In a bar of the Moscow fitness club, we meet with an eight-time World Champion, six-time European Champion and multiple Russian Armwrestling Champion, and at the same time a smiled and very nice player Khadzhimurat Zoloyev. Khadzhimurat told us about the sports Zoloyevs’ dynasty, the plans for this year and an ideal girl.

Julia Hozyainova: Khadzhimurat, tell us about your sports way.

Khadzhimurat Zoloyev: At the beginning I trained weight lifting but I did not go a bomb. In 1996 in a huge training hall, in which my uncle and dad were the first trainers, was built in Wladykaukaz. By the way, my uncle Kazbek Zoloyev was the first Russian Armwrestling World Champion, before him there was no one who did so well in Russian armsport. Of course I was also interested in armwrestling, but because of my age I did not take the trainings seriously. I came to trainings, massed around, for me it was a good idea to spend time. After some time I realized that it’s why I lose. And I did not like losing.  

And then you decided that you should take it seriously to achieve better results.

KZ: Yes, but it was a long way. At my first tournament, organized for clubs form Osetia, for which I was preparing on the right arm, I was so sure that I would win, that I went on to fight with “cold” muscles and I broke my arm in the first fight. After a surgery and three month long recuperation, I was training for half a year and when I in the next tournaments, on the first day, because of the lack of experience I broke my left arm. After that all my friends called me a “transformer”.
 
Two fractures and it did not spot you!

KZ: No, rather, on the contrary, I realized that you have to take every tournaments seriously and cannot relax. Not only the physical preparation is important but also mental preparation before the duel. You should not disregard your opponents and overestimate yourself. From 2001, as a representative of junior team I got my first win at the World Championships. A few years later, when I was a multiple World Champion and I saw no opponents in my weight class (it was in 2009), I let myself relax. I really thank Janis Amolinsow who beat me then. I lost then, because I forgot of the control and I was too sure, that I was unbeatable. Janis was really well mentally prepared and he won. It was a good lesson for me.  

Your uncle and dad are great sportsmen. Do you think, that genetics can influence sports successes?

KZ: Of course! Many people want to find out the secret of my trainings, methods and techniques. But there are no such things. I train just as the other armwrestlers. I do not achieve any excellent results, even in case of basic exercises. For example I know that Artem Taynov presses about 180kg, and I can just dream of such a weight. So I think genetics is quite important in my life.
 
After the last World Championships, which took place in Kazakhstan, doping tests of many armwrestlers gave positive results. Among those sportsmen were also the Russian representatives. What you think of that?

KZ: As far as I know, Tatiana Istomina’s disqualification was cancelled, cause it was proved that there were no illegal substances in her blood, just medicines. I fact, I think that the decision of taking pharmaceuticals is an individual decision of each sportsmen. Everyone has their head on the right place. I would blushed for shame, if was caught doping. Supplementation, I use preparing for tournaments is enough for me
 
What kind of supplementation do you take?

KZ: I take creatine Creatin Creapure FitMax enhancing strength abilities during the period of preparations,  Whey Protein 81 and obligatory BCAA during training and Fitmax isotonic drinks. In my opinion supplementation helps to gain working muscle mass and is useful at the time of recuperation and relax. Sports nutrients are essential in the process of preparations.
 
What fight in your armwrestling career engraved in your memory?

KZ: It was the fight with Ivan Matyush (+ 100 kg) in Open class, in 2009 probably, at the Russian Championships. I managed to stop him then. He won by fouls, but it focused attention on me, and then I knew what was going to happen. For me, it was also a way of thinking, when I see an opponent bigger than me, I want to prove that I’m stronger.

And you do it great. Among the competitors you beat such names as Pushkar, Khalikov i Matyushenko, Antonov, Kudinov i Babaev (who did not lose any fight for 9 years and of course  Jerry Cadorette can be mentioned. Who will be next?

KZ: First of all, I want a revenge with Jerry, we are 1:1. As at Nemiroff World Cup I won, but in Las Vegas he won, although I think that I lost only because of the lack of time of regeneration after the World Cup, as two years is too short. So I’m waiting to meet him in Poland, in November. Apart from that, there are some interesting tournaments as A1, which will be sensational for sure. I’m preparing to meet there my eternal rival - Rustam Babayev and his brother Ruslan.
 
Talking of brothers, you also have a younger brother, Spartak who used to be a successful armwrestler. Babayevs’ family vs Zoloyevs’?

KZ:  I think, that it would really interesting. Spartak – the sports Champion (international), laureate of World and European Championships. Now he has withdrew from armwrestling a bit, and devoted to work, he lives and works in Ukraine. But we will see, if we are able to see him at the table. These are only my suspicions.

A very interesting subject is the competitors and their financial situation. Do you think Russian armwrestlers can earn on this sport? Is sport cost-effective in your case

KZ: Currently I do not earn on armwrestling. But I can see some perspectives, for example A1 tournament organized soon, which is financed by Nikolaj Mishta. For winning the tournaments, I can get quite a big amount of money, and there are some commercial tournaments, where you can “earn” some money. However it is not a constant cash inflow, but the Ministry of Sport worked up a program, according to which a prize of 100.000 roubles (about 10.000 PLN) can be gained for winning the European Championships, and 150.000 roubles (about 15.000 PLN) for winning the World Championships.

As far as I’m concerned you live in Moscow now, what are your plans?

KZ: I have been in Moscow for two months and I’ve been preparing for incoming tournaments and World and European Championships. Then I’d like to find some place to live, find a job. In Ossetia I trained a group of boys, among my students are sports champions and international sports champions. In Moscow I was surprised by a small number of armwrestling schools, in Ossetia there are much more of them. We organize and conduct tournaments, bring equipment and tables. Maybe that’s why we are the first among Russian teams. Now I tarin in “Olympic” club with Artur Aghajanian.

Do you recognize yourself a “star”? Who is a star and legend of armwrestling for you?

KZ: No, I’m not a star yet. I’m just eight time champion, and for example Rustam Babayev is 18 time one, so in my case it is still a long way to become a star. But I’m not weaker than many stars. I have never gave up any fight and I always fight to the end. Of course for, me, as for most of the armwrestlers, a real start and legend is John Brzenk. That’s what you should aim for!
 
While talking of “starts” I got an idea. There are some TV programmes as „Strictly Come Dancing”, “Skating with Celebrities” are “Celebrities on a ring”, so why not organizing “Armwtrsling with starts”? And who would you like to compete with at the table?

KZ: That’s a great idea! Is someone has been in Moscow and engaged in it, will be successful for sure. I would be glad to fight with Sylvester Stallone, and I think there would be many players who would like to compete with him.
He deserves to be held a high esteem, he knows what armwrestling is.
 
And now, some questions form a Blonde. On our web page “Zeleznyj Mir" there is a contess for the „Sexiest Sports Body”, Natasza Truskalova participates it, did you vote on Her? And tell us, do you have a girlfriend?

KZ: I did not vote yet, but before I do that, I have to see all the participants. I think, every girl should be engaged in spot or at least fitness. In armwrestling, we have many beutiful girls. The most important is that they manager to keep femininity in the sport. As to my girlfriend. Currently I’m single. I have three criteria to a girlfriend:
1. smart
2. decent
3. And of course, beautiful!


Julia Hozyainova
Andrey Franskevich