FLEX
138 MUSCLE & FITNESS / AUGUST 2019
FLEX: Our readers will be very interested to learn
more about the strategies you utilised to reach
such an outstanding level.
Verba: I’m honoured to be presented to the readers
of such a prestigious mag. It is a great pleasure
to address a new audience and maybe new fans.
I wish all of you great and productive sessions!RISING STAR
FLEX: 2019 exposed you to the international
public, and in a few months your status
completely changed!
Verba: Yes, this was an incredible season for me that
took me from my provincial town in Ukraine to the world
scene! All went exceptionally well and the prep itself
went smoothly, with no incidents. It was very exciting to
prepare for my first international competitions. The level
of athletes I was on stage with was unprecedented
to me, but I was ready and won every time.FLEX: You won two key competitions in May and
June 2019. Can you tell us more about these
two major events?
Verba: Yes indeed! I competed at the Grand Prix
Poland (PCA) on 11th and 12th May, and then at the
Olympia Amateur in Alicante, Spain, on 8th and 9th
June. The level of athletes and of the competitions
themselves was so much higher than I had seen before,
particularly at the NPC Amateur Olympia in Alicante.
I was shocked by the conditioning of the guys in my
category (102kg and over). They were massive and
well-prepared, very high-level. When I first saw them,
I began to doubt my own quality and I didn’t believe,
right up until the last moment, that I could win!Rising Star From The East:
YAROSLAV VERBA
Up-and-coming Ukrainian native Yaroslav Verba is tipped for greatness
after topping podiums in 2019 back-to-back, so Flex sent in resident
columnist Vincent Prado to get the low-down on what makes him tick.