Sergey Shelestov

His first amateur competition as a bodybuilder fell on the years of his military service, when he participated in a local championship, and won the honorable place.[3] Thereat, Shelestov realized that bodybuilding is his true calling, and decided to devote himself to it. In May 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Army became the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and Shelestov rose to the rank of captain before leaving the service in 1996.[2] In 1993, he became the third in the NABBA Russian Championship, losing the 1st place to Sergei Ogorodnikov.[3]

A year later, Shelestov retired from military service and moved with his wife Irina to Moscow. In the capital, he met up with a famous coach, Mikhail Golovnev, who became not only his coach, but also his promoter and manager.[3] Sergei had changed several jobs for the first years in Moscow, from a guard to a personal trainer.[3] For a long time, he worked in the fitness club Rhein (Рейн) at the Kuntsevsky District of Moscow. Shelestov participated in the IFBB Moscow championships, where he took the 1st place from 1995 to 1997. The real fame and success came to him in 1998, when Sergei won the Cup of Russia, and then the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championship.[3] In the autumn of the same year, he became the absolute champion of Russia.[3]

In 2001, Shelestov received a Pro Card and participated in two professional tournaments.[3] In 2001, Sergei ranked 11th in the Grand Prix England. In 2006 he became the 3rd at the Grand Prix in Romania. Then there was a lull in his career until 2005.[3] It was related to household problems, at the same time, Sergei continued to train and maintained his shape during that period.[3]

In 2006, he again received Pro Card (the old one was canceled) and became a participant of several pro-tournaments.[3]

In 2007, Sergei Shelestov performed at the Arnold Classic (15th place), Mr. Olympia (16th place) and Ironman Pro 2007 (16th place). His best result was the 8th place in the Arnold Classic, he became the 26th after that competition in the IFBB Men's Bodybuilding Professional Ranking in 2009.

• 1997 IFBB Grand Prix Russia - 10th
• 2001 IFBB Grand Prix England - 11th
• 2001 IFBB Grand Prix New Zealand - 5th
• 2006 IFBB Santa Susanna Gran Prix - 7th
• 2006 IFBB Romania Gran Prix - 3rd
• 2007 IFBB Iron Man Pro - 16th
• 2007 IFBB Sacramento Pro Bodybuilding Grand Prix - 12th
• 2007 IFBB Arnold Classic - 15th
• 2007 IFBB Olympia - NP
• 2008 IFBB Australia Pro Grand Prix VIII - 7th
• 2008 IFBB New Zealand Grand Elite Pro - 4th
• 2008 IFBB Olympia - 17th
• 2008 IFBB Romanian Pro Grand Prix - 4th
• 2009 IFBB Arnold Classic - 8th
• 2009 IFBB Europa Show of Champions - 4th
• 2009 IFBB New York Pro - 9th

In 2000, Sergey Shelestov became the Moscow Champion in Powerlifting and took second place in the Russian Powerlifting Championship. In 2000, he set a record in the bench press - 250 kg and squats - 365 kg.