Artem Smirnov is one of the most promising young Belarussian fighters. He became master of the world in juniors when he was 18. Now he’s 19, Master of Sports in Belarus, and achieved and titled fighter. This year he’s planning to get on top of the world.

I got my passion for sports from my older brother, Lesha Gritskevich – says Artem. – When I was 16 I started bench-pressing, with 150 kg in the 66 kg weight category, getting my candidacy for Master of Sports in this discipline. I got into armwrestling by chance. My brother showed me a video from a tournament, it looked cool. I entered a tournament with no age categories and I’ve lost. I started training hard. I couldn’t do two disciplines at once, so I chose armwrestling.

The choice was hard – bench pressing with some titles already under the belt, or armwrestling with the first loss? He chose armwrestling, and rightly so, because he is predisposed towards it. But success was not easy.

I train a lot, hard work is the base for success – says Artem. – Lesha is not only my brother, but also my trainer. He goes with me to tournaments, often to fight himself, he helps me with trainings. My program is dependent on the season. In the off-season I work on my weak parts, 3 times a week for three hours. A few months before a tournament I shift my focus to strength and start exercises, four times a week. I do 8-10 exercises per workout, just enough to progress steadily. Artem is already at the top of juniors. At the last year’s WC he’s won two medals – gold in left and bronze in right arm. – I didn’t expect that – says Artem.

– At first I wanted to get into the first three, because I’ve put a lot of work into this, I practically lived at the gym.

Artem also studies paramedics, he’s a leader of his team in Nieswiz. I like this job – says Artem. – I like what I do, I help people in difficult times. It doesn’t collide with armwrestling, I get a lot of support everywhere. The fire department has its own gym, I have great conditions there. Artem Liliev is my idol, and all my buddies are a great motivation too.

Victor Bratchenya, Dmitry Shmyko and Oleg Mackiewicz - they are multiple champions of the World and Europe – says Artem. – I’d also like to point out Alexander Jankowski, who came second in the WC in Poland, and he fought in a difficult category - +110 kg. Artem is also Belarussian elite, as best junior armwrestler. This year he wants to carve his name in stone in the international arena.

I want to start in the WC in the below 21 years old age group, up to 80 kg weight – says Artem. – I hope to get in the top three. I’ll do my best.

Artem criticizes drug use among sportsmen.

I think drug control is important even at national levels – says he. – Everyone should have equal chances. But from another side – this has a financial aspect, because there’s not a lot of money in armwrestling. There was drug control at the Russian championships. Shame that Dzambolat Tsoriev was on the black list, maybe “B” trials will prove him clean, though.

Artem has his whole life ahead of him, great chances for glory, with many achievements already under his belt. And he never relaxes, always pushes on and on.

Artur Grigorian