Interview with physique expert Ondrej Kmošt'ák two weeks before Mr.Olympia 2019!

Hey, Ondra. In about 14 days the biggest and most prestigious bodybuilding competition Mr.Olympia starts, for which you have been nominated. How are you feeling right now?

Hi. Yes, that's right, in 14 days I'm going to Olympia. I have to say, I feel better this year than I ever have before.

When you found out you were going to the competition again this year, what were your immediate feelings?

The last competition that could have affected my position in the points standings was the 4th of August in Florida. By the time the results of that contest were posted, it was about 5am at our place, and I was about to leave Saturday's party. The reaction was simple: The party goes on! (laughs)

How many times are you going to stand on the Mr. Olympia boards?

This year will be the third time.

Now we go back to the beginning of this year's preparation, when did it start for you? And how is it different from last year?

The preparation started in March. This whole year is special and different in a way. The whole thing is that this year I'm not taking it as seriously as I used to. Last year was a really hard year for me. Actually, like all the 4 previous years, I went for a big goal and sacrificed everything. And everything up until last year was going great and going well.

Last year, however, I started picking up placements that I wasn't used to, and I kind of couldn't accept that. I kept telling myself: it will work out at the next competition. And it didn't. In retrospect, there was no shame, but at the time I took the Top 5 finish as a big loss. In the end, it turned into 8 competitions from Las Vegas to New York, Europe to Japan (which was a big financial burden), between April and November.10 months of dieting, setbacks both in my career and personal life really showed. My relationship fell apart. I couldn't really get my head around working with social media or taking on new clients.

Since one of my main sponsors and my main sources of income, Yamamoto Nutrition, considered these placements a loss, the already tenuous financial situation at the moment took another blow in the form of deteriorating conditions for another year of working together. In short, I gave all my time and energy to 2018, and it did not give me anything, quite the opposite. It did, however, give me the knowledge that I don't want to do it like this anymore. That life goes by, and that even though it's Mr.Olympia, it's still just Olympia. To sum it up, I've been slacking on my preparation this year. I don't deny myself weekend parties, I don't deny myself good food in my diet, if I don't want to go to the gym, I just skip it. I want this sport to become a hobby again and not a job. I'm doing what I enjoy, although yes, I'm aware that I run the risk of standing there with unfinished form. Which of course I would regret, but last year, as I mentioned, I worked hard, sacrificed everything, and even though I could put my head on the line, the form wasn't there either because my head wasn't set right.

Now I'm enjoying life even a few days before the competition, I feel great, and the form so far I have to say doesn't look bad. We'll see how it goes, but if it goes well, then I'll know that last year gave me an awful lot.

Could you describe for our readers how such preparation of a pro bodybuilder takes place and what it involves?

Well I won't describe this year. I would describe this year's preparation as testing new methods (laughs) But otherwise it's nothing that readers probably don't know. Strict diet and hard training. Now, I would elaborate on that with "joie de vivre". The head is terribly important in our sport.

Did you have some "short circuit" during the preparation when you wanted to quit? After all, it's not a walk in the park and psychology can do its work.

2018 was just like that. My psyche was in the toilet and every day I wanted to quit. I couldn't go on like this and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing this year, even though a lot of people are wondering if it will never happen again.

Tell us, how is your preparation this year different from last year?

I thought of the famous phrase "F**, booze and sandwiches" (laughs) , but of course that's an exaggeration, very exaggerated (laughs) As I said above, this year I'm trying to live during the whole preparation.

Last year you mentioned that Brandon Hendrickson set quite a bar, do you think he will defend it again this year?

Brandon showed some real form last year, he made up for his weaknesses and showed the best of himself. And I think he's the true prototype of Men's Physique. Of course, it's possible that someone could beat him, it's possible that his form might not work out, and there are a lot of guys who can be at his level. But I think it's already going to be a bit of a battle of sympathies. I can't imagine what it would have to look like for someone to be really sovereignly better.

If you were going to thank someone or say something, who and what would it be?

I don't like that question (laughs) What else can there be but a cliché. But of course it is. The gratitude of a competitor should belong to the people who support him and take care of him, and so for me it's the people who stand or stood by me. I mean my family, my ex-girlfriend, my coach Slávek, my friends who are there to kick me in the ass when I need it, my sponsors (Nebbia, Yamamoto), the gyms where I have perfect conditions for my training (Pulse fitness club in Prague and Fitpark in Ostrava) and last but not least my friend Brano, who is helping me this year with my chemistry. Thanks a lot to all of you, it wouldn't be possible without you!

Sincerely

Ondřej Kmošt'ák
IFBB PRO
www.ondrejkmostak.cz