Pavlo Kordiyaka, born July 2, 1995, in Lviv, Ukraine, is a professional strongman, crowned Europe’s Strongest Man in 2023 and a prominent figure in global strongman competitions.
He began his strongman career in 2017, mentored by Vasyl Virastyuk, and has won titles like Ukraine’s Strongest Man (2020), Official Strongman Games (2021), and Strongman Champions League Cyprus (2023).
Notable achievements include world records in Conan’s Wheel (1,035° in 2024) and strong performances at World’s Strongest Man (6th in 2023, 8th in 2024).
As of April 17, 2025, Kordiyaka remains a top contender, representing Ukraine amidst ongoing challenges due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Background and Early Life:
Raised in Lviv, Kordiyaka was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, boxing, wrestling, acrobatics, and mixed martial arts. Introduced to strongman at 18 by Vasyl Virastyuk, he trained alongside Ukrainian champions Oleksii Novikov and Olga Liashchuk, building a foundation for his competitive career.

Career Highlights:
Since his debut at Ukraine’s Strongest Man in 2017 (5th place), Kordiyaka has competed in 22 international competitions, securing five victories. His 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man win, where he set a Conan’s Wheel world record, marked a career pinnacle. He placed 8th at the 2024 World’s Strongest Man and continues to compete at elite levels.

Current Status:
As of April 17, 2025, Kordiyaka is preparing for upcoming competitions, including the 2025 World’s Strongest Man, while advocating for Ukraine. His recent performances and world records position him as a strong contender for future titles.

Pavlo Kordiyaka: Ukraine’s Titan and Europe’s Strongest Man

In the world of strongman, where raw power meets unyielding resolve, Pavlo Kordiyaka stands tall both literally and figuratively. Born on July 2, 1995, in Lviv, Ukraine, this 6’5” powerhouse has risen from a multi-sport athlete to become the 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man and a global contender in strength sports. With five international victories, including a world record in Conan’s Wheel, Kordiyaka’s journey is one of grit, talent, and an unwavering commitment to representing Ukraine amidst its ongoing challenges. As of April 17, 2025, his story continues to inspire, blending athletic prowess with a profound sense of national pride.

Early Life: A Versatile Athlete

Pavlo Kordiyaka grew up in Lviv, a vibrant cultural hub in western Ukraine. From a young age, he displayed a natural aptitude for sports, diving into football, boxing, wrestling, acrobatics, dancing, and mixed martial arts. His athletic versatility was evident, but it was at 18 that his life took a defining turn. Introduced to strongman by Vasyl Virastyuk, the 2004 World’s Strongest Man, Kordiyaka found his calling. Under Virastyuk’s mentorship, he began training alongside Ukrainian strongman elites Oleksii Novikov (2020 World’s Strongest Man) and Olga Liashchuk (2022 World’s Strongest Woman), forging a path toward greatness.

His early years were marked by a hunger for competition and a willingness to push his physical limits. Despite lacking the massive bulk of some strongmen, weighing around 135 kg (297 lb), Kordiyaka’s athletic build and dynamic strength set him apart. He embraced a training philosophy that balanced heavy lifting with agility, believing that a strongman need not weigh 200 kg or deadlift 500 kg to dominate.

The Strongman Journey Begins

Kordiyaka’s competitive debut came in 2017 at Ukraine’s Strongest Man, where he placed 5th a respectable start for a newcomer. By 2019, he was ready for the international stage, competing at the Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships in Columbus, Ohio, and winning the Marijampolė International in Lithuania. That same year, he secured 2nd place at Ukraine’s Strongest Man, narrowly trailing Novikov by three points.

In 2020, Kordiyaka claimed his first major title, winning Ukraine’s Strongest Man by defeating Novikov by four points. This victory marked his arrival as a national force. However, a spinal column infection during the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined his deadlift training for 14 months, a setback that tested his resilience. Despite this, he roared back in 2021, winning the Official Strongman Games World Championship (amateur) in Daytona Beach, Florida, on countback after tying with Spenser Remick. His victories in the carry and drag and sandbag toss events showcased his prowess in dynamic movements.

Breakthrough and International Acclaim

The year 2022 was a breakout for Kordiyaka, despite the challenges posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He made his debut at Europe’s Strongest Man, finishing 4th, and qualified for the World’s Strongest Man in Sacramento, California, placing third in his qualifying group. He also finished 4th at the World Strongman Championships, proving his mettle against global giants.

In 2023, Kordiyaka reached a career pinnacle by winning Europe’s Strongest Man in Leeds, England, on April 1. Competing against 13 elite athletes, including defending champion Novikov, he dominated three of five events: the Log Press Ladder (five lifts in 52.55 seconds), the Load and Push Race (44.14 seconds), and Conan’s Wheel, where he set a world record with a 1,009° rotation. His second-place finish in the Castle Stones (21.76 seconds) secured a 57.5-point victory, edging out Novikov (53.5 points) and Latvia’s Aivars Šmaukstelis (51.5 points).

