Farid, when did you start training armwrestling?

It all started back in 1998. I was 17 and it was a good way to compete with my friends.

I remember you from the World Championships in 2004 in Durban, you fought in 100kg and took 2^nd place in left hand, 3^rd in right. You approached our stand and said: “I’m Farid Usmanov, you better watch me, because I’m going to be world champion soon, and fight in your tournaments in Poland”.

Yes, I remember that. My first World Championships were in 2003, however. They were organized by two federations back then. I wound up with the second one, in Suzdal in Russia; your championships were held in Canada. I took 2^nd place in left and right, in 100kg.

We all know you as a European and World champion. When was the first time?

I won my first championship in Japan in 2005. I had a gold double for both hands. It was also that year that I first went to the Nemiroff World Cup. It wasn’t as easy as the WC, the competition was huge and brutal, I took 2^nd place in +95kg, and I wound up outside the podium in OPEN.

In 2006 you got a chance to start in professional tournaments.

In April 2006 I was invited by WAC with Dave Devoto to start in Las Vegas. We put on quite a show in the finals with John Brzenk. I still watch those fights sometimes on YouTube; I was in great shape back then. But I also had my downs. PAL invited me to fight Travis Bagent in Dubai, for the title of left hand champion of the world. I came prepared and convinced of my victory. But fate had other plans for me. Travis Bagent is a wily fox! He gave me one chance in 6 to put up a fight. His tricks and attempts to unbalance the judges and me led to his victory by fouls. It was a great distaste to me, but I also wanted to meet him again at the table. Here and now I declare – I’m ready to meet him again.

And what of the 2006 Nemiroff World Cup?

I did better then, I took 1^st place in +95 kg, and 2^nd in OPEN. But my breakthrough year was 2008.

Why?

In 2008 I moved to Turkey; I’m of Turkish descent, though I was born and lived in Uzbekistan for a long time. I knew that by joining the Turkish federation I’ll be reimbursed for my costs and get money for medals. I received my citizenship in 2009, so I entered my first EC and WC as a Turk in 2010.

What are your plans for this year and what was your reaction for your invitation to TOP 16?

For the first time in my life I realized that armwrestling might get noticed outside its hermetic following, get to higher level and become popular. I like the fact that this is going to be a cyclic event, allowing to become a source of steady income for fighters. I never had a chance like this before, right now we all have to have normal jobs.

And what do you do for living?

I’m in tourism, my brother has a tourist agency and a leather jacket wholesale. We’re usually up to our elbows in work, I often have to choose between training and work. If TOP 16 gives me an opportunity to focus on training only, you will not recognize Farid. For now, I work out 3 – 4 times a week, that’s enough for me. I also train CrossFit once a week, and I jog a lot.

What are your parameters as of now, seeing you’re a heavy guy who can run and jump?

I’m 187 cm tall and weigh 116 kg, 50 cm in biceps, 44 cm forearm.

For such an intensive training regime, you still weigh quite a lot.

That’s true, for this year’s European Championship I’m planning to cut down to 110 kg.

Why? If you gained some 4-5 kg, you could become undefeated by most.

Hah! I’m undefeated in my own country. I’ll give this chance to my student, I’ll start in 110 kg, he’ll go to +110 kg.

Semerenko told me recently that he has a grievance for losing to you in 2006 in right hand, in Kremlin. Would you like to meet him in a Vendetta?

I suffered an elbow injury in my right arm during the 2011 Europeans, after my fight with Pushkar. Sometimes that injury plays up. But if it was by the end of July this year, with plenty of time to go between the fight and the WC, I’d take Alexey on gladly.

Igor Mazurenko