A Phenomenal Armwrestler With A One-Of-A-Kind Gift.
Born with congenital hypertrophy, he was born with an astounding left arm made perfect for the armwrestling table. He is not to be confused with Hellboy, AKA Matthias Schlitte!
Oleg Zhokh Stats:
Nickname: The Ukrainian Mutant
Age: 31 (born October 13, 1992)
Height: 6’0″ (182.88 cm)
Weight: 172 lbs (78 kg)
Place of Origin: Ozheny Village, Ukraine, Eastern Europe
Occupation: Professional Armwrestler
Arch Nemesis: Symmetry
Oleg Zhokh’s (The Ukrainian Mutant) Bicep, Forearm, And Hand Size
Bicep Size Measurements: 16.5″ (42 cm)
Forearm Size Measurements: 17″ (43.2 cm) *on the measured left, competition-arm with the rare genetic condition*
Hand Size Measurements: Unknown at this time
Oleg Zhokh Technique And Style
Another man who is accidentally utilizing the armwrestling pumpkin training method! Oleg Zhokh focuses on training his left arm, which has the birth defect that has given him his claim to fame. However, he puts an immense amount of training into his hook and toproll techniques—so, don’t chalk it up to the size of his left arm!
A DiAbolical Hook
The only way I have seen armwrestlers counter Oleg is with back pressure and a side hit. Oleg has one of the strongest hooks and forearm muscles I have ever seen at the table. If he hooks you in, you are done for the match. He has a crocodile snap of a wrist that will keep you cemented in place. This hooking technique Oleg uses even drains athletes like Devon Larratt.
Oleg Zhokh: A Quick Bio
Oleg, AKA “The Ukrainian Mutant,” was born and raised in Ozheny Village, Ukraine. He began armwrestling at a very young age and entered his first tournament when he was 17 in 2009—and lost! When he first began, he only used his right arm as he never invested time into his left arm due to its congenital hypertrophy (a rare genetic birth defect).
But, he decided that needed to change, and we were given one of the best, youngest armwrestlers of all time…
He harnessed the power of his left arm’s congenital birth defect and trained it to failure. In time, his left arm grew to be twice the size of his right arm. Finding newfound armwrestling strength in his left arm, he began sweeping up competition all around Ukraine. He became a national champion in Ukraine and ultimately won the Nemiroff Cup in 2010. At the age of 18, he was a world champion armwrestler.
Tragedy and Comeback
In 2018, Oleg Zhokh experienced a horrific car accident that killed his father, famed-armwrestler Andriy Pushkar, put Oleg in a coma, and fractured Oleg’s left hand. Shocking the armwrestling world, it was assumed Oleg would be unable to come back to the world of armwrestling after such a significant trauma.
Exiting his coma, Oleg Zhokh did not give up and returned to training with dedication and drive. In 2021, he moved up to the 176 lbs division (80 kg) and cleaned house with profound armwrestling strength. It was like he never left the sport!
Where is he now? He still actively competes in armwrestling in 2024. However, there is an unfortunate war in his country, compounded by the trauma of his accident six years ago. I am sure Oleg is doing what is making him happiest at this point in his career, as he should be.
Bio Continued: What Is Congenital Hypertrophy?
Congenital hypertrophy is a rare genetic condition that can affect any body part. It causes rapid tissue growth in the affected appendage or organ. It can be caused by genetic mutations, a myostatin deficiency (a protein in our bodies that inhibits muscle growth), or abnormal cell growth.
Summarized Armwrestling Record
| Event | Date | Participants | Format | Arm | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST VS WEST 15 | Nov 2, 2024 | Oleg Zhokh vs Betkili Oniani | Best of 7 | Left | 0 – 4 (Betkili Oniani) |
| EAST VS WEST 11 | Jan 20, 2024 | Oleg Zhokh vs Avtandil Tutberidze | Best of 7 | Left | 4 – 0 (Oleg Zhokh) |
| BABAEVS CUP 2023 | Feb 11, 2023 | Oleg Zhokh vs Nedalin Hristov | Best of 5 | Left | 3 – 0 (Oleg Zhokh) |
| EAST VS WEST IV | Aug 6, 2022 | Oleg Zhokh vs David Dadikyan | Best of 5 | Left | 0 – 3 (David Dadikyan) |
| EAST VS WEST II | Feb 12, 2022 | Oleg Zhokh vs Betkili Oniani | Best of 5 | Left | 3 – 1 (Oleg Zhokh) |