Members of the Badlands Arm Wrestling club posed for a picture during a training night. (Jesse Gill/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

NEW

‘It’s my dream’: Badlands Arm Wrestling club in Medicine Hat looking to continue growth with more national champions

Feb 14, 2024 | 10:44 AM

The Badlands Arm Wrestling Club started off as two men training out of a garage and has quickly exploded in growth and moved into a proper training space.

Arm wrestling is a sport enjoyed by those young and old. For professionals, there is a level of technique and strength developed over time that makes one dominant over others.

A CHAT News reporter tried his luck against one of the best in the world and found out more about that technique quick as he was beaten with ease.

Yevhennii Bezhenar, also known as Eugene, has won championships across the world and now helps his friend Sergei Gavrylov with the wrestling club in Medicine Hat.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

12h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

18h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

Dec 11, 2024

According to Gavrylov, Bezhenar’s experience is invaluable for their members.

“It’s intense. Super tough because of his elite level,” Gavrylov said about Bezhenar.

“He’s Alberta champ, Canadian champ, European, and Ukrainian and [competes to be] world champion,” he added.

“I think he was second in the world and third in Europe, but [a] multi-Ukrainian champion.”

Prior to coming to Canada a year ago, Bezhenar helped Gavrylov with his development through video calls and online chats.

Bezhenar now has big aspirations.

“I hope this club grows up,” Bezhenar said.

“This sportsmen who train in this club I think have top level in Canada maybe on the world too,” he added.

“It’s my dream.”

Bezhenar said that arm wrestling is a brilliant hobby and sport, that charges you up with positive emotions and power, and he’s trying to transfer this emotion and power to those competing.

“If you want training long time all life and if you like take part in the competition it’s arm wrestling, fits very good sport for this,” Bezhenar said.

Ed Hussey was the second member to join the club, the founding member Dalton Houghton has moved to eastern Canada.

Houghton’s father Len is an 18-time national champion from Lethbridge.

Hussey’s garage was used for training prior to the move to Temple Fitness in August, and said Gavrylov has been a driving force to improve the club.

“I always thought it would just be a garage and we just sit around and just listen to music and train,” Hussey said.

“But he just really like pushed, this need to be more professional. This needs to be better. We need to be training harder and that sort of stuff,” he added.

“So he kind of really pushed that. We just followed him really.”

Gavrylov looks to continue growth of the organization with more members competing, hoping to bring on sponsorship and eventually host a tournament in Medicine Hat.

“Train hard, push hard and then achieve your goals,” Gavrylov said.