• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BarBend

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini Massage Guns
      • Individual Recovery Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Whey Protein Powders
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainers
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
        • Best Fat Burners for Men
        • Best Fat Burners for Women
        • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • More Supplements
        • Best Supplements for Muscle Growth
        • Best Supplements for CrossFit
        • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
        • Best Supplements for Bodybuilding
        • Best Supplements for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
      • Individual Supplements Reviews
    • Equipment
      • Cardio
        • Best Treadmills
        • Best Rowing Machines
        • Best Exercise Bikes
        • Best Ellipticals
        • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Strength
        • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
        • Best Dumbbells
        • Best Kettlebells
        • Best Barbells
        • Best Squat Racks
        • Best Free Weights
        • Best Weight Benches
        • Best Resistance Bands
        • Best Slam Balls
        • Best Weighted Vests
        • Best Leg Extension Machines
        • Best Cable Machines
        • Best Power Racks
        • Best Pull Up Bars
      • Best Home Gyms
        • Best Smart Home Gyms
        • Best Gym Equipment Under $100
        • Best Home Gym Essentials
        • Best Home Gym Flooring
      • Individual Equipment Reviews
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Apparel
        • Best Weightlifting Shoes
        • Best Cross Training Shoes
        • Best Gym Bags
        • Best Gym Shorts
      • Training
        • Best Weightlifting Belts
        • Best Knee Sleeves
        • Best Lifting Straps
        • Best Grip Strengtheners
        • Best Wrist Wraps
        • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Individual Fitness Product Reviews
    • Certifications
      • Best Sports Nutrition Certifications
      • Best Personal Trainer Certifications
      • Best Nutrition Certifications
      • Individual Certifications Reviews
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
      • Individual Program Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Nutrition Tips
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
News

Watch Oleksii Novikov Kick Off His Training For The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic

The 2020 World's Strongest Man anticipates a strong 2022 season.

Written by Phil Blechman
Last updated on August 3rd, 2023

The holiday season was filled with rest and recovery for the 2020 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Oleksii Novikov. After one of the most consistent competitors in the back half of 2021, where he podiumed at every contest he entered after the 2021 WSM contest, Novikov is back in the gym training for the 2022 season. It did not take long after Christmas for the Ukrainian to kick his programming into high gear. On Dec. 27, 2021, Novikov took to his YouTube channel to share his first training day back as he preps for the first premier contest of 2022 — the Arnold Strongman Classic.

Novikov is one of 10 elite strongmen who qualified for the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic. The roster is stacked with two other WSM champions — Martins Licis and Tom Stoltman — the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man champion, Luke Stoltman, two-time WSM runner-up Mateusz Kieliszkowski, 2021 Shaw Classic champion Trey Mitchell, and inaugural Magnus ver Magnusson Strongman Classic champion Maxime Boudreault, to name a few. Check out the video below, wherein Novikov shares how he plans to attack the season and potentially claim his first Arnold Strongman Classic victory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4PT3uvH-Wg&ab_channel=OleksiiNovikov%5BENG%5D

[Related: Rebecca Roberts Victorious — 2021 World’s Strongest Woman Results]

Novikov’s training opened with heavy squats. By the time he turned on the camera, he already had 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds) on the barbell with the intent to increase it to 250 kilograms (551.2 pounds). Novikov’s gym does not appear to be a fluidly constructed commercial setting. His space is more akin to an old-school garage-style gym with rusty, mismatched equipment scattered throughout the room. He does not employ a full power rack for his squat session but rather a simple squat rack that’s seen significant use over the years.

According to the 2020 WSM champ, this is his third training session in preparation for the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic, and he asserts that the squat will be an event at that contest, though no official event list has yet been released. Novikov shared that the squat event will offer each athlete three attempts to establish their max load. For reference, Novikov’s PR squat is 350 kilograms (771.6 pounds) while wearing knee wraps without a single-ply suit.

Novikov’s cameraman inquired further about the events at the 2022 Strongman Classic, and Novikov shared the following:

2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Events

  • Max Squat — three attempts per athlete
  • Timber Carry — 400 kilograms (881.9 pounds)
  • Heavy Dumbbell — 124 kilograms (273.4 pounds) for reps
  • Max Log Lift
  • Stone to Shoulder — 186 kilograms (410.1 pounds)

Note: the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic event list has not been officially released. The events above are listed in the order Novikov shared them.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Oleksii Novikov (@novikov_strong_wsm)

[Related: Watch Strongman Martins Licis and CrossFit Games Champ Justin Medeiros Deadlift Heavy Together]

Novikov pulled out the gym mats following his squat session to set up his log lift training. Novikov felt the effects of taking time off from the gym as his legs felt a particular kind of sore after squatting. He expressed it was the kind of sore one feels after not training for an extended period rather than exceeding limits.

Novikov started pressing 80 kilograms (176.4 pounds) overhead with the goal of ramping up to 130 kilograms (286.6 pounds). The 2020 WSM champ calls out the log lift as one of his current weaknesses as he’s never locked out 200 kilograms (440.1 pounds) before and plans to change that in 2022. The holiday rest seemed to garner some dividends as the log moved quite smoothly. Ultimately, Novikov made more significant weight jumps and exceeded his target weight by five kilograms in his second-to-last-set. He locked out three reps of 145 kilograms (319.7 pounds) and closed out his training session with five reps at the same weight.

The Ukrainian admits that he still has a lot of strength to build up in the coming months. One of the big storylines entering 2022 is if Novikov can maintain his momentum from 2021 and potentially make a run to regain the WSM title. The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic will be the first look at if Novikov’s prep is superior to his rivals, but regardless, it appears the 2022 strongman season is already underway.

Featured image: @novikov_strong_wsm

About Phil Blechman

Phil is a native New Yorker passionate about storytelling, bodybuilding, and game design. He holds a BFA from Syracuse University.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

Samson Dauda Trains Chest With Sam Sulek During 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep

Men’s Open Bodybuilder Charles Griffen Trains Back With Brett Wilkin Before 2023 Legion Pro Show

2023 Daytona Pro Bodybuilding Show Results

2023 Rising Phoenix and Arizona Pro Results

Nathan De Asha Wins 2023 Sheru Classic France Bodybuilding Show

Latest Reviews

Alaskan Cold Plunge Feature

Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Review

Living.Fit Grip Strengthener Review

Bells of Steel Competition Kettlebell Review

Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0 Review

REP BlackWing Feature

REP Fitness BlackWing Weight Bench Review

Be the smartest person in your gym

The BarBend newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I Want In!
BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap