people being surprised by how much weight he can lift, including deadlifts, bench presses, and squats. What makes these videos popular is that he can lift weights typically associated with someone much larger in size.

His videos have gained immense popularity on YouTube and TikTok, amassing millions of views.

In this article, you will find information about Anatoly Powerlifter (also known as Vladimir Shmondenko), including details about his height, weight, nationality, real name, and more.

Anatoly statistics

Who is Anatoly Powerlifter?

Anatoly Powerlifter is a well-known Ukrainian YouTuber, powerlifter, and bodybuilder. He gained popularity by creating prank videos where he dresses up as various characters and challenges people at the gym to lift competitions.

In his videos, Anatoly often portrays two characters—an impersonation of a cleaner and an elderly man. Typically, he approaches individuals lifting heavy weights at the gym while in character and asks if he can attempt to lift the same weight. To the surprise of those he approaches, Anatoly successfully lifts the heavy weights, leaving them astonished.

His style of content is somewhat similar to that of Nikita Zdradovskiy, a Russian YouTuber known for his pranks, who is also a friend of someone named Vladimir. While Nikita’s pranks are in Russian and cater to a Russian audience, Anatoly’s original YouTube channel, @shmondenko, is also in Russian. However, in 2022, Anatoly created an English YouTube channel, @vladimirfitness, to reach an English-speaking audience, particularly in the United States.

Anatoly gained significant attention in 2022 when he collaborated with Larry Wheels, a renowned powerlifter in the fitness industry. They created a prank video together, which garnered over 15 million views. Anatoly’s most popular video, titled “Crazy cleaner shocks girls in a gym prank,” achieved over 27 million views in about four months.

Anatoly’s popularity further soared after he began sharing video clips of people’s reactions to his pranks on TikTok, where he has amassed over 9 million followers and more than 130 million likes under the username @anatoly_pranks.

According to his Instagram page, @vladimirshmondenko, Anatoly has impressive personal records in powerlifting, with a deadlift of 290 kg (639 lbs) and a squat of 210 kg (462 lbs). He has been actively involved in powerlifting since he was 15 years old and currently maintains a weight ranging from 75 to 80 kg.

Early life and education

Vladimir was born on August 10, 1999, in a small village named “Krishtopovka” in central Ukraine, where around 200 to 300 people lived.

At the age of 14, he gained access to the internet and started watching videos of American bodybuilders and bloggers. Vladimir aspired to become a blogger to motivate and gain fame, even though he lacked access to a gym in his village. Undeterred, he built his gym, “Golds Gym Krishtopovka,” using old parts from Soviet-era tractors, wood, and bricks.

By the age of 15, Vladimir followed a strict diet of seven meals a day, with one meal every two hours, consisting mainly of cottage cheese and eggs. He brought containers of oatmeal to school, where he faced ridicule from classmates and teachers. In addition to his workouts, he also performed farm work, such as feeding cows and tending to a garden.

In 2015, Vladimir moved his gym equipment to his room, started recording his workouts, and launched his first YouTube channel, though it didn’t initially find success. In 2017, he enrolled in a university in Kyiv, excelled in his studies, and began working as a courier and waiter alongside his studies.

He also ventured into powerlifting and won first place in a regional competition. While maintaining his academic achievements, Vladimir worked harder, lived in a dorm, and documented his journey with a Canon 600D camera. Despite facing skepticism and negative talk from others, he continued to push forward.

During the day, Vladimir worked in a construction company, and at night, he filmed his workouts, eventually amassing 7,000 subscribers on YouTube. He credited @ingvarvoitenko, one of his closest friends, as a significant source of motivation during this time.

At 18 years old, Vladimir realized he needed to earn at least $200 per month from his YouTube channel to escape his daily grind. To achieve this, he decided to quit his various jobs and side gigs, using the money he earned for collaborations and equipment to pursue his blogging aspirations.

What is Anatoly Powerlifter’s real name?

