"A Ferrari that doesn't drive is useless" says power triathlete Vaclav Ceska (Interview)

Václav Češka is a legend among Czech triathletes and the performance of this charismatic and easy-going man remains a legend.

Therefore, we are very pleased to introduce you in the following interview to yourhis plans for the upcoming season, the principles of his training and other interesting facts.

1. Hi Vasek, even though you are one of the best lifters in the country, this interview will reach someone who doesn't know you. So could you briefly introduce yourself?

Hi. I'm 32 years old. I come from Pardubice and now I live in Liberec. I work as a prison guard inspector and in my free time, as you mentioned, I try to do power triathlon.

2. What are your best training and competition performances?

Training:

• Squat raw 450 kg
• Deadlift raw 360 kg
• Bench raw 225 kg (never tried more)
• Squat equip 530 kg
• Deadlift equip 390 kg (with snatches)
• Bench equip 362,5 kg

Competition:

• Squat equip 500 kg
• Deadlift equip 362,5 kg
• Bench equip 362,5 kg

And the best competition total (sum of all disciplines) 1200 kg.

VIDEO.

3. Do you still remember how you got into powerlifting? There are hundreds of other sports, so why did you choose this one?

I've been training since I was 15 years old, I've always followed the motto that a Ferrari that doesn't run is useless, whichI've never really looked at the aesthetics of the body and just tried to be strong.

I've trained my whole life accordingly, and even in bodybuilding training I've tried to do one rep with maximum weight for most exercises, and the fact that I wouldI should try to compete in triathlon was recommended by a colleague from work who noticed me doing squats in the basement alone with +-300kg without bandages only in a belt... so I tried it :)

4. Could you give our readers at least a light outline of how you train? Do you put much emphasis on supplementary exercises?

I always have to plan ahead for the services because it makesI do 12s and I also do night work and I have a side class so I work from there.

Anyway, like this week I've been working out:

• Monday, back tops.
• Wednesday breasts
• Friday shoulders
• Saturday legs + deadlift
• Sunday arms

I do a lot of basic exercises with the axle and one-armed machines quite a bit, and I include abs every workout...

5. Do you include exercises to improve mobility in your training?

Definitely, and not only by myself, but also under the supervision of a physiotherapist. People underestimate these things a lot, but mid-body stretching and other things like cardio are really needed.

6. How many times a week/month do you lift maxes?

When it comes to triathlon and single events I do squats every workout to max and deadlifts too(just suits me that way) and for benching it's about the faI work a lot on push-ups in the beginning and as I progress I reduce the boards (lengthen the range of motion).

7. How much time do you estimate it takes you to train?

Which one. Legs with a cadaver about 2 hours. Breasts about an hour and a half. But again, it varies with training.

8. What competitions are you preparing for now and what performances are you planning to show?

Well, this year it will be interesting, because from my original weight of 165Kg I have about 134Kg which is a big difference and I would like to do all WUAP competitions this year soI want to do the Czech Republic in May, then the European Championships in Poland, the Cup in Stary Křečany and Macha's Lake in the summer and then the World Championships in Slovakia with the exception that I will not do the triathlon but only bench and deadlifts.

We'll see how it goes and I have goals, but I won't say because I'm superstitious... :)

9. What does a lifter's diet look like? Do you follow a diet or do you have complete freedom?

I didn't used to do it and just ate a lot of everything, but since November 2017 I've been watching it and not eating baked goodsI don't eat food and sugar and sweets and I try to eat about 1kg of meat a day, plus potatoes, rice, vegetables after training, fruit and nuts.

I am finding out how much and what all can be influenced by diet and how little I knew about it and probably knowing what to eat should be the startAnyone who wants to exercise can go to the gym and work as hard as they want without food, but it won't have great results. Food, rest, exercise!!!!

10. How much do you think diet contributes to strength progression?

Well I answered this in the previous question, but I think an awful lot!

11. How do you feel about supplements? Are they important for you or not?

Well, I don't know what kind of supplements you mean and it's probably not worth going into, but they are important :)

12. What's your opinion on the current fitness scene and guys who after two years of training are thinking about their first cycle and "easing" into progression?

I don't judge, it's everyone's business and I don't judge anyone. I think almost everyone will reach for it sooner or later. And as they say, to each his own luck. It's better to get high and get stronger than to get high and die...

13. Do you prefer old-school hardcore barbells or new gyms with lots of machines?

Dumbbells... If only because of my current squatting sparring partner Tomas Semancik, who still has blood coming out of his nose :)

14. Do you ever experience that you just go to "stretch" with 300kg and everyone in the gym starts staring at you? Is it a motivation for you or does it annoy you?

Well, 300Kg is hard for everyone anyway, it's just 300Kg and it's not enough... and the gyms I go to are used to me so they don't notice me and don't care :)

15. What drives you forward even after achieving so much success? Where do you get your motivation from?

There is always room for improvement and nowhere is there a limit to what people can do. And it's a lot about the head anyway. If someone goes under the barbell thinking they can't lift it, that's wrong, I'm just going to lift it and then we'll see if it's possible or not, but the important thing is not to get out of it right away....

16. Finally, I would like to ask you what social networks do you use and where can our fans follow you?

Facebook, Instagram

Thank you so much for the interview and we wish you many more superhuman performances and no injuries in the future.

Thank you for your interest and good health to everyone!

Thank you for your support.

More interviews with interesting personalities:

• Filip Grznár [interview].
• Pavel Beran [interview].
• Jirka Vacek [interview]: "A positive attitude is absolutely crucial"
• Vlastimil Kužel [interview]: "If you focus on everything, you can't be the best at one thing"
• Jiří Orság [interview]: "Motivation for me is the belief that I can be even better than ever before"