How Anatoly Tricked Everyone

The Video’s Claim

The video opens with the blunt verdict that “Anatoly’s videos are fake.” The narrator clarifies that Anatoly’s strength is real, but the viral gym pranks appear staged, and the weights may be made to look heavier than they are.

The Prank Formula

The narrator describes a familiar setup: Anatoly appears in a cleaner’s outfit, the camera obscures the plates, and baffled-looking lifters watch him perform an outrageous lift. The recurring gray bumper plates, their proportions, and the limited bar bend in some clips are presented as clues that the loads may be lighter than they seem.

The narrator jokes that Anatoly is so famous he’s “the elephant in the room,” yet somehow keeps finding gym-goers who don’t recognize him.

Vladimir Shmondenko’s Strength

The video also gives Vladimir Shmondenko credit. He grew up in a rural Ukrainian village, built his own training equipment, and became a genuinely strong lifter. The narrator cites gym lifts of a 225 kg squat, 150 kg bench, and 320 kg deadlift, while noting that these numbers don’t make him an elite powerlifter.

The comparison to viral lifter Brad Castleberry serves as a reminder that impressive-looking plates and staged feats can create a misleading image of strength.

The Concern

The central concern isn’t simply that the clips are skits; it’s that many viewers, especially beginners, may take them literally. The staged feats could also feel misleading when Anatoly promotes his training system.

The narrator ultimately calls the videos staged rather than labeling Vladimir a fraud: his strength and work ethic are real, but the pranks shouldn’t be mistaken for verified lifting feats.

Personalities Mentioned

Anatoly / Vladimir Shmondenko, the narrator (Back Guy), Greg Doucette, Mike Israetel, Brad Castleberry, Nole Dzell, Larry Wheels, and Joseph Bornstein.