Victor Konovalov

Biography

At the age of 20, Victor Konovalov was a budding star on the motocross circuit. While practicing one day, Victor was attempting a double jump when he looped his bike then landed on his feet shattering vertebrae in his spine. The accident left Victor paralyzed from the waist down and a once promising career had abruptly come to an end. In the months following the accident Victor found himself sliding into a deep depression with thoughts of suicide entering into his mind. Victor had reached a crossroads in his life and needed to search for a new path.

At 24 a close friend had convinced Victor to enter a gym for the first time since his accident. Though reluctant, he found himself in a position to alter his own situation on his terms. He quickly adapted to the environment and began to vigorously condition his body in ways he had never imagined. The gym had become his salvation and refuge, offering hope and a new beginning.

As the years passed, Victor’s physique had transformed so dramatically that many of his closest friends encouraged him to enter a bodybuilding competition for wheelchair bound individuals. Again hesitant, he reluctantly agreed and at age 34 Victor won the first of what would become a record five NPC National Wheelchair Overall Championship titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2007) and was the first member of the IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Wheelchair Division. His stature as a champion garnered him the first wheelchair bodybuilder to receive an endorsement from a supplement company, Weider. Victor’s most recent national overall title (2007) came at the age of 45, 24 years the senior of the runner up.

Victor soon gained notoriety and found himself giving motivational speeches to large corporations and guest posing at the Mr. Olympia event as well as making appearances on television shows and commercials. Victor didn’t stop there. He decided to further his education by obtaining a Masters Degree in Physical Education where he later began teaching and became the Department Chair at a local high school.

In October of 2006, while working out at a gym in Irvine California, Victor was spotted by television producer Paul Del Pizzo. Paul immediately struck up a conversation with Victor and was so impressed with what he had seen and heard that he decided to create an entire physical fitness show around him. The result was DMI Beyond Sports, the first ever fitness show hosted by a paraplegic. DMI (Determination, Motivation, Inspiration) focuses on both disabled and able-bodied physical and mental fitness. The goal is to reach out to as many individuals as possible and inspire them to take charge of their lives and better themselves regardless of their current situation.

Contest history