In competitive bodybuilding, debuting on the international stage is an achievement. However, debuting at the Arnold Classic South America and placing third against top Olympians is something special. Yet, Russian-born bodybuilder Vitaliy ‘Goodvito’ Ugolnikov has achieved this feat. Earlier this week, the Brazil-based bodybuilder gave two veterans a run for their money in Sao Paulo.

Ugolnikov competed against top-right Olympian Tonio Burton and Arnold Classic Ohio bronze medalist Rafael Brandao. Despite the elite competition, Goodvito held his own against them, and some might even say he had the most developed legs. So, who is this rising star of competitive bodybuilding? What does the future hold for him?

From powerlifting to bodybuilding

Like many other bodybuilding icons, the sport that Ugolnikov excels at wasn’t the one he started with. “I started powerlifting at the age of 16… Later, I realized that I liked bodybuilding more because I like getting a pump,” Goodvito told Fitness Volt during an exclusive interview in 2020. After just two years of weight training, Russain stepped onto the bodybuilding stage.

Ugolnikov started competing at 18, and by 22 he had already become the Russian champion. Surprisingly, the then-IFBB Amateur Federation competitor had competed just four times, including his national championship-winning effort. However, the powerlifter-turned-bodybuilding star didn’t feel too welcome in his country.

“I am the youngest and most promising bodybuilding champion of my home country of Russia,” Goodvito said in the 2020 interview. However, he also admitted that people in his homeland didn’t like guys with massive, monster-like physiques. However, Vitaliy Ugolnikov had realized early on that he was a mass monster. “I’m a freak, and I realized it a long time ago,” he said.

The bodybuilding prodigy also realized that to earn his pro card, he had to move to another country. After switching to the NPC in 2021, Vitaliy moved one step closer to competing in the IFBB Pro League. Finally, in 2022, amidst the turbulent situation in his home country, Ugolnikov moved to Brazil.

Growing in a competitive environment

In April 2022, the Russian bodybuilding prodigy posted footage of his first workout from Brazil. However, you might be wondering why he chose Brazil. America has always been the beating heart of bodybuilding. More Mr. Olympia winners have trained in California than anywhere else in the world. However, Brazil is a region where the sport is growing at a rapid pace.

Over the past few years, more and more Brazilian contenders have emerged. Rafael Brando, Ramon Dino, and others have competed with the best bodybuilders in the world. So Goodvito moved to Brazil in the offseason, intending to improve his physique. “My goal is to improve my form and present it in pro tournaments,” Vitaliy Ugolniko wrote in his first post.

Since then, the rising bodybuilding star has been working hard for his IFBB debut. However, before making a successful pro debut at the Arnold Classic South America, Goodvito’s immediate future looked cloudy. In 2023, Goodvito injured his leg while guest-posting at a show. Later that year, the young bodybuilding icon had to undergo hernia surgery.

However, despite the hurdles, Vitaliy Ugolnikov has put the bodybuilding world on notice with his Arnold Classic SA performance. During his time training in Brazil, the IFBB Pro has leaned on his biggest asset, muscle mass. During the 2020 interview, the bodybuilding star said that he ate a lot to gain muscle mass.

Read More | Brazilian Bodybuilding Icon Wins Arnold Classic South America 2024, Qualifies for Mr. Olympia 2024

“The body needs nutrients for building. This is important for muscle growth. I try to eat eight times a day,” said Ugolnikov. He has put on even more mass and become more conditioned. However, he hasn’t lost the aesthetics or proportions of his physique. Goodvito will look to improve further after placing third at the Arnold Classic SA 2024.

What’s next for the rising bodybuilding star?

While placing among the top three in his IFBB Pro debut was a noteworthy outcome, Vitaliy Ugolnikov didn’t qualify for Mr. Olympia. After a bodybuilder makes it to the IFBB, qualifying for the Mr. Olympia becomes their goal. So, Goodvito has already announced his upcoming bodybuilding contest for the 2024 competitive year.

Shortly after his Arnold Classic SA performance, Ugolnikov posted that he would compete in the upcoming Detroit Pro. The Detroit Pro is generating a lot of hype, and some of the best bodybuilders in the world will look to earn their Olympia placement at the show. However, he’ll have to battle it out with other experienced veterans.

Read More: Former Arnold Classic Champ Suffers Fractured Ribs and Broken Nose Amidst IFBB Pro Show Fiasco

Jonathan De La Rosa placed fourth at the Arnold Classic in Ohio and the UK and will compete at the Dtreoit Pro. Martin Fitzwater will also make his long-awaited return to the competitive bodybuilding stage in Detroit. Other 2024 Arnold Classic competitors will also battle it out to earn a place at this year’s Superbowl of Bodybuilding.

Booking a seat for the 2024 Mr. Olympia won’t be an easy task for Goodvito. So, it’s safe to say that while the Brazil-based bodybuilder is a gifted athlete who has achieved a lot in a short competitive career, the roa