Anatoly Powerlifter’s real name is Vladimir Shmondenko. He is a Ukrainian YouTuber, powerlifter, and bodybuilder. In his prank videos, he goes by the name “Anatoly” to conceal his true identity. This “Anatoly” character is portrayed as a cleaner in his videos.

Vladimir Shmondenko’s career

Vladimir Shmondenko’s career has evolved over the years:

1. Beginnings (2015-2016): Vladimir entered the world of powerlifting around 2016 and documented his progress on Instagram.
2. Online Presence (2017-2018): In 2017, he participated in his first powerlifting competition, sharing the experience on YouTube. In 2015, he initiated his first YouTube channel, ‘@shmondenko,’ focusing on powerlifting content in the Russian language.
3. Shift to Eating Challenges (2018): In 2018, Vladimir transitioned to creating videos centered around eating challenges, and these videos began garnering over 100,000 views each.
4. Success with Gym Pranks (2020): In 2020, he redirected his content towards gym pranks, which proved to be highly successful. His first gym prank video, the “old man prank,” on his Russian channel received over 10 million views.
5. Reaching Milestones (2021): In April 2021, Vladimir’s main YouTube channel hit a significant milestone, surpassing 1 million subscribers. His English YouTube channel, ‘@vladimirfitness,’ now boasts over 2.2 million subscribers, while his Russian channel, ‘@shmondenko,’ has over 2 million subscribers.
6. TikTok Stardom (Ongoing): Vladimir has also made a mark on TikTok, where his account ‘@anatoly_pranks’ has gathered a substantial following of over 9 million followers.

This summary outlines the key stages and achievements in Vladimir Shmondenko’s career, from his initial foray into powerlifting and social media sharing to his current prominence on YouTube and TikTok.

Who is this Anatoly gym guy?

Anatoly Gym, also known as Vladimir Shmondenko or Anatoly Powerlifter, is a Ukrainian weightlifter and YouTube personality who gained popularity for his activities and videos related to weightlifting and fitness at the gym.

His real name is Vladimir Shmondenko, but he is often referred to as Anatoly Powerlifter due to his online persona. He has become well-known for his content on social media platforms, particularly YouTube, where he shares his workouts, training tips, and gym-related humor.

Is Anatoly the weight lifter real?

Yes, Anatoly is a real person who works as a powerlifter and creates content for his YouTube channel and other social media platforms. In a video posted in early 2023, Anatoly pretended to be a newcomer at the gym, surprising the regular gym-goers.

How is Mr Anatoly the powerlifter so strong?

Mr. Anatoly, the powerlifter, is exceptionally strong due to a combination of factors:

• Training: He follows a rigorous strength training program that includes exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. Over time, this consistent training builds muscle and increases his overall strength.
• Diet: Mr. Anatoly maintains a well-balanced diet that provides his body with the necessary nutrients to support muscle growth and recovery. He likely consumes an adequate amount of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
• Rest and Recovery: To allow his muscles to heal and grow, Mr. Anatoly prioritizes sufficient rest and recovery. This means getting enough sleep and allowing time between intense workouts.
• Genetics: Genetics play a role in determining one’s potential for strength. Some individuals are naturally predisposed to have greater muscle mass and strength.
• Technique: Proper lifting technique is crucial in powerlifting. Mr. Anatoly likely has excellent form, minimizing the risk of injury and maximizing the effectiveness of his workouts.
• Dedication: Mr. Anatoly’s dedication to his training and consistent effort over time is a key factor in his exceptional strength. Strength gains come gradually and require ongoing commitment.

In summary, Mr. Anatoly’s impressive strength is the result of rigorous training, a balanced diet, adequate rest, genetic factors, proper technique, and unwavering dedication to his powerlifting goals.

How much can Anatoly lift?

Anatoly’s deadlift personal record is 290 kg (639 lbs), and his squat personal record is 210 kg (462 lbs). These achievements showcase the effectiveness of his unique training approach. Unlike some who primarily aim for muscle growth, Anatoly emphasizes functional strength and maximizes his technique for lifting weights.