About Michael
Coach. Athlete. Author. Whisky Lover. Spiritual Nomad. Hopeless Romantic.
My name is Michael. Misha, to those who know me well.
I know what it feels like when your body fails you. I know what it feels like when life pulls the rug out from under you — more than once. And I know what it's like to sit in the dark, wondering if things will ever get better.
At 3, my father left. At 12, I was uprooted from everything I knew. At 14, I was diagnosed with a severe lower back condition — numb feet, an uncertain future, and a label that said handicapped. At 16, I was robbed in broad daylight. Depression and isolation followed. Dark thoughts too.
I'm not sharing this for sympathy. I'm sharing this because if you've ever felt broken — physically, mentally, or both — I want you to know that I've been there. Not in a motivational-poster kind of way. Actually there.
Iron saved me.
Kettlebell sport gave me back my body. Then my mind. Then my direction.
Today I'm a father of three, a coach, a competitor, and a lifelong student of movement. I run an online coaching business, a private clinic, and a small-group training studio. I teach kettlebell masterclasses for coaches, train up to nine times a week, and compete in both Girevoy Sport and 70.3 Half Ironman — all while making time for the people and things that matter most.
I've stood on the world championship platform twice:
- 🏆 2017 World Championship, Greece — Long Cycle 2×24kg
- 🏆 2021 World Championship, France — 60-min Snatch Marathon
Over 14 years of coaching and competing. Thousands of hours under the bells.
But here's what actually matters:
The people I work with aren't just chasing numbers or podiums.
They're busy parents trying to stay strong for their kids. They're professionals who've let their health slide and want it back. They're athletes who know they have more in them — and need someone to help them find it. They carry old injuries, packed schedules, and real responsibilities. And sometimes, they carry things that have nothing to do with training.
I see all of it.
I don't offer cookie-cutter programs or empty motivation. I create solutions where others see problems — training that fits your life, not the other way around.
If something in these words feels familiar — you're in the right place.
~ Coach Michael
