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While most 11-year-olds are mostly concerned with school, video games,
and surfing the web, Timofey Klevakin, a boy from rural Russia, is busy
training in the gym and breaking weightlifting records.
Ever since he was five years old, Timofey was interested in
weightlifting, watching his father train at a makeshift gym in their
home village of Shalya, in the Ural mountains. Noticing his boy’s
interest, Arseny Klevakin started training him, despite his wife’s
protests over concerns that he was too young. At the age of six, during
a regional weightlifting competition, Timofey managed to amaze
attendants and judges by deadlifting a 55-kilogram barbell. He’s been
working hard ever since, and the now 11-year-old is getting ready to
break the national deadlift record for his weight class by lifting a
105-kilogram barbell.
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During this year’s Asian Cup, which was held this summer in the city of
Chelyabinsk, Timofey Klevakin managed to deadlift 100 kilograms, which
is pretty darn impressive considering his young age and his feeble
38-kilogram weight. But what really attracted people’s attention
recently was his training regimen, which includes flipping tractor tires
several times his weight, and pulling large tractors and cars with the
help of elastic belts.
In his home village Timofey is considered a hero for performing feats
that many adults cannot. In fact, he routinely goes up against grown men
in weightlifting competitions, some of them half a century older than
him, and even places higher than some of them.
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One of the most remarkable things about 11-year-old Timofey is that he
understands that in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a champion he
must put in work and give up some of the things he likes. While other
boys his age play, he trains in the gym at least three times a week, and
has given up sweets and savory dishes for an athlete’s diet.
The boy’s mother, as well as some child development experts, are worried
that the intense weight training may have adverse effects on his health,
particularly his spine and knees, but Arseny Klevakin insists that he is
always careful not to push his son too hard. He is is father after all
and has Timofey’s best interest at heart.
Timofey Klevakin is currently training to set a new record during the
Russian Championship, this coming spring, by deadlifting 105 kilograms.
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