Vladimir Shmondenko, or Anatoly Powerlifter, is the Borat of gym pranks. You’ve likely seen his videos if you’ve spent time on social media. He plays the role of a seemingly harmless gym janitor approaching much larger lifters mid-set, asking if he can take a turn or move their heavy weights. It seems impossible. Indeed, there’s no way he could lift that much weight. Yet, to everyone’s shock, the janitor effortlessly completes the lift, leaving onlookers astonished and his millions of online fans in stitches. Once again, Anatoly pulls off his signature prank!
But who exactly is Anatoly Powerlifter, aka Vladimir Shmondenko? Let’s delve into the story behind this famous gym prankster.
WHO IS ANATOLY POWERLIFTER?
Anatoly Powerlifter is Vladimir Shmondenko’s online persona.
WHO IS VLADIMIR SHMONDENKO?
Vladimir Shmondenko hails from the small village of Krishtopivka in central Ukraine, where he grew up on a cattle farm. At 14, he gained internet access and discovered weight training.
With no proper equipment available, he crafted his own weights from bricks, wood, and tractor parts. He ate seven meals daily to fuel his muscle growth, focusing on high-protein foods like cottage cheese and eggs. Shmondenko competed in powerlifting meets by his late teens, weighing 145 pounds at 18 and 163 pounds at 19. His best lifts then were a 331-pound squat, a 270-pound bench press, and a 457-pound deadlift.
Shmondenko first joined Instagram in 2017, where his early posts showcased him lifting in the rudimentary conditions of his Ukrainian village. However, his popularity skyrocketed when he uploaded videos of Russian-language gym pranks to YouTube. The success led him to Moscow in 2019, where his Instagram content shifted to highlight his impressive abs and luxurious lifestyle—he has a particular fondness for BMWs.
Despite frequently injuring his back during pranks involving heavy lifts without warm-ups, Shmondenko thrived in Moscow. But when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, he decided to leave the country, no longer wanting to live in a nation at war with his homeland. He relocated to Dubai, where he faced financial difficulties and depression. However, he quickly learned English and started anew. Read Also :Meet Tristyn Lee: Everything You Need to Know
In early 2023, Shmondenko posted his first English-language prank video, and his global popularity soared. Where his previous Instagram posts might garner 30,000 likes, “Anatoly Powerlifter” now routinely receives over a million likes per post, with some posts reaching multiple millions.
VLADIMIR SHMONDENKO: KEY DETAILS
Birthplace:
Cherkasy, Ukraine
Current Residence:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Age:
Born on August 10, 1999, Vladimir Shmondenko is currently 24 years old.
Weight:
172 lbs. (78 kg)
Height:
5’11” (180 cm)
Net Worth:
While exact figures aren’t publicly confirmed, estimates place his net worth between $2-3 million. In addition to his income from social media, Shmondenko sells training and nutrition programs through his website and owns a European-based supplement company called Aribba Nutrition.
Anatoly Powerlifter’s Popularity:
- Instagram: 14.2 million followers
- TikTok: 13.6 million followers
- YouTube: 5.5 million followers
Vladimir Shmondenko’s Strength:
- Deadlift: 639 lbs. (290 kg), sumo-style with lifting straps
- Squat: 463 lbs. (210 kg)
Bench Press Capability:
Although there isn’t a recorded max rep bench press on video, an estimated 40% increase from his teenage best suggests that Vladimir Shmondenko could potentially bench press around 378 lbs. (171 kg).
Is Vladimir Shmondenko a World Champion?
No, Vladimir Shmondenko has not claimed a world championship title, nor has he competed in powerlifting since his teenage years. However, he could be considered the reigning champion of gym prank videos.
Are Anatoly Powerlifter Videos Real?
In social media, it’s often hard to tell what’s authentic. “Anatoly Powerlifter” typically appears in disguise—donning a wig, beard, glasses, and signature blue overalls. He approaches hefty lifters and, under the pretext of needing to move the weights to clean or simply wanting to try the lift, surprises everyone by effortlessly lifting the heavy load, sometimes even with just one hand.
Let’s start by assuming the weights are genuine. After all, they’re well within Vladimir Shmondenko’s lifting capacity.
But what about the reactions? Are the “surprised guys” actually in on the joke? Given how recognizable “Anatoly Powerlifter” has become, isn’t it a stretch to think he can keep pulling off these pranks with the same disguise? If you watch the full YouTube videos rather than just the short clips on Instagram or TikTok, you’ll notice that much of the content was filmed on the same days and in the same gyms before he became widely famous. Shmondenko has acknowledged that executing the janitor pranks is becoming more challenging. In a recent video, “Anatoly” adopts a new disguise as a clueless trainer.
We prefer to believe in the authenticity of these pranks. After all, the “Anatoly Powerlifter” videos convey a positive message: don’t be quick to judge. The strongest person in the gym isn’t always the biggest; sometimes, he might just be the guy with the mop.