Later that year, Kordiyaka competed at the World’s Strongest Man in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but a controversial penalty in the shield carry event dropped him from first to fifth in the opening stage, costing him crucial points. Despite finishing 6th overall, he remained optimistic, citing strong performances in the max dumbbell, vehicle pull, and atlas stones. He also won the Strongman Champions League Cyprus, adding another international title.

2024: Continued Excellence and World Records

In 2024, Kordiyaka solidified his status as a strongman elite. At the Strongman Classic in London’s Royal Albert Hall on July 13, he won bronze and shattered his own Conan’s Wheel world record, achieving a 1,035° rotation eclipsing his previous mark by 26°. His performance, described as “truly unbelievable” by Giants Live promoter Colin Bryce, underscored his dominance in endurance-based events.

At the 2024 World’s Strongest Man, Kordiyaka finished 8th, a slight dip from his 2023 result, but he remained competitive, excelling in dynamic events like the sandbag toss. He attributed the psychological toll of the four-day competition, with long breaks and intense pressure, as a challenge, but his reflections revealed a mature approach to setbacks.

Personal Bests and Training Philosophy

Kordiyaka’s personal bests highlight his versatility:

Conan’s Wheel: 300 kg (661 lb) for 1,035° (world record, 2024).
Log Press: 183 kg (403.4 lb) sports equipment for three reps (2023).
Power Snatch: 130 kg (286.6 lb) in training (2023).
Sandbag Toss: 6 bags (19–28 kg) over 15’ in 20.07 seconds (2021).
Deadlift: Working to improve, with a noted weakness due to past injury.

His training regimen, detailed in a 2024 Torokhtiy interview, includes four main strength sessions weekly, focusing on one primary lift per session, supplemented by accessory exercises like reverse hyperextensions to prevent back injuries. He incorporates two days of conditioning, cardio, recovery, and stretching, consuming 8,000 calories daily to fuel his 135 kg frame. Kordiyaka emphasizes athleticism over sheer mass, excelling in events like carries, medleys, and power stairs.

Representing Ukraine Amidst War

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has profoundly impacted Kordiyaka’s life and career. Living in Lviv, he has faced power outages and the constant threat of missile strikes, with family members, including his wife Khrystyna’s brother and his father, serving in the military. The loss of friends on the battlefield has weighed heavily, yet Kordiyaka sees his competitions as a platform to raise awareness about Ukraine’s struggle. In a 2023 interview with The US Sun, he said, “I feel it is my responsibility to represent Ukraine in the world and remind people that the war is still going on.”

Training in a war zone has been grueling, with limited resources and psychological strain causing anxiety and panic attacks. Yet, Kordiyaka finds solace in the gym, describing it as a “battlefield” where he can focus and escape the war’s shadow for a few hours. His resilience has earned him global support, with fans rallying behind his performances.

Personal Life and Mindset

Married to Khrystyna Kordiyaka, Pavlo maintains a private personal life but is open about the war’s toll. He enjoys gaming as a hobby, using it to unwind from the intensity of training and competition. His approach to failure is philosophical, as shared in a 2023 social media post: “Failures taught me that the journey toward a goal isn’t just about victories.” This mindset has fueled his growth, turning setbacks into opportunities for improvement.

Future Aspirations

As of April 17, 2025, Kordiyaka is gearing up for the 2025 strongman season, with events like the World’s Strongest Man (May 2025) and Giants Live Arena Tour (including Sheffield on February 1 and Leeds on April 5) on the horizon. His goal is to claim the World’s Strongest Man title, a feat he believes is within reach with continued improvement in static lifts like the deadlift. With Ukraine’s “three-man squad” of Kordiyaka, Novikov, and Pavlo Nakonechnyy dominating recent Giants Live contests, the future looks bright for Ukrainian strongman.

Table: Pavlo Kordiyaka’s Career Milestones

Year	Competition	Achievement	Notable Performance
2017	Ukraine’s Strongest Man	5th Place	Competitive debut
2019	Marijampolė International	1st Place	First international win
2020	Ukraine’s Strongest Man	1st Place	Defeated Oleksii Novikov
2021	Official Strongman Games	1st Place	Won on countback, sandbag toss victory
2022	World’s Strongest Man	3rd in Qualifying Group	First WSM appearance
2023	Europe’s Strongest Man	1st Place	Conan’s Wheel world record (1,009°)
2023	World’s Strongest Man	6th Place	Strong in dynamic events despite penalty
2023	Strongman Champions League Cyprus	1st Place	Won bus pull and loading race
2024	Strongman Classic	3rd Place	Conan’s Wheel world record (1,035°)
2024	World’s Strongest Man	8th Place	Excelled in sandbag toss

Conclusion: A Champion with a Cause

Pavlo Kordiyaka’s rise from Lviv to the global strongman stage is a story of strength, resilience, and purpose. His 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man title, world records, and consistent international performances have established him as a titan in the sport. Yet, his mission extends beyond lifting weights he carries the weight of Ukraine’s hopes, using his platform to spotlight his nation’s fight. As he prepares for the 2025 World’s Strongest Man and beyond, Kordiyaka’s journey is far from over, promising more records, victories, and moments of inspiration.

Pavlo Kordiyaka, a prominent figure in global strongman competitions