Vladimir Shmondenko, the Ukrainian body lifter and YouTuber known as Anatoly Powerlifter, has taken the internet by storm with his hilarious antics at the gym.
Born in 1999 on a cattle farm near Krishtopovka, Vladimir became obsessed with American bodybuilder videos after his village gained internet access. Despite being ridiculed by classmates for his unconventional diet and gym routines, Vladimir persevered and built his own gym using makeshift equipment.
At just 24 years old, Vladimir has amassed an impressive following on his Russian-language YouTube channel, with nearly 2 million subscribers. His videos often feature him pranking unsuspecting gym-goers by dressing up as a cleaner or retiree before showcasing his strength by lifting heavy weights effortlessly. In 2018, he placed third at the GPA World Championships in Ukraine in the Teen 18-19 category.
With a net worth of approximately £1.45 million, Vladimir has secured sponsorships from fitness brands and rakes in revenue from his YouTube channel. His impressive powerlifting stats include a deadlift personal record of 290kg and a squat personal record of 210kg.
Known by the stage name Anatoly Powerlifter, Vladimir’s alter ego serves as a comedic persona in the gym. He portrays himself as a weak and clueless cleaner or retiree before surprising onlookers with his immense strength, much like Barry Humphries’ creation of Dame Edna Everage.
In his personal life, Vladimir is romantically involved with lingerie model Valery Shirshova. The couple often shares glimpses of their workout routines and luxurious lifestyle in Dubai and Bali on social media. While they don’t have children, they do have two hamsters whom they enjoy driving around on remote-controlled toy motorbikes.
While Vladimir’s Instagram feed may not feature many photos of Valery, he continues to entertain his followers with his pranks and impressive feats of strength in the gym.
