Dreams delayed are not dreams denied for a powerlifter
Franko Tchilongitov reflects on how he is in awe of his transformation. He never thought he would become a powerlifter, but now he can't imagine his life without it.
Meet Francko Tchilingirov (22), a software developer and powerlifter whose journey has gone from novice to champ in a short space of time.
Tchilingirov began powerlifting as a hobby, and little did he know that this newfound passion would soon drive him into the spotlight of the powerlifting community.
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“I never thought about doing powerlifting, it was out of the blue,” Tchilingiron admitted. “But there’s something incredibly satisfying about pushing your body to its limits and seeing tangible progress.”
Unlike many professional powerlifters, Tchilingirov trains two to three hours a day. “I don’t train like the traditional powerlifter. My training style is called power-building training. What that means is that I train for strength for powerlifting, and I train for hypertrophy bodybuilding. I like to train this way because I aim to be strong and look good.
“I started my training at the beginning of 2021. I did it for overall health and fitness because I was very sporty in high school. But now I want to see what the human physical and mental limits can do if pushed.”
Despite his late start in the sport, Tchilingirov’s natural athleticism and unwavering determination quickly caught the attention of his peers and coaches. Within months of picking up the barbells, he was already setting personal records and turning heads at local competitions.
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He has competed in two competitions, the Gauteng Provincials and Nationals for juniors 19–23 years old. “I didn’t expect how I would do at Gauteng’s considering it was my first time competing. I was thrilled with the outcome and wanted to achieve much more for Nationals. I qualified to go to Nationals to lift a total weight of 500kg and was able to achieve my goal.”
In the Provincials he bagged first place in the 93kg category for 145kg squat, 120kg bench, and 195kg deadlift. For Nationals, he earned third place for 160kg squat, 125kg bench, and 215kg deadlift. Unfortunately, he did not qualify for the SA National team to compete overseas.
One of his challenges is running a company and fitting in his daily training sessions, and he prides himself in not taking hormones or boosters. “People overcomplicate keeping fit, but it’s as simple as watching what you eat, doing physical activity, and having discipline.”
With each lift, Tchilingiron challenges expectations and proves that sometimes the most remarkable journeys begin with a simple passion and a willingness to chase it.
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