Edmunds comment on Koklyaev.

[Garrick Daft]

Courtesy- Ironmind.com

Dr. Edmunds says that Mikhail Koklyaev is the guy who comes closest to Jon Pall.

------------"He's box office," said Dr. Edmunds, explaining that besides being strong, Koklyaev is "very athletic, good looking and has a fantastic personality." Dr. Edmunds sees Koklyaev as a triple threat, a guy who can make his mark in strongman, weightlifting and in the Highland Games - the sort of package that will allow Koklyaev to reach out and be recognized by many different groups, said Dr. Edmunds.-------------


My 2 cents says that Koklyaev is good but my money would be on Marunde (WSM), Ortmayer (IFSA SM). I don't think Koklyaev compares to Jon Pall either. I think he is a more like Magnus. Koklyaev seems to nice. I guess it's nice for Zavickas's boss to be telling the world that he is no longer their preferred athlete. What is the deal with the IFSA favoring certain athletes anyway... First Zavickas, but I guess he's too shy, now Koklyaev... I bet they are so freaking pissed that they don't have Mariusz. I even would bet that they have approached Marunde and Kevin Nee to join them...

[Matt Nickerson]

Of course they would have approached Jesse and Kevin, regardless of the fact that the IFSA doesn't have Mariusz. Jesse and Kevin are among America's best hope to bring home WSM and IFSA glory. Both of them have a lot better potential than a lot of other competitors on the international scene, and haven't even reached their peaks!!

[Garrick Daft]

Of course they would have approached Jesse and Kevin, regardless of the fact that the IFSA doesn't have Mariusz. Jesse and Kevin are among America's best hope to bring home WSM and IFSA glory. Both of them have a lot better potential than a lot of other competitors on the international scene, and haven't even reached their peaks!!

Hearing ya load and clear! Can't forget about Ortmayer! That dude is gonna pound the IFSA into oblivion someday! He just needs to stop feeling humble around the other athletes and take his rightful spot...

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

All I can say is Koklyaev is going to do some freaky stuff. Anyone who is very close to breaking the snatch world record while training for strongman at the same time is going to do big things. Anyone know his progression? He seems to have burst onto the scene.

[MarshallWhite]

Koklyaev is a phenomenol athlete, he is also very new to this sport so I wouldn't be suprised if he was a force to reckon with in the years to come. Definitely someone to keep your eye on anyway.

[Chris Harris]

I thought Kokylev looked great at the Arnold. I believe that was only his second strongman contest ever and he more than held his own against some of the best guys around! I wish he was coming to Oklahoma of the May show!

Chris

[Paul Neuhaus]

I thought Kokylev looked great at the Arnold. I believe that was only his second strongman contest ever and he more than held his own against some of the best guys around! I wish he was coming to Oklahoma of the May show!

Chris
It wasn't his 2nd contest. He competed at the IFSA WSM in 2005, plus any qualifiers leading up to it. Just letting you know, I understand that a lot of people haven't seen it. He did extremely well in the axle C&P and the DL.

[james rude]

What is the deal with the IFSA favoring certain athletes anyway... First Zavickas, but I guess he's too shy, now Koklyaev... I bet they are so freaking pissed that they don't have Mariusz...



too much politics for a strength sport in my opinion. it makes sense to favor Savickas, I may be wrong but i don't think he was defeated last year. i didn't think it sounded like he was saying Koklyaev is a better strongman, rather a very marketable athlete because of his versatility.

[Ryan Brown]

Courtesy- Ironmind.com

Dr. Edmunds says that Mikhail Koklyaev is the guy who comes closest to Jon Pall.

------------"He's box office," said Dr. Edmunds, explaining that besides being strong, Koklyaev is "very athletic, good looking and has a fantastic personality." Dr. Edmunds sees Koklyaev as a triple threat, a guy who can make his mark in strongman, weightlifting and in the Highland Games - the sort of package that will allow Koklyaev to reach out and be recognized by many different groups, said Dr. Edmunds.-------------


My 2 cents says that Koklyaev is good but my money would be on Marunde (WSM), Ortmayer (IFSA SM). I don't think Koklyaev compares to Jon Pall either. I think he is a more like Magnus. Koklyaev seems to nice. I guess it's nice for Zavickas's boss to be telling the world that he is no longer their preferred athlete. What is the deal with the IFSA favoring certain athletes anyway... First Zavickas, but I guess he's too shy, now Koklyaev... I bet they are so freaking pissed that they don't have Mariusz. I even would bet that they have approached Marunde and Kevin Nee to join them...


The fact that Edmunds is pumping up Koklyaev in that press release doesn't mean he doesn't consider Savickas the top guy. Saying he is like Jon Pall is likely more a reference to his looks and athleticism. Savickas is definitely nothing like Jon Pall, but that is not to say that he is not awesome. Just different.

[Chris Harris]

It wasn't his 2nd contest. He competed at the IFSA WSM in 2005, plus any qualifiers leading up to it. Just letting you know, I understand that a lot of people haven't seen it. He did extremely well in the axle C&P and the DL.

