Vadim started to train when he was 15 years old. But it wasn’t armwrestling that got him going, it was the wish to have a ripped physique.

Wysocki worked out until he met Alexey Gritskevich, who managed the Snow team then. Alexey asked Vadim to come to their club, to see what he was made of.

- Also there were fighters from Minsk, Snow, Nesvizh – says Vadim. Everybody wanted to prove they were the best. I’ve lost all my fights, but Gritskevich said I wasn’t completely useless, that I had all it takes to become a good armwrestler. I listened to him and started to train in earnest.

Vadim’s first steps in armwrestling were unsure and wobbly, but he pressed on, made progress and evolved. At first he lost to guys ten kilos lighter than him, but soon he fought in Minsk championships in senior category, and beat everyone in both arms. With mere basics of armwrestling, Vadim could taste victory. He decided to start training for real then.

- My training plan was designed by Alexey Gritskevich – says Vadim. – I did everything according to plan, increasing weights with every training. Now I have different priorities: I use smaller weights, but to better effect. I watch a lot of YouTube videos of amateur trainings. They contain a lot of useful information.

Vadim has no restrictive diet – he eats whatever he wants. As for supplements, he uses some – amino acids, Tribulus, protein, joint and ligament supports, vitamins and minerals – those are the ones Vadim thinks are necessary. He thinks gainers are unnecessary though, because they increase your weight, but not your power. And anyway, no matter how great your supplementation is, everything still depends on your training schedule.

By the way, Vadim’s nickname – “Starter” – stems from the fact that he’s very sharp, quick and “unstoppable” at the start of a fight. It’s something to boast about, he does a lot of specialist exercises.

- I work out three – four times a week – says Vadim. – I do a lot of specialist exercises, work my arm muscles and my quick moves. Supplementation helps me along with regeneration and nutrition and makes my workouts better.

The Belarussian scoring system awards prizes based on both arms’ scores. How fair is that compared to the European championships, where each arm is scored separately?

- I disagree with this system. – says Vadim. What is a fighter is injured? What if he fights in one arm only? My fellow countrymen spoke of this already, and I think it’s obvious that each arm should be scored separately.

Vadim likes to follow the amrwrestling news and events, he watches the Nemiroff World Cup and A1, he cannot wait for the TOP 16.

- It will be interesting to see Alexey Voevoda go back to armwrestling – says Vadim. He’s my idol, so I expect the best of him. Dzambolat Tsoriev is also my idol, his manner towards other sportsmen, his charisma and style earn him a lot of respect. I also think that Khadzimurat Zoloev is a great example to follow – he proved that size is not everything, that what really matters is power. I don’t think that Michael Todd is worth following. His technique is “diving” under the table, which is weird and not something worth emulating.

It’s also worth noting that Vadim started in last year’s European Championships. He hasn’t made it to the top three, but he doesn’t despair. He gained experience, got some training material. This year he’s planning to start in juniors in the World Championships in the category up to 75 kg, like Voevoda, Tsoriev and Zoloev. He’s planning to push on and win.

Artur Grigorian