Victor Kochmar Strongman priest Country: Ukraine

Victor Kochmar: The Priest-Powerlifter

Victor Kochmar, a priest from the Bolgrad district of the Odessa region, has made an unnoticed sensation by setting a world record in bench press according to the WDFPF (World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation) rules. At the tournament named after Petr Mitaka on May 7th in Izmail, Father Victor successfully pressed... 245 kg! The previous world record in this version was 212.5 kg, registered in Moscow at the 2010 World Championship. The chief judge of the tournament, Anatoly Krotkikh, told "Segodnya" that there are people who have lifted weights much heavier than that (for example, the absolute record belongs to Ryan Kennelly, who used equipment to lift 488 kg in 2008), but their achievements were registered in competitions that do not include drug testing. "Any person can be brought to a pharmacy and turned into a powerlifter in a few months. But inevitably, there will be a price to pay in the form of many diseases and sometimes even death. Father Victor, as a priest, is a staunch opponent of any chemistry," says Krotkikh. Unfortunately, Victor Kochmar's record was not officially recognized by the international judging panel and remains unofficial. However, the priest already has many accolades to his name. He is a silver medalist at the 2010 World Powerlifting Championship according to the WDFPF rules (unequipped division). He missed out on the gold due to an injury. Father Victor is 40 years old and has graduated from a seminary. Before that, he worked in the internal affairs organs, where he resigned as a sergeant. "I always wanted to help people. I did it first in the police, and now in the church. It's hard to say why I became a priest - the Lord probably came into my soul. At first, I didn't tell my parents that I was studying at the seminary: my father was an old communist," the priest shares. For 10 years now, he has been serving at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church in the Bulgarian village of Chervonoarmiyske. "When I came there, it was a very poor parish. It wasn't a church, just some kind of shed, with only about ten parishioners. But now everything is different. People have turned to God. We are currently renovating the church." Father Victor became interested in weightlifting back in 1989. A couple of years ago, he decided to try himself in serious sports. He bench-pressed 190 kg at an amateur competition and immediately caught the attention of coaches. "The Orthodox Church has a positive attitude towards sports and a healthy lifestyle, as long as it does not harm spiritual development. Many biblical characters and revered saints were champions - Samson, Ilya Muromets Pechersky, participants of the Battle of Kulikovo, monks Peresvet and Oslyabya," says Kochmar. Father Victor has always enjoyed lifting weights, but a couple of years ago, he decided to try himself in serious sports. By the way, his physical abilities have also helped him in his "professional activities". "There was a case when sectarians came to our village to preach. And for some reason, they knocked on my door. I politely asked them not to disturb the minds of the parishioners. They looked at me and, without saying a word, left," recalls Father Victor. "Luckily, I didn't have to use my fists, but if necessary, I'm ready to stand up for the holy faith."