31/10/2024
Often, while watching athletes at competitions, I wonder which non-competing ones could look good on stage. Over 17 years, I've seen many: some transition to masters, others appear occasionally, and some leave at their peak.
In 2013, at the Russian Championship in Perm, I noticed Maxim Kurilenko—at 188 cm tall and 125 kg, he was hard to miss. I was sure he would become Mr. Abs, but unfortunately, after 2014, he stopped competing and quietly lives online, posting only one photo a year.
I found an interview with Maxim: he lives near Chelyabinsk and has been in sports since childhood. During his career, he worked in a fire department and trained using the Mentzer system. As he approached competitions, he increased his training sessions and followed an unconventional diet focused on dairy products.
I wrote to Maxim to check in on him. He replied that while injuries weren't the main reason for his departure from competition, he simply lacks motivation but continues to train for himself. When I asked about current bodybuilders who interest him, he said none, as the sport has degraded.
It’s a pity that many promising athletes lose interest in competing. Thank you, Maxim, for your response, and I wish you good health!