My bad...I thought they were touting that at the Arnold. Do you know how many shows he has been in?

Chris

[Clint Darden]

The fact that Edmunds is pumping up Koklyaev in that press release doesn't mean he doesn't consider Savickas the top guy. Saying he is like Jon Pall is likely more a reference to his looks and athleticism. Savickas is definitely nothing like Jon Pall, but that is not to say that he is not awesome. Just different.

I know that the guys with IFSA really think highly of Koklyaev in all respecs (athlete, person, personality, all around good guy, etc...). That goes a LONG way in this sport and the competition scene. Add that to being a top level competitor...

They also think highly of Traivs as well...VERY!!!!

Remember, guys, Douglas Edmonds isn't the ONLY person in IFSA making the decisions.

[Paul Neuhaus]

Do you know how many shows he has been in?


I have no idea, but I'm sure someone on the forum could answer that question.

[MarshallWhite]

I have no idea, but I'm sure someone on the forum could answer that question.
I'm pretty sure its less than 10.

[Mac Smith]

It's apparent that a lot of people can't or won't realize that sports is as much about business as it is about competition. Every sport needs marketable athletes to sell the product. Savickas is a little shy and not the "body imagine" that could sell IFSA. I'm sure Dougie knows Savickas is 'da MAN'. But he needs athletes similar to Mariusz and Jesse in order to sell his brand and compete with WSMSS. Every sport does it. I'm sure we can all name athletes that don't get a lot of endorsements even though they may be better than the guys who do only because they aren't as marketable as those athletes.

[Chris Bartley]

It's apparent that a lot of people can't or won't realize that sports is as much about business as it is about competition. Every sport needs marketable athletes to sell the product. Savickas is a little shy and not the "body imagine" that could sell IFSA. I'm sure Dougie knows Savickas is 'da MAN'. But he needs athletes similar to Mariusz and Jesse in order to sell his brand and compete with WSMSS. Every sport does it. I'm sure we can all name athletes that don't get a lot of endorsements even though they may be better than the guys who do only because they aren't as marketable as those athletes.
completely true mac. fact is is that for athletes, you need lean, tan, charismatic individuals to sell to the general population of any country

[Garrick Daft]

Zavickas is great. Period. My fiance' loves him. When we started watching strongman, my favorite was and might still be, Svend Karlsen. Her's became Zydrunas, she thinks he is like a little squeezable teddy bear (which is funny because now they write "Huggy Bear" on his competition wear). He will be known as a legend eventually, but only for the IFSA.

I can argue that the IFSA geared their contest towards Zavickas winning. It's a very heavy show. Zydrunas came through and won, but the man of the hour was Koklyaev. He came in third, first strongman competition, and he winked at the camera every time he was around it. Zavickas just looked nicely at it.

IMO if your boss says that your coworker reminds you of one of the greatest of all time, Jon Pall, (Beat Kaz in the 1987 Phantom WSM), then why wouldn't you think that he is going to start pushing his weight behind him? He did the same with Zydrunas.

The reasons I would put my money on Ortmayer for the IFSA is many. But all you gotta do is watch him finish the Stones at the IFSA world's and see him get so excited he almost kisses every stone to unerstand that this is the personality you want for the IFSA. He can go heavy, he can go fast, he can go crazy... that is what I like. From what I understand, Ortmayer offered to pay all his winnings to the Arnold organizer to be in the event. They dimissed him. Freaking bastards! Anyway that just shows you haow confident and ready Ortmayer is becoming....just hope he has the strength to overcome the poliitcs..

[Garrick Daft]

Can't believe no one has any more comments on this topic. No one mentioned anything else about Ortmayer, any opinions??

[ClayEdgin]

I was impressed by Koklyaev's performance on the IFSA TV series. He had really good form on the deadlift and kept just knocking out reps. He has what is commonly referred to as "FRS" - Freaky Retard Strength.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

I'd just like some pics or vids of the guy. Thanks.

[JohnCarlsson]

It's apparent that a lot of people can't or won't realize that sports is as much about business as it is about competition. Every sport needs marketable athletes to sell the product. Savickas is a little shy and not the "body imagine" that could sell IFSA. I'm sure Dougie knows Savickas is 'da MAN'. But he needs athletes similar to Mariusz and Jesse in order to sell his brand and compete with WSMSS. Every sport does it. I'm sure we can all name athletes that don't get a lot of endorsements even though they may be better than the guys who do only because they aren't as marketable as those athletes.


Thats why they are soo desperate to find an American champion in strongman, and will do almost anything to do it. Its where the money is at.

[dave barron]

I thought the bit about Misha being a triple threat was interesting (strongman, oly lifting + Highland Games). Koklyaev supposedly blew over 17'6" in the WOB at Callendar last summer and should be making a serious attempt at the WR soon. That could definitely make hime more marketable to a variety of audiences. When's the last time an athlete was a serious contender in more than one strength sport?
Magnus Ver and Wout Zylstra both were world-class highland athlets, and there are a lot of strongman/powerlifter crossovers, but hard to think of too many other three-sporters!