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Home » Weightlifting News » Ilya Ilyin Does Bodyweight Training, So Should You

Ilya Ilyin Does Bodyweight Training, So Should You

Written by BarBend Team
Last updated on April 29th, 2025

Bodyweight exercises are cool, effective, and even fun. And hey, they may even make you stronger. Just ask two-time Olympic weightlifting champion Ilya Ilyin, who’s having no problem knocking out some bar dips at 105 kilograms.

 

Отжимание на шатающихся брусьях 💪😀

A video posted by Илья Ильин (@ilyailyin_official) on Mar 31, 2016 at 5:36am PDT

Ilya’s comment in Russian mentions the wobblyness of the bars he’s using. Note the old school medicine ball in the bottom right and unmistakably Soviet/1980’s TV den wood paneling in the training center. If you can’t get strong in an environment like that, you’re probably hopeless.

We’ve seen Ilya incorporate bodyweight movements into his training before; after each Olympic cycle, he’s also been known to take some time away from the platform to swim, run, and occasionally play some other sports. One of those is breakdancing, and while he’s probably not making the cast of Step Up 7 anytime soon, Ilya’s actually got some moves. Watch to the end of the below clip. Risky for a weightlifter looking to win his third Olympic gold? Sure. But cool to see in the middle of a weightlifting gym? Totally.

 

Всем доброго утра!!! А это вот такая у меня разминка перед тренировкой…🔝🔝🔝 #илья_ильин #казахстан #путь_в_рио2016 #ilya_ilyin #kazakhstan #road_to_rio2016

A video posted by Илья Ильин (@ilyailyin_official) on Feb 19, 2016 at 9:20pm PST

Yes, it’s a lot more fun to watch the world’s best weightlifters lift things heavier than themselves, but in many schools of training, bodyweight and core-isolation movements are crucial components of daily training. Check out the video below, where Olympic silver medalist Apti Aukhadov demonstrates some of his favorite ab exercises.

It might not be beach body branding, but don’t knock Aukhadov’s six pack; clearly he’s doing something right. He’s also putting your Tabata Hollow Rocks to shame.

About BarBend Team

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