Illia “Golem” Yefimchyk, the embodiment of every protein shake fantasy and the world’s “most monstrous bodybuilder,” has shuffled off this mortal coil at the tender age of 36.
Yefimchyk, who could probably bench press a small car, suffered a heart attack at home on September 6. Despite the valiant efforts of his wife, Anna, who performed chest compressions while awaiting medics, he fell into a coma and passed away a few days later on September 11. Because if pushing your body to its absolute limits was a sport, Yefimchyk would have been its undisputed king.
The Routine of a Behemoth
That’s right, folks. Our beloved mountain of muscle consumed a mind-boggling seven meals a day, racking up an eye-watering 16,000 calories daily. Picture this: 108 pieces of sushi, 2.5 kg of steak, 300 g of rolled oats, and 14 oatmeal pancakes with maple syrup to cap off the day. That, my dear readers, is what it takes to maintain a physique that could make the Hulk blush.
Image credits: Illia Yefimchyk
Standing 6 feet tall and tipping the scales at 340 pounds (154 kg), Yefimchyk was a living legend in the bodybuilding community. Dubbed “The Mutant,” he might have been one of the few men on earth who could claim their gym routine was literally heart-stopping.
The Mutant’s Origins
Born with a physique perhaps more akin to a wet noodle than a Herculean hero, young Yefimchyk aspired to be like his idols, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Who can blame him? Who wouldn’t want to look like they just walked off the set of a 1980s action movie?
Back in the day, without the luxury of Google and YouTube tutorials, Yefimchyk relied on the wisdom tucked between the covers of fitness magazines and the guidance of his local gym’s owner. Forging his monstrosity out of sheer will and determination, his transformation was the stuff of legends.
Yefimchyk detailed his journey to Men’s Health, recalling how he could not manage a single push-up in his early years. Through an ironclad regimen of intense training and meticulous nutrition, he morphed into the colossus admired by 300,000 social media followers worldwide.
Earning Every Ounce
To give you numbers that might do justice to his Herculean strength, Yefimchyk’s gym records included a 600-pound bench press, a 700-pound deadlift, and 700-pound squats. Just let those numbers sink in while you contemplate the next trip to your local gym.
He might not have competed professionally, but his documented training routines were nothing short of awe-inspiring. Yefimchyk’s journey took him across continents from Belarus to the Czech Republic, the U.S., and finally Dubai, where he continued to inspire with his passion for bodybuilding.
The Strength and the Limits
With great mass comes great responsibility—or, in this case, a cautionary tale. The toll of maintaining such a gargantuan stature can be severe. Yefimchyk isn’t the first in his field to face sudden demise. British bodybuilder Neil Currey died at 34 due to complications linked to prolonged steroid use, and Brazilian competitor Antonio Souza succumbed to cardiac arrest at 26 after using diuretics. These stories are stark reminders of the razor-thin line these athletes toe.
Yefimchyk’s life reminds us of a sobering truth: You can push your limits, but sometimes, they push back. While his transformation was nothing short of miraculous, it’s a bitter pill to swallow that his musclebound frame may have contributed to the untimely eulogy we now pen. Humanity often romanticizes its heroes, but it’s worthwhile to remember that every superman has his kryptonite.
Farewell, Yefimchyk. You were a living testament to what the human body is capable of when subjected to relentless discipline and boundless ambition